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.

Hakuba Sanosaka Free Style Snow Resort (白馬さのさか)

Last winter, we were able to enjoy winter sports twice, both at Hakuba Sanosaka resort located at Hakuba town (白馬村) in Nagano prefecture (長野県). The drive to this ski resort town normally takes around 4-5 hours, but like we do every year, we got the tour packages departing from metropolitan Tokyo via Orion Tours (オリオンツアー) bus.

Our first trip, a morning bus same-day return (朝発バス日帰り) package, cost us 6,300円 each, while the second one, a night bus same-day return (夜発バス日帰り) package, was 8,400円/pax. These packages include a round trip bus ticket, 1-day lift ticket, snowboard/ski and snow wear (including gloves and goggles) rentals.

For the morning bus, we departed at 6:10 and arrived at the resort around 11:30. For the night bus, departure and arrival time were 21:50 on the day before and 6:10, respectively. The return trips departed at around 17:30, and we arrived at Tokyo/Yokohama area around 22:30.

Like Madarao Kogen Ski Resort, the main building houses the rental area and a restaurant. For the rentals, height, shoe size, skill level among other pieces of information are needed. Of course, there are locker rentals that require 100円 coins, so be sure to bring some. When we took the morning bus, it was already around lunch when we started, and that's the main reason we went back to this resort for a second time. When we took the night bus, we came very early that the rentals and the restaurant are still closed.

We were supposed to eat in a restaurant in the middle of the resort for lunch, but we didn't like the menu, so we went back to the main building. But before that, we made sure that we went up the the lake view point, where you can see the nearby Lake Aoki (青木湖).

After eating, we felt the fatigue, and after just 2 more rounds, we called it a day. That was for the second trip, because during our first trip, even if we still wanted to climb up, we ran out of time, so I think it's really better to take midnight buses when going to ski resorts just to maximize the whole day. Also, you can have more time to buy souvenirs and be able to relax and enjoy the sights.

Orion Ski and Snowboarding Tours
Hakuba Sanosaka official website

Sky Garden @ Yokohama Landmark Tower (横浜ランドマークタワースカイガーデン)

Sky Garden is located at the 69th floor of the Yokohama Landmark Tower, the tallest building in Japan. To go there, one can get off at Sakuragicho station (桜木町駅) of the JR Keihin Tohoku/Neigishi Line (京浜東北線・根岸線) - like what we did, the Sakuragicho station of the Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line (横浜市営地下鉄ブルーライン), or the Minatomirai station (みなとみらい駅) of the Minatomirai Line (みなとみらい線).

From JR Sakuragicho station exit, escalators can easily be spotted on the left side, right beside Colette Mare. Take this escalator up and go on towards the walkalators. These will take you directly to the entrance of the Sky Garden, the observation deck of the Yokohama Landmark Tower. Get your ticket at the entrance for 1,000円/pax using the ticket vending machine, then get in line to ride the once world's fastest elevator that will take you to the 69th floor.

The observatory features a 360-degree view of Yokohama in 4 viewing decks, though you can also see other landmarks like the Tokyo Tower (東京タワー) and Mt. Fuji (富士山). It also seemed like a lot of people wait here for the sunset, and not just tourists, but also locals. The night view of the city was also very nice. Each deck has its own "viewing guide" that shows you the direction of the famous landmarks that can be seen from that deck.

There's also a cafe and souvenir shops in the observatory, though we didn't try the cafe. My wife bought some Yokohama chocolates from the souvenir shop and she said they're really good. There are also lots of things to do after visiting the Landmark Tower because it's already in the center of Yokohama, but that's a different story altogether.

Yokohama Landmark Tower official website