Japan Trip 2025

You will have a completely different perspective on the world after visiting Japan.

At last, we succeeded! A dream of traveling to Japan together was finally realized after years of discussions in the group chat. We finally decided to board a plane and travel to the land of the Rising Sun after years of traveling throughout Europe, visiting places like the Belgium Chapter, Worthersee, VW Days, and Essen. 

This was my fourth visit to Japan, and with my growing knowledge of the city, I curated an action-packed 8-day itinerary—exploring Tokyo, diving into its car culture, and so much more. With suitcases packed, camera batteries fully charged, and only a few hours of sleep, we set off for Heathrow Airport in the early hours. The next couple of days were set to be a whirlwind, including the Tokyo Auto Salon, Wonder Games at Nikko Circuit, meeting Tanner in Mishima, catching up with Sora in Shizuoka, and a late-night trip to Daikoku PA.

The Tokyo Auto Salon served as our main event to plan our trip around. After landing at Haneda being greeted by a fantastic view of Fuji-San, we hopped on a couple of trains into central Tokyo. 

First and foremost, we want to extend a huge thank you to AQM, Final Konnexions, and Fuji Classics for their invitation and incredible hospitality over the weekend. With their offer of early access to the halls, which proved invaluable as we quickly realized just how insanely busy the weekend gets. Simply walking between the 11 halls was a challenge in itself, let alone trying to see and photograph the thousands of cars and vendors in attendance. 

That said, don’t let the crowds deter you—Tokyo Auto Salon is an absolutely must-see event. The quality, innovation, and craftsmanship in Japan’s car tuning and manufacturing culture are on an unmatchable level to anything we have visited before.

We had the chance to meet and catch up with Hikaru Taguchi, who had several of his cars on display. It was great to reconnect, as our last meetup was back at Wekfest Nagoya 2024, where Hikaru’s freshly completed GT3 R35 was being showcased. This time at Tokyo Auto Salon, we got to check out his stunning 964 and R34.

Being in Japan during TAS week comes with some incredible perks. With enthusiasts traveling from all over Japan—and many flying in from overseas—the Tokyo area comes alive with extra meets and events.

After an intense first day experiencing the madness of TAS, we headed to our first planned meet. Navigating Tokyo’s seamless train system, we headed to Shibuya, then on to Tobitaku Street, finally arriving at Ajinomoto Stadium, and the venue for the Peaches Underground meet. The Peaches team had carefully hand-selected around 200 cars, showcasing the very best of the Japanese car scene - a true testament to Japan’s unparalleled tuning scene.

There was a mix of everything with a very special guest from Nissan, their GT500 Pennzoil R34 Skyline Race Car from the early 2000's

As the sun dipped below the horizon and the meet carried on into the bitterly cold night, a soft lightbox structure was set up near the exit. As each car departed, they had the chance to drive through, stopping under the glowing frame for a photo opportunity. Crowds gathered around, capturing the moment as some of Japan’s finest builds rolled through under the lights.

As the cold really set in and it was time to call it a night. Just 15 hours earlier, we had landed, and after an action-packed start, some well-earned rest was overdue. We grabbed a hot canned coffee from one of Japan’s thousands of vending machines, letting the warmth sink in before making our way back to the hotel. With so much we had already seen in just the first few hours, the trip was off to an incredible start.

We were up early and ready to dive back into TAS Day 2. First stop: Alexi of Noriyaro’s setup, where he was hanging out with the Car Modify Wonder team. Alexi had brought along his newly widened and freshly painted S15. From there, we swung by the Shirtutckedin booth to catch up with Casey, share some laughs over the 2000yen notes, and check out the drift cars he and Naoki had on display. 

But as the day went on, the combination of jet lag, hunger, and the overwhelming crowds started to catch up with us. With tens of thousands of people flooding the halls, we decided it was time to make our escape, struggling to stay afloat in the sea of excited fans.

After grabbing some food, we headed back to the hotel before picking up our rental car. Having rented a few cars on previous trips to Japan, I chose the classy, chic and beautiful 2023 Toyota Prius from Toyota Rent-A-Car - a service we highly recommend if you ever need a car here yourself.

The Prius was the perfect choice for our travels, offering Japanese efficiency at its finest. With how cheap fuel is in Japan, it barely costs us anything to run, making it an ideal travel companion for the days ahead.

We set off for Chiba, (best known for being home to Japan’s Disney parks) right by the Kalamahria Messe. Having the Prius was a game-changer — you really need a car to reach most of Japan’s car culture hotspots.

Our first stop was a multi-story car park, where we were greeted by a small but steadily growing lineup of cars, hinting at the meet that was about to unfold.

