Exploring Tokyo's cutting-edge technologies

Tokyo has always been the epicenter of innovation, particularly since the 1960s. For travelers, it's the mecca of all things technological, with entire neighborhoods devoted to satisfying every whim. Robotics, artificial intelligence, electronics, and many more fields owe a great deal to this city's rich history of groundbreaking discoveries and inventions, propelling them to technological development. Visitors to Japan also like exploring common uses of technology, such as its high-tech subway system, vending machines for everything, and innovative use of lights and screens.

So, if you're a tech-savvy student excited to venture abroad, Tokyo should be high on your list. The Nanostructured Materials: Synthesis, Modeling, and Energy & Biomedical Applications Study Tour is an excellent opportunity to gain exposure to a city that challenges your perceptions of what is possible and motivates you to think creatively.

Here's our list of the most significant Japanese tech destinations and experiences to help you organize your trip.

Pasona 02: Underground Farm

Urban areas and cities like Tokyo make large-scale farming seem impossible. But the Pasona 02 Underground Farm aims to blast that misconception out of the water. Tokyo's subterranean gardens use hydroponics, regulated temperatures, and artificial lighting to grow over a hundred types of crops. A tour of the farm gives you a glimpse of potential solutions to tomorrow's significant global challenges.

Yodobashi Akiba Electronic Department Store

Known for stocking every imaginable electronic device, this Akihabara department store spans nine stories. Yodobashi Akiba sells everything from printer components to kitchen gadgets, the newest iPhone, and numerous types of electric devices. Make your way to the upper floor and whack some balls on its rooftop driving range.

Miraikan - the Future Museum

Miraikan offers a hands-on opportunity to learn about the scientific and technological achievements that have made Tokyo a global leader for a long time. On the human-made island of Odaiba in Tokyo Bay, it showcases interactive displays brimming with robotics, dystopian futures, and astounding innovations in human engineering. Sprawling across an expansive complex, this is Japan's foremost science museum. It has a model of the International Space Station, an exhibit devoted to robotics, a Dome Theatre that shows 3D movies, and the Science Workshop, which offers numerous interactive activities suitable for children.

When you're ready to discover more of Tokyo's fantastic technology features, schedule a consultation with an SAF Staff member.