The 43rd Tokyo Motor Show 2013 (第43回東京モーターショー2013)

After seeing the cars in the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show last December 2011, I immediately looked forward to the next installment of this event, which at that time, I assumed to be sometime in winter of 2012. When I didn't see any advertisement, I resigned to the fact that I missed an event that I was really excited about. To my surprise, there were posters of the 43rd edition as autumn of 2013 came. I checked their website and that's the only time I knew that it was a biennial event.

Anyway, this event was held from November 23-December 1, 2013, again at the Tokyo Big Sight in Odaiba, Tokyo. Just like last time, pre-ordered tickets were cheaper. Prices were the same - JPY 1,300 for advanced purchase and JPY 1,500 for same day tickets. Here are some of the cars (and bikes among others) that I saw this time around.

Autumn in Tokyo: Ginkgo Avenue (銀杏並木), Koishikawa Korakuen (小石川後楽園), Rikugien (六義園)

When autumn in Tokyo is mentioned, Showa Kinen Park comes to my mind immediately, but here are three other famous autumn spots in Tokyo which can be covered in just a day. This is quite a late post, so all pictures here were taken November 23, 2013.

First stop is Ginkgo Avenue, or Icho Namiki from its Japanese name, located at Jingugaien (神宮外苑). It's actually quite accessible - just a couple of minutes from exit 1 of Aoyama Itchome Station (青山一丁目駅) of Tokyo Metro's Ginza line (銀座線) and Hanzomon line (半蔵門線), and Toei Oedo line (都営大江戸線). Since all the Ginkgo trees are just at the roadside, there's no admission fee, and they even close the road during the peak season.

Next one is Koishikawa Korakuen, a park located in Bunkyo, Tokyo (東京都文京区). Although there is a Korakuen station (後楽園駅) north of the park, Iidabashi station (飯田橋駅) is actually closer to the main gate. One way to get from Ginkgo Avenue to this park is to take the Hanzomon line towards Nagatacho (永田町), then transferring there to the Yurakucho line (有楽町線) going to Iidabashi. This route costs only 160 yen.

The park's admission fee is 300 yen, and it's open from 9AM to 5PM. Even though it's under renovation, there were still many visitors that time. Tokyo Dome can also be seen while inside the park.

Last one is Rikugien, which is, as quoted from japan-guide.com, "considered [as] Tokyo's most beautiful Japanese landscape garden alongside Koishikawa Korakuen". From Koishikawa Korakuen, probably the most convenient way is to take the Namboku line (南北線) from Iidabashi to Komagome station (駒込駅). The park's entrance is right beside exit 2. Like in Koishikawa Korakuen, admission costs 300 yen, and during autumn (and spring), there's an evening light up until 9PM.