Just like anywhere in the world, once a gathering of people with cars starts to build it doesn’t take much for the Police to roll up and ask everyone to move on, very politely I must add. We took this opportunity to jump back in the Prius, warm up and head on over to another spot nearby, this one being a Parking Area (PA) stop just north along the Expressway.

Japan is covered in PA stops, these are rest stops along the side of the highway. The most famous one—and the one you’ve probably heard of—is Daikoku PA in Yokohama. Another popular one from the Tokyo area is Tatsumi 1 PA. As you drive into these places, it feels like you’re in the video game, Tokyo Xtreme Racer.

We walked about the PA for a while, spotting cool car after cool car, people leaving, more arriving. Unfortunately, we had to eventually call it a night with the weather being extremely cold again which is the only downside to Tokyo Auto Salon being held during January.

As the sun rose through our windows, welcoming Monday morning, we jumped in the noble Prius and took to the Expressway for a relaxing drive north of Tokyo to Nikko Circuit. One of the best and well known tracks for Drifting in Japan. 

The reason for our early morning, Wonder Games, an event hosted by Car Modify Wonder and Hardcore Tokyo. With over 100 cars competing and over 20 AE86s, we knew this was going to be an incredible day.

For the four of us, Nikko is a circuit we’ve only seen either on Youtube mainly through the Noriyaro channel or in virtual form in the way of Assetto Corsa or FR Legends. So to finally be there, surrounded by the Japanese countryside—a world away from the crowded, compact streets of Tokyo—was nothing short of a dream come true. 

Alexi was there with his S15, though he wasn't driving on the track just yet...

The cars were split into 4 different classes from Beginner up to Advanced where a few D1 Lights cars were competing against each other.

The AE86 class, boasting over 20 entrants, became a spectacle in its own right. These iconic cars, took to the track in their own class, creating mesmerizing drift trains that snaked through the deserted quarry. The synchronized roar of their high-revving engines, was a symphony of power and precision. Each AE86, with its distinctive engine note and agile handling, danced through corners with effortless grace, leaving spectators in awe. The sight of these legendary cars, sliding sideways in perfect harmony, was enough to etch a permanent grin on anyone's face.

It was an incredible experience, making sure we would be fully in the moment. Dropping the camera and phones down, and taking in the full experience of the event. We were able to really experience the whole thing, not just through a screen.

As a track to spectate at, Nikko is definitely one of the best.  There are plenty of spots around the track offering great views of the action, from The pits are between the final few corners, stretching all the way to the point where cars enter the back straight.

Nikko was a blast, the track does not disappoint. As the sun dipped below the trees, and the light began to fade, taking the warmth with it, we set off back to Tokyo with a few stops planned on route.  

On the way back to Tokyo, it would have been rude not to take the scenic route, making a few essential stops along the way. A visit to Up Garage to hunt for rare car parts and accessories, followed by a stop at Book Off to browse through second-hand manga, games, and collectibles, was a must before rounding off the journey with a well-earned feast at a yakiniku restaurant.

Tuesday was another day full of adventure. After another quick stop for coffee, we were back on the expressway, this time heading west out of Tokyo towards Mt. Fuji. We were on our way to meet our good friend Tanner, who was going to show us around Mishima, the place he calls home.

Tanner plays a key role in our journey. Back in 2021, we made the decision to import a Kei Van with intentions to build our own pop-up shop for shows and events. (Keep your eyes peeled for more content on our Kei Van build)

My friend, Simon from Australia, had just bought an AE86 through Yahoo Auctions and connected us with Tanner. From our first conversation, through countless calls and texts with valuable info, we were able to purchase our Suzuki Every from auction. He, along with the AQM team, inspected the van before its long journey from Yokohama to Portsmouth. We couldn’t have been more impressed with his thorough and meticulous support, make sure you get in touch with him if you are thinking about a Japanese import.

We met Tanner at a local 7-Eleven, split between the Prius and his new purchase; a 3rd Gen Impreza for a short ride into town, to take a walk and a bite to eat. We had a wonderful homestyle cooked meal at a tiny establishment, and walked along the Genbei river towards the main shrine in Mishima. Tanner taught us the correct etiquette to enter the shrine, washing your hands before and how to make a prayer.

We even took some time with Google Translate helping us each buy an Omamori (a Japanese shrine charm for blessings and luck) before we moved on to the next location; the main attraction. 

The main attraction… A batting centre. Baseball is incredibly popular in Japan. Introduced in 1872 by an American teacher, it was one of the first Western sports to take hold in the country, alongside traditional sports like sumo. At the end of the Meiji period, the sport gained traction across schools, therefore cementing its nationwide popularity for decades to come. The Meiji era (1868–1912) was a period of rapid modernization and westernization in Japan, transforming it into an industrialized world power. Today, batting centers can be found all over Japan, where kids, salarymen, and baseball enthusiasts refine their swings—or, in our case, where some foreign visitors hilariously struggle to hit the ball.

