I just happen to be lucky enough to be in Japan early January next year. I think I'll be able to catch the Tokyo Auto Salon so that'll really be a show I'm looking forward to seeing.

I have a question for those that either live there or have already been there. Is there anything special worth going to see in Japan? I already have a few plans in mind, one of them being going to the Mazda museum and factory to take a tour. It doesn't have to be car related, but if there's anything really worth seeing, I'd like to know from all you JDM fans out there!

 

In Tokyo, go to Odiba or call BIG SITE. There is Toyota Land. Big collection of their new products, race car, souvenir, and HISTORY GARAGE with many old cars from around the world. U can sit in the original 70s Skyline. This area have much neat modern malls to visit and even a miniature Statue of Liberty. The convention center used to be the location for the Auto Salon but now it maybe held in Chiba area. In Aoyama, there is Honda Showroom, small place but it has all latest production cars u can sit in, cafe coffee shop and souvenir. "Check out the 02 ITR!"
Super AutoBAC is also near Odiba area. Biggest aftermarket autoparts store. Other one u see same name in japan are smaller but from air fresher to exhausts!! Even the parking lot is full of tune japanese super cars. Other similar stores are Yellow Hat. If u PS2 and other electronics, u can go to Akihabara.
The entire city is all software, electronics and video games stores. Ebisu station, there is a Hobby store "Mr. Craft" Every Hobbies to do with cars is there, from diecast, models, videos, books and motorsport items in 5 floors!
The most Ultimate experience i had if u are a Honda fan and motorsports, Someone have to drive u 60miles north of Tokyo
to Honda's own circuit MOTEGI. Thats where the CART race held and Formula Nippon held. Rest of the yr is a theme park.
Motorsport Museum with every Honda products. Huge Motorsport collection "F-1!" and GP Bikes. U can go Karting with rentals and Technology museum. My favorite is for 3000 yen, u can sit in the ITR safety car and pro driver take u around the Road course in Full Throttle for 4 laps , and u can also paid and do it in NSX-Type-S safety car too for 4000yen. There is another open wheel side engine race car u can attend for driving school but that need advance booking.
Well, i can go on and on but u just try to enjoy yourself the food and culture. IF u have a local friend help u out, u need it, because mass transit gets u anywhere but if u don't know the language, its tough. Not much japanese speaks english.
Good luck,
ed lee
Y2K ITR #498
97 ITR #315
I work for Japanese company, so i go there every few yrs for business and pleasure.

 

Hey Jim you want to hookup I'm going to be in town for the show as well for that week. Send me an email so we can meetup and such. But mine is more business trip then anything. But the theme park is one thing I sure like to visit. Fuji-Q Highland Amusement Park...which happens to be the home of the largest jet coaster "Fujiyama" and site of the newly done Gundam theme ride and slso there famous "Haunted House" largest in it's category.
But I also wants my sugar candy tins..if you guys know "Grave of the Fireflies" you know what I'm referring to.
I'm seeing if I can meet any my friends from there while out and abouts there. I will probablyhave to goto Yokohama whilst I'm there as well.

 

Sure... Luckily I have a friend to show me around. I heard that it's REALLY difficult to get around without knowing Japanese. It's a little bit of business for me too, but mostly a personal trip. I'll send you an e-mail about the details...

BTW, if anyone happens to be there for the show, it'd be nice to meet up with some HT members and go together!

 

The SuperAutobacs in Tokyo (near Odaiba) is pretty big, but there is one in Yokohama too, about 20 min from where I live.

If you're going to be in East Japan (Tokyo and Yokohama) then go to Tokyo Disneyland on a weekday (not weekend -way too crowded)..The have a whole new separate park now called 'Disney Sea'

Tokyo Tower -boring but why not!

As mentioned, go to Odaiba at night to see the huge Ferris wheel and the Fuji TV building as well as the the big SuperAutobacs. Tokyo Rainbow Bridge is a cool site at night too.

See the night life at Roppongi! (A must)

Go to Ikebukro to the top of Sunshine City (one of the two tallest buildings in Japan)

Take a trip to Yokohama (a must!!- 30 minutes by train) JDM-DOHC-SiR and I both live here so we can show you some cool car places. Another huge Ferris wheel at Minato Mirai, Chinatown, Motomachi, old ship museum at Sakuragicho, and can't forget Landmark Tower (the tallest building in Japan...you can acttually see most of east Japan, Mt Fuji and Sunshine city (20 miles away) from the top of this building.

