Vintage automobiles embark on an Eurasian journey, led by the Czech team, bound for the Osaka Exposition.
The Robot Expedition Praha–Osaka Expo 2025, a unique vintage car expedition, is currently underway, traversing the Eurasian continent. This extraordinary journey, featuring seven historic Czech and Japanese vehicles manufactured in 1980 or earlier, began on June 21, 2025, from Prague Castle and is scheduled to conclude at the World Exposition in Osaka, Japan on July 24, 2025 - the Czech National Day.
The expedition, led by a 1959 Tatra 603, a Czech-made classic car driven by expedition leader Josef Zajíček, an automotive entrepreneur, is a testament to the journey from a garage in central Europe to the other side of the world. The route takes the convoy from Prague through the Balkan Peninsula and Turkey, continuing across Asia. A notable part of the route included crossing the Caspian Sea by ferry to Kazakhstan, marking the transition from Europe to Asia.
Among the vehicles is a 1977 Toyota Celica, representing Japanese automotive heritage and sponsorship ties. Other Czech vintage cars are included, highlighting Czech automotive history and industry. The journey faces challenges such as border crossings but uses modern tools like vehicle tracking systems for real-time updates, allowing fans to follow the route online.
The expedition is inspired by the Sakura Expedition of 1970, where four young Czechs hitchhiked to the first Osaka EXPO. It aims to showcase Czech industrial heritage and foster cultural exchange between the Czech Republic and Japan, given Japan's historical appreciation of Czech cars, such as the fact the Japanese emperor drove a Škoda in 1915-16.
This expedition not only revives a historic connection but also underscores the ongoing global relevance of Czech automotive craftsmanship and cultural ties with Japan. The vehicles are scheduled to arrive in Osaka in time for the Czech National Day on July 24, 2025, when they will be exhibited at the EXPO on Yumeshima Island. The entire Osaka Expo runs through October 13, 2025.
The total distance covered by the journey is 16,000 kilometers. This exciting expedition is more than just a journey; it's a symbol of friendship and cultural exchange between two nations, a testament to the power of storytelling, and a celebration of automotive history.
While traversing the Eurasian continent, the participants of The Robot Expedition Praha–Osaka Expo 2025 will exhibit a 1977 Toyota Celica, showcasing Japanese automotive heritage and fostering cultural bonds, alongside vintage Czech cars like the 1959 Tatra 603 that symbolize Czech automotive history.
As the expedition concludes at the World Exposition in Osaka, Japan, fans worldwide can follow the journey online, witnessing the vehicles' arrival in Osaka just before the Czech National Day on July 24, 2025, the day they will be exhibited at the EXPO on Yumeshima Island, immortalizing the expedition in photographs as a symbol of friendship, storytelling, and automotive history.
