Tegiwa in Japan – Day 3: Chasing JDM Culture and (Almost) Finding Meets!
Tegiwa in Japan – Day 3: Chasing JDM Culture and (Almost) Finding Meets!
Day 3 was a bit of a whirlwind – a shift from the high-octane racing to exploring the heart of Japanese car culture. Bidding farewell to Mount Fuji, we headed back to Omoshiro rent-a-car with our rentals cruising along the scenic expressway. A quick fuel stop revealed a pleasant surprise – super unleaded, considered expensive here at £1 a litre, was still way cheaper than back home!
Returning the cars involved settling the toll road fees – a hefty £50 per car considering the short rental period. But hey, the memories were priceless!
Next on the agenda: Kemitec, a company pioneering next-generation coolant technology. Their PG55 NR358 coolant boasts a unique Propylene Glycol base that extends hose and gasket life – what’s not to love! Outside they had a brand new G80 M3 Competition which looked awesome in the afternoon sun.
We then ventured into the heart of Tokyo, the urban jungle unfolding around us. Our mission? To immerse ourselves in the city’s vibrant car culture.
First stop: the legendary Shibuya Crossing (remember the scene in Tokyo Drift when Hans and Sean drift through the busy street?), a pulsating intersection where thousands of pedestrians cross in a mesmerising wave. Fun Fact: Shibuya Crossing is considered the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world!
We managed to spot the coolest taxi ever too. When was the last time you saw a taxi rocking a set of BBS LM’s?
From there, we hit Shibuya Ward Parking, hoping to catch a glimpse of a local meet. Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on our side. Still, the parking lot wasn’t a total failure – a stunning AE86 Trueno, a classic Land Cruiser, an Aston Martin V8 Vantage, and a couple of imposing G Wagons turned heads.
Undeterred, we continued our JDM quest, stumbling upon a couple of cool cars parked on the street. Mustering our best broken English, we struck up a conversation with the owners. Daikoku Parking Area, they informed us, was the place to be for a lively meet.
With a quick booking on Uber, (a luxurious Toyota Alphard, no less) we were on our way there!
However, fate had other plans. By the time we arrived, the police had shut down the meet, leaving behind a pretty deserted parking lot.
Daikoku is the largest rest area on the Shuto Expressway, located beneath the Yokohama Bay Bridge. It’s a popular night time hangout for car enthusiasts, known for its diverse car scene. The location is epic because it is surrounded by 100 metre tall roads and bridges and you can hear the cars racing around them!
Despite the lack of action, we weren’t disheartened. We were still happy to have witnessed Daikoku’s unique setting, a concrete island buzzing with car culture energy (even if it was dormant that night).
Stay tuned because day 4 promises a visit to the hallowed halls of Mugen HQ!