CARS × CULTURE × AKIHABARA
From Akihabara to Local Japan — through the universal language of JDM.
Partner Tour Overview & Belle Salle Akihabara Event Plan
Touge JDM premium Quest: Akihabara to Mt. Haruna
Art Director
Ashley Jones
Add a short bio for each team member. Make it brief and informative to keep visitors engaged.
Art Director
Ashley Jones
Add a short bio for each team member. Make it brief and informative to keep visitors engaged.
Tech Lead
Don Francis
Add a short bio for each team member. Make it brief and informative to keep visitors engaged.
Product Manager
Alexa Young
Add a short bio for each team member. Make it brief and informative to keep visitors engaged.
From Akihabara to Gunma Japan.
AKIBA JDM PROJECT is a tourism initiative that starts in Akihabara — a global mecca for subculture — and uses ‘JDM’ (Japanese Domestic Market), Japan's automotive tuning culture, as a gateway to send inbound and domestic fans out to Japan's regions. Through three initiatives — experience events in Akihabara, outreach at Tokyo Comic Con, and a partner tour with Gunma Prefecture's Shibukawa and Annaka cities — we're building a new regional-tourism model that moves visitors from ‘discovering and connecting’ (Akihabara) to ‘experiencing’ (Gunma).
Background
Akihabara draws large numbers of visitors from Japan and abroad year-round as a mecca for subculture, yet most of that visit stays contained within the Akihabara area and rarely extends into regional travel. Meanwhile, JDM — Japan's homegrown automotive culture — enjoys strong popularity overseas and pairs naturally with anime, gaming, and hobby content. Could this shared ‘passion’ be the bridge that connects Akihabara to the regions? That question is the starting point of AKIBA JDM PROJECT.
Purpose
“Create the entry point in Akihabara. Experience JDM in Gunma.”
Regional tourism driven by JDM culture
Build a circulation model that channels the ‘passions’ of Akihabara visitors out to regions with automotive-culture ties.
Partnership with the Shibukawa/Annaka JDM Promotion
Collaborate with the Shibukawa/Annaka JDM Promotion to plan a regional tour connecting Akihabara and Gunma Prefecture.
A new appeal for Akihabara
Add ‘a hub for car culture’ as a new value proposition for Akihabara through JDM vehicle displays and events
STEP
“Create the entry point in Akihabara. Experience JDM in Gunma.”
01 Know & Discover
Akihabara Events
02 Experience & Broadcast
Tokyo Comic Con 2026
03 Circulate & Send Visitors
Gunma (Shibukawa & Annaka)
Regular JDM vehicle displays and corporate booths at Belle Salle Akihabara's open plaza
A booth presence spreading word of AKIBA JDM PROJECT and the Gunma partner tour, domestically and internationally
A regional tour experiencing JDM culture, run in partnership with the Shibukawa/Annaka JDM Promotion