Tanner brought me here a year ago, and it quickly became a must-visit spot. Stepping inside feels like traveling back in time to a Japan that’s slowly fading away. With older arcade machines nestled among the newer ones, you can’t help but wonder how many people have enjoyed them over the decades.

We said our goodbyes to Tanner, knowing that next time we’re in town, we’ll explore more of the local area—venturing down into the Izu Peninsula to take in the sights. But for tonight, our journey continued to Shizuoka City. Dinner? McDonald's. This time, the Evangelion collaboration burger made the usual cheeseburger back home a lot less thrilling. 

Up early on Wednesday, another crisp morning, for an early walk around the city, coffee in hand to explore and see the Sumpu Castle Park. Unlike Osaka or Himeji, there’s one thing I forgot, there's no towering castle here—only ruins, as the main keep was lost to fire in 1635... The main keep (tenshu) was never reconstructed. The moats, stone walls, and gates remain, along with some reconstructed elements like the East Gate and Tatsumi Yagura watchtower.

Shizuoka City is known for several important agricultural products, with the surrounding areas famous for their Green Tea. But for car enthusiasts like us, something even more exciting puts this city on the map - it’s home to some of the world's most famous plastic model kits. Often called The Plastic City. Shizuoka is the headquarters of legendary brands like Tamiya, Aoshima, and Hasegawa. If you've ever built a model kit, chances are it came from here. 

We came to Shizuoka as a long time friend, and photographer Kasuga Sora lives down here. It must be a decade since we first made contact with Sora-san. One of the tough parts about meeting people in Japan is the language barrier. You can get by at the shops, “konbini’s” (convenience store) with little to no Japanese at all, but with cars, there’s only so many times you can say “cool car” when you want to ask more in-depth questions. Luckily for us, Sora works for Tamiya and over the years has spent time in Europe with work so his English is “Jouzu”. 

Sora owns a Mk2 Golf, something quite uncommon in Japan. However, there’s actually a strong VDub community all over Japan. It would be really cool to attend a VW-focused show on a future trip and see first-hand how fine-tuned the Japanese enthusiasts can be - no matter what style of car they’re building.

We enjoyed the afternoon with Sora and his wife, please head over to youtube to check out a cinematic on the MK2. For now we say ありがとうございました (Thank you) to Sora-san and his wife for their time spent with us, we’ll see you again soon! 

We traveled back to Mt Fuji that evening.

Thursday was going to be a long day. This hotel in particular is a favourite, located at the base of Mt Fuji, with a roof top terrace and unobstructed views of Fuji-san. The alarm was set before sunrise, many, many layers to experience the sunrise in the -6c weather. I’ll let the photos do the talking. 

Matt and I decided to start the day with an early morning walk around Fujiyoshida, heading up the hill to Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine. This historic shrine, known as the traditional northern starting point for climbing Mt. Fuji, is home one of Japan's largest wooden torii gate, standing an impressive 17.7 meters tall. It’s also a sacred spot where climbers have long prayed for a safe journey up the mountain.

Since several of the group fell ill, we checked out of our hotel and headed back to Tokyo to rest and recuperate before our last evening entertainment.

We bid farewell to the beloved Prius, grabbed some Ramen and wandered through Akihabara, browsing the shops for car models, video games and having some fun with gacha machines. Another train ride, this time down to Yokohama ready for an evening we will never forget. 

Back in 2022, after a late night in Shibuya, I decided to miss the last train back to the hotel and keep exploring. With a Strong Zero in one hand and my camera in the other, I just waited to see what cars would show up. That’s when Masahiko-san and Yone-san rolled up with their Z10 Soarers. I snapped some photos, introduced myself, and swapped Instagram details before embarking on the 5km walk back to the hotel. The following year, I reconnected with Masahiko, hopped into his Crown with a few friends, and cruised to Daikoku and Shibuya. It’s wild how a simple exchange of names and photos led to cruising the expressway with the locals. 

As we were travelling as a group of four, we asked Masahiko if we could recreate that unforgettable evening - cruising along the expressway to Daikoku and then onto Shibuya. After reaching out to the friends and connections he has made, Masahiko greeted us with five cars, one being our good friend Jon who we’d also got to hang out with at Nikko - We knew then that this was shaping up to be something special. An authentic glimpse into the car culture of Japan, with the locals heading to the legendary spot every car enthusiast dreams of visiting, Daikoku. 

The last thing we expected on route was a Konbini stop and an entire car park full of Kyushu styled cars waiting to join in the cruise. An overwhelming feeling came over us as we looked at each other, overcome with what was happening.