Unfortunately not much of a night life here.

AquaLine!!! One of the longest and straightest underwater tunnels in the world! Stretches about 20 miles across Tokyo Bay from Kawasaki to the Chiba penninsula. Infamous for being empty at nights and perfect for testing your car's top speed!

West Japan (Osaka, Nara, Kobe, Kyoto)

Mostly scenic...a lot of traditional eastern culture left. People are awesome (much better and nicer than Tokyo people).

Night life in Osaka...go to Namba!!

Universal Studios Japan....crowded, but if you have patience a plenty, then go!

Northern Tokyo (Sendai, Morioka, Sapporo, Nagano)

Perfect Ski and snowboarding country!! Take the bullet train there and you'll be in Nagano in about an hour! January is the time to go!!



[Modified by MiraiZ, 2:47 PM 9/3/2001]

 

Great Jim.
I need some advice. I can buy all my yen from my bank but is it better to get my money change to Yen in Japan or while still state side??


Also what are good places to eat while there? I know most normal places run around 1,000 to 1,500 yen around $8.50-12.50 in usd.

TIA

 

I Might be going To TAS Havent decided yet

 

the best place to go for currency ex is your bank, the one you hold an account at...most banks cut you a break on the service charge if you have an account with them. DON'T do it at an airport!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You'll lose out big time!!!! Do it soon too, while the yen is weak...right now the yen is climbing against the dollar pretty quickly!!

Dinner is expensive only if you go to the Japanese or ethnic type restaurants...Fast food (McD's, KFC, Mos Burger) are cheap... Izakaya's are Japanese pubs....unless you've got the cash...stay away!! Family restaurants (Denny's, Jonathan's, Skylark Grill, Gusto,etc..) are reasonable

 

is aqualine the tunnel where the "options" videos show those guys ***** out in their supras and skylines? looks like they reach insane speeds by the reactions of the video hosts...

 

Thats the one ...dude!! Skylines tear around in there at like 295kph...nearly 200mph!!

 

I have a friend whose going to be in Tokyo in about a month or so, just for a day, and he's wondering what tuner shop to go to for the best deal on Toda camshafts.
Any suggestions? Any idea how much he stands to save by buying them in Japan as oppose to the US or Canada? How much should he expect to pay in Yen for a set of Spec C cams?

Man, would I love to go to Japan...

Dave

 

Spec C's around 92,000+- yen depending on the shop.
So around 800 bucks usa. But then you will have to had taxes too it as well.
I'm not sure how much taxes are in Japan. He will also have to pay customs charge when he brings it back with him to the USA. Probably around 50-+ bucks.
I would just plan to bring 1 grand with me. That way he should be ok no matter what..even if he ships them back to the USA instead of taken them with him on the plane.

Yep Aqua line is also of the Max Power video of a Skyline running 200mph if I'm not mistaken as well.

 

I have too actually goto Yokohama to do alittle business basically help business relations. So it will be great if we could all meet up and such. I maybe coming with a friend but as of yet I'm not sure.

I can get my money from my bank for just whatever the rate of yen is at. They don't charge any service charge...they just make alittle over whatever the Yen is actually worth when I buy it there. And yes right now is not great time to buy items from Japan because the Yen is basically right now kickin the dallor asre and so is the sterling pound.

Also this is important! Where is good place to stay with atleast breakfast in the morning and maybe dinner at night?
Hotels are divided into three categories, International (Western), Business, catering primarily to the Japanese with little English spoken, and Ryokans, or traditional Japanese inns. Kinda be the best to get a place where atleast they can make out what I want. Or I will have to take some basic Japanese course before I go. Which i probably will just to get abit better understanding of certain things.

Miraiz are you talking about the Superautobacs Yokohama Bay side store? Or is there another one there? I think they just open it couple months back.

 

That would be nice... I should be in Japan from the 7th till around the 13th. I haven't finalized anything but that's probably what I'll do.
It depends what kind of budget you have for accomodations. It can really range from around 60$-500$ a night... Breakfast and dinner at any Japanese hotel is very expensive. So unless your company is paying for it, I wouldn't really suggest it. I'll be living with a friend in Hiroshima and heading out to Tokyo for a nice drive! Lots of mountain roads...

