Tokyo Buzzes with Tech, Cars, and Art Exhibitions This Week

Tokyo is buzzing this week, so if you’re in the city and wondering what to do, let’s map out some great ideas from today through the weekend.

Over in Ariake, Tokyo Big Sight is hosting SEMICON Japan 2025, a massive technology and semiconductor trade show running from Wednesday December 17 to Friday December 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. According to Tokyo Big Sight’s official event schedule, admission is free with advance registration, and the halls are packed with cutting‑edge chip technology, factory robots, and future-of-electronics demos. It’s perfect for listeners who love gadgets, engineering, or just seeing where the tech world is heading.

If you’re into cars and design, this week also marks the closing days of the 2025 Tokyo Auto Show, highlighted in coverage from automotive creators on YouTube as one of the key global showcases for the future of mobility. Expect dramatic concept cars from Lexus, Toyota, Subaru, and Mazda, electric prototypes, and next‑generation hydrogen and autonomous vehicles, all wrapped in that uniquely theatrical Tokyo show atmosphere. Plan a weekday visit to avoid the biggest weekend crowds, and give yourself a few hours to wander the halls and snap photos.

On the art side, Tokyo Art Beat reports a full slate of winter exhibitions across the city. Contemporary galleries in areas like Harajuku, Roppongi, and Tennozu are running end‑of‑year shows, with Tokyo Art Beat’s listings pointing to a strong focus on new media and international artists. It’s a great excuse to pick a neighborhood, grab a coffee, and make your own gallery walk, ducking into small spaces you might normally pass by.

There is serious VIP energy in town too. Qazinform and Kabar report that Kazakhstan’s President Kassym‑Jomart Tokayev is in Tokyo from December 18 to 20 for an official visit, meeting Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. At the same time, outlets like Kun.uz and the Dunyo information agency note that Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is also visiting, taking part in the first Central Asia plus Japan summit. You probably won’t bump into a motorcade up close, but expect a bit more security and some road restrictions around central government districts like Nagatacho and the Imperial Palace through the week.

For a quieter weekend moment, consider slipping into a museum late afternoon, then finishing with an evening stroll through Shibuya or Shinjuku’s winter lights. Department stores and train station plazas are in full illumination mode, and it’s an easy, low‑effort way to feel the city at its most magical.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI