This one goes out to all the snobs who always talk about that one time in Japan.
Let's keep this one going. Post up your experience in Japan, whether it be drifting yourself, spectating, or visting some rad shops. This could also go forward as a useful resource for people who are interested in doing the trip for themselves. Share your most cherished memories of the motherland here.
I'll start with this picture of my PV supported R32 at Ebisu circa 2018. I purchased this car from PV in 2017 for 350,000¥. At the time this was over half of the money I had in savings. I've definitely gotten my moneys worth out of this car! It's a standard RB20 with HKS 2530 kai and K-style knuckles.
I still have this car and try to make annual trips to drive Autumn Matsuri.
A run on Higashi, Autumn 2023
I would love to see the experiences that others have to share and maybe even connect with people to meet with on future trips. Visiting Japan can be perspective shifting for people who have never been. My entire view on drifting and driver skill changed after going for the first time.
I went with my family for 3 weeks in 2010. We started off in Tokyo and did all the tourist things - stayed in at the Park Hayat in Shinjuku (big Lost in Translation fan) and got Kobe at a steakouse in a skyscraper (can't remember the name), went to Harajuku and the fish market (showed up late and only got to experience the smell), and took the train all over the place to temples and markets and restaurants. Then we took the shinkansen down to Hiroshima and did more tourist stuff - walked the arcades, visited the memorial, ate okonomiyaki (hold the mayo plz), and visited Miyajima.
Then we spent a couple nights on Naoshima, "the art island," which was super cool. There are a ton of art installations and exhibits all over the island.
Then we made our way to Osaka where my dad met up with the rest of us. I hadn't planned on doing any car things other than stopping by an UpGarage or two, but I saw a flyer for D1 at Fuji that was taking place that weekend. Despite it being 5 hours away, my dad and I said fuck it and made a day trip out of it. Iirc it took 2 trains, 2 buses, and 1 taxi each way, but it was totally worth it. It was mind blowing how much better the driving was than FD at the time. We also of course had to check out Osaka Castle, where my sister got sick and puked on the stairs leading up to it. Some locals picnicing nearby ended up giving her water and a wet towl for her head while they gave us a quick history lesson on the Castle and saved us the $40 tour fee.
Kyoto was next on the list. We stayed at a hotel near the Imperial Palace and did a lot of exploring around that area. While walking back from dinner one night, my sister spotted a single narrow window with a single red rose in a vase in it on the 3rd or 4th story of a building. We were a little drunk so we decided to find out what it was all about. We took the elevator up and saw a black door at the end of a dark hall with no words on it. My sister pulled the handle and opened the door while the rest of us watched from the elevator. She ran back to us excitedly and loudly whispered, "it's a bar!" We opened the door and were greeted by the biggest wall of whiskey bottles I've ever seen. We sat down at the bar and the bar tender said "you found the secret bar!" I think between the four of us we racked up a $400-500 tab drinking some of the best whiskeys in the world. It was quite a magical experience and that following day we went to an Onsen, whcich provided some much needed rejuvination after a night of heavy drinking.
We made our way back to Tokyo and had one last night of debauchery before my dad had to head home. We went out to an amazing old school hibachi restaurant where I had to confront my hatred of seafood. Luckily they kept the sake flowing, whcich made stomaching things I'd never eat in my right mind managable. I have to admit it really wasn't that bad. I think there were only a couple dishes (of 12+) I struggled with. After that we finally made our way to a karaoke place that was serving $2 pitchers of beer. The put us in our own room right at the front of the building, facing the street. Several pitchers later we had totally forgotten how to use the remote to select a different song and were stuck singing "Spiderwebs" by No Doubt on repeat as my dad jumped around on the seats lining the room. We had forgotten that everyone passing by on the street could see us and when I went to go to the bathroom I was met at the door by a camera crew who said they worked for Japan's tourism bureau. They asked if they could film us so I let them in and went about my business. When I went back to the room, the mood was starkly different and now everyone was trying to seriously sing Spiderwebs. After about the third time through the song, the camera crew excused themselves with what, I'm sure, was about .37 seconds of usable footage.
For whatever reason, it was cheaper for my mom, sister, and I to spend 3 additional nights at Tokyo Disney than to fly home right away. After two days out in the sun, wandering around the park and then staying up until 5am watching the World Cup I was completely exhausted. Do not reccomend. Slept great on the flight home though! It was definitely a hell of a trip.