After exchanging greetings with the drivers, we hit the expressway. There’s not much that I can say to express how surreal this entire experience was. For this one again, we’ll let the videos and photos speak for themselves. 

Arriving at Daikoku we swiftly parked up in-between the lorries still taking their break. It was interesting to watch how the owners, with their loud and obnoxious cars, interacted so respectively to the lorry drivers - making way for them arriving or leaving, clearly mindful of not getting in their way or risking being asked to leave. I think people sometimes forget Daikoku PA serves the same purpose as South Mimms Services on the M25 - a rest stop for a quick break, snack or drink before continuing their journey. On a busy Friday or Saturday night, it is common for the Police to shut areas down and disperse crowds to let the place be used for its intended purpose. 

We spent more time wandering around, watching as more cars Masahiko-san had invited arrived. As they arrived, we handed out stickers and t-shirts we had brought as thank you gifts, and with the help of Google and Line translate, chatted with the owners about their builds. Eventually the inevitable happened - security asked us to move on. The sound of loud exhausts echoed against the Expressway looping around above, just like they had when we first circled in. We said our goodbyes to those heading home while the rest of us set off for the second planned stop, Tower Records in Shibuya.

A short drive on the C1 Loop passing over the Rainbow Bridge and past Tokyo Tower

Tokyo is packed with incredible hot spots for great car finds. Whilst many focus on Daikoku—often struggling to get a taxi to take them there—you don’t need to make the trip there to see some amazing cars. Areas like Akihabara, Shibuya, and Yoyogi offer plenty to see and are easily accessible by train or on foot, no rental car required.

After passing through the Shibuya Crossing in convoy, we lined up outside Tower Records. Yone-san was already parked up waiting for us. It was fantastic to get the two soarers together again.

We lingered in Shibuya, admiring each of the cars that had stayed with us throughout the night. We shared laughs, snapped photos with everyone, and soaked in the atmosphere until it was time to head to Shibuya Station and catch one of the last Yamanote Line trains back to the hotel. 

For our final day in Tokyo, Friday was set aside for a relaxed day of sightseeing—visiting a few more tourist spots and preparing for the journey home. None of us were particularly eager to leave, only the sicknotes who needed the UK strength of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen! 

A stop at the oldest Temple in Tokyo, Sensō-ji, located in Asakusa. Founded in 628 AD, it is Tokyo’s most famous and historically significant Buddhist temple.

We made a quick stop at Liberty Walk in Harajuku. Unfortunately, there were no cars parked outside during our visit, but on weekends, you’ll often spot one or two.

As our final day in Tokyo drew to a close, we took one last stroll through Akihabara—and just when we thought the trip couldn’t get any better, there they were. Two Panda Trueno AE86s, side by side, like a scene straight out of a dream. A car so legendary, so deeply woven into Japan’s car culture, it was the perfect way to close out an already unforgettable journey.

For the four of us, this trip was more than just a site seeing trip —it was an immersion into a world some of us had only ever seen through screens and magazines. From the adrenaline rush of Daikoku nights to the neon-lit streets of Shibuya, every moment felt surreal. If you’re a car enthusiast, Tokyo is an absolute must—but for the ultimate experience, time your visit with the Tokyo Auto Salon. You will not regret it.

Finally, just one final time, a huge shoutout to Masahiko, his friends, Sora, and Tanner—your kindness, passion, and hospitality made this trip beyond special for us. For us the trip wasn’t just about the cars, but the stories and friendships we make along the way. It reminded us how much car culture connects us, no matter where we come from. Now, the only question is… when do we come back?

Would you like to do something similar in the future? Well here is a brief Itinerary of what we got up to:

Itinerary Summary:

• Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo. Early access to Tokyo Auto Salon (TAS). Meeting Hikaru Taguchi and seeing his cars. Peaches Underground meet at Ajinomoto Stadium.

• Day 2: More time at TAS with visits to Noriyaro’s setup and Shirtutckedin booth. Battling jet lag and the crowds before grabbing the trusted Prius rental car.

• Day 3: A drive through Chiba. First-time visit to Nikko Circuit for Wonder Games.

• Day 4: A trip to Mishima to meet Tanner, exploring local sights, including a shrine and a batting center.

• Day 5: Exploring Shizuoka with Sora and experiencing the local car scene.

• Day 6: Early morning at the base of Mt. Fuji, taking in the views and visiting Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine.

• Day 7: Exploring Tokyo’s car culture spots and reconnecting with Masahiko-san for a night cruise to Daikoku PA.

• Day 8: Wrapping up the trip with sightseeing and a final stroll through Akihabara, encountering legendary AE86s before heading home.

Words by Jonny Smith

Editor Charlotte Tiller