Tokyo Auto Salon 2027: Dates, Tickets & Driving from Haneda

Tokyo Auto Salon 2027 at a glance

Tokyo Auto Salon is a major car event bringing together custom cars, tuned cars and manufacturer displays. The 2027 show is the 45th edition and has been announced to use all halls of Makuhari Messe.

Prices and entry conditions for each day (such as how the first day is handled) change from year to year, so we do not list them here. Always check the official site before buying.

Sort out tickets and your rental car in December

Visitors to Auto Salon are concentrated into three days in January. Preparing in this order makes things easier.

1. Buy tickets: Follow the instructions on the official site. Check the conditions for the day and time you plan to enter.
2. Book a rental car: Go on Rent-a-Car takes bookings up to 48 hours before pickup and up to 180 days ahead. January weekends tend to fill up, so we recommend you Book at Haneda in December. Prices start at 14,650 yen per day (tax and Safety Pack included) and vary by date, so check the price for your dates on the site.
3. Upload your documents online: Upload your passport, licence and International Driving Permit (or official translation) before you arrive. You can check whether your licence is valid in Japan with our licence checker.
4. Decide on parking and route: Use the "Parking and traffic" section below to pick a first and second choice.

Route from Haneda to Makuhari Messe

1. Pick up the car on the 8th floor of the P5 car park at Haneda Terminal 3: Handover is 9:00-20:00. If you want to reach the venue early in the morning, collecting the car the day before makes things easier.
2. Take the Shutoko Bayshore Route toward Chiba: Set "Makuhari Messe" or your reserved car park as the destination in the navigation system.
3. Join the Higashi-Kanto Expressway and exit as directed: Follow the navigation system for the exit to use.
4. Time: About 40 km, roughly 40 minutes to an hour without traffic. Reports say the area around the venue gets very congested on event days, so allow plenty of time.

Tolls apply on the Shutoko and Higashi-Kanto Expressway. If you want to use an ETC card, contact us before departure (expressway tolls and ETC guide).

Parking and traffic

Media reports from the 2026 show described the situation below. 2027 may differ, so check the official site and Makuhari Messe's information shortly before you go.

• Arrive early: Getting there before the car parks fill up is the most reliable approach.
• Park further away and take the train: Reports also suggest parking away from the venue and continuing by train. For how to find parking, see our Tokyo rental car parking guide.
• Do not park on the street: Do not park on the roads around the venue, and do not rev your engine or make noise. Keep to the speed limit and never race on public roads.

Our car is a standard Volkswagen Golf Variant (automatic, 5 seats). It is not a Japanese (JDM) car. At the show, enjoy the custom cars as a spectator.

Driving in January: what to watch for

The Kanto plains are mostly sunny in January, but it occasionally snows. When heavy snow is forecast, expressways may close and parking areas may shut, and driving on snowy roads requires winter tyres and our prior consent (winter driving guide). Check the forecast the day before, and if snow is expected, consider taking the train instead.

If you want more car culture after Auto Salon, the reservation-based car museums near Tokyo are worth a visit. Daikoku PA can be closed at night, so read our Daikoku PA guide before going.