Everything is REALLY expensive in Japan so be prepared to spend a lot wherever you go especially for transportation. If you have access to a car then it's not too bad if you don't travel long distance. If you don't have a car, the best thing is to get a Rail Pass... It's about 240$US for a week. Even taking bullet train from Tokyo-Osaka is about 200$+, so 240 for the whole week for almost ALL trains and buses is a really good deal.

 

i plan to go in jan with the turbo magazine tour but im going to my own thing once im there i want to check out all the auto stores etc. anyone else going with the tour
let me know

 

Staying at a hotel in Japan for a couple of nights is enough to break you. I'd forget the English speaking staff and breakfast bit and stay at a business hotel. If you can manage to get to Yokohama or even Kawasaki, hotel prices are a bit lower.

If you have a lot to spend...$2-300 a night...then places like the Shinagawa Prince is good. English Speaking staff, breakfast, across the street from a major train line. But again, you're looking to pay A LOT!!!

Don't use taxi's if you can help it...they average 600 yen every 2km and boy does that meter climb fast!! Take the trains as much as possible...cheaper and quicker!

Just e-mail me when it gets closer to the date!

 

Great All of you guys that will be coming to TAS will be awesome!!!!! Be sure to hit MiraiZ and my self up when it come closer to making solid plans...I'm sure both of use could show some of you guy's around and some of the Local area's <hint><hint> Look froward to putting Face's with the Names I see on this board

 

JDM DOHC SiR
I really like to meet you guys. This is will be my first trip out of the country so it's big experience for me..plus it won't be the only time. The only reason I would have to not go is because of legal case coming up around that time but I hope it's over before then or after.

I will be probably just getting a E pass for JR as I'm only staying for short time and really don't believe I will go to the west side unless my friend comes with me and to see her friend in Osaka. Plus it's only around $210 bucks for 10days pass or $135 bucks for a 5 day pass. Probably just get the 10 day pass just in case I stay or two longer.
Thinking about either staying in two places one in Shinjuku and the other in Kanagawa. Both places are close to prices. There not high because there not high end stuff which I'm not big on or anything rather have more traditional trip then anything.
The kanagawa place is in the Fuji-Hakone National Park...which could be abit too far out not sure. But sounds like nice place to stay away from everything with hotsprings and all.
I will be making solid plans the first week of Dec because most hotels and such places close down from around that time so you have to book your rooms before then.

 

You could stay at the Makuhari Prince for approx. USD120 a night; 2 MIN. WALK from the Auto Salon.

If you're really on a budget, you could stay around Narita Airport, and take the subway into Chiba every day. The food is cheap at the airport, plenty of variety, plus free shuttle bus to/from the airport. The Tobu-Holiday Inn is USD 95 a night, the Marroad Narita (pretty nice) is only USD 55 a night.

Taking the subway to Makuhari Messe each way will probably take 60-75 mins., but you can oogle the pretty girls to pass the time

 

Word from the JDM Master. I've gotta go to Japan with you sometime, Shane.

 

Makuhari and Narita are waaaaaaay in the boonies!! AND they are not cheap either..Express train from Narita runs 2900 to 4000 yen ONE WAY!!! An if you're lucky if the Sobu line can get you to Tokyo in like 3 hours!! And, trains don't run 24 hrs here, so if you miss the last one, you're in trouble! Not a very good choice man....

I'd stay in Yokohama...30 mins to Tokyo 400 yen one way...plenty to see and do here, and price is a lot more reasonable than Tokyo!

By the way, Hakone is about an hour from here. or about 1 and 1/2 hours by Odakyu line from Shinjuku. You can even take the express which will get you there in like an hour or so.

 

Racer-X > Look forward to meeting you and other's that will make it over here to the land of the rising sun

 

lol... i was there! but it was too foggy out that day so i couldnt see ****!

anyone mention segatown yet? i wentr there... yea its a little indoor amusement park type thing... but i liked it... and one of the haunted houses in there scared the crap out of me!

 

You're right Mirai, but for I offer this only for the "Gaijin tourists," who are only going to TAS, and not to Central Tokyo, - it's a cheap alternative.

I take Sobu rapid from Narita to Inage every trip, and Makuhari is only a few more stops on Chuo. Sobu rapid from Narita to Inage only costs like JY580 one way.

I already have my hotel reservations for Marroad Narita @ USD 55 a night; hard to beat IMO.

 

Where are you kengs? Are you in Japan