Before you ever stepped foot on Japanese soil, you probably envisioned a society in complete integration with technology. Yet, when you got here, citizens communicated via flip phones with seemingly no sense of technology shame, workers with manual click counters manned entranceways tallying the number of visitors, and a card transaction was the equivalent of kryptonite to many shops and establishments.

Japan has, if only for a short while, remedied those technological letdowns by hosting the (biggest!) International Robot Exhibition (IREX) from Dec 2-5 at Tokyo Big Sight, allowing robot manufacturers in both the industrial and service fields to unveil the latest and greatest advancements in robotics. And as if a taste of the future wasn’t enough, entry to see the marvels of the automated world is free with preregistry—so you know we were there.

Suggested Activity Suggested Activity Book a Room on Wheels with DreamDrive Travel in comfort, avoid crowds and public transport, and go wherever you please with DreamDrive. The outdoors in Japan is vast, mostly empty, and quite spectacular. If big crowds and cramped public transport make you nervous about taking a relaxing break, then why not experience Japan's natural wonders from the comfort of a beautifully appointed moving hotel room? Japan's nascent ... Click here for details

Without further ado, here are some of our favorite shots from IREX!

Can’t make it to the International Robot Exhibition? We’ve got you covered with our article on top spots to meet a robot in Tokyo.

Name IREX at Tokyo Big Sight Area(s) Odaiba Places Mentioned Tokyo Big Sight