Japan Visit advice

[Robotsan]

Hi all,

My girlfriend and I are going to Japan later this year, in late September / early October. We'll be spending the first week in Tokyo, and I've got permission to go to some sort of car thing while we're there!

So just looking for some advice - @Robbie J & @Albrecht I'm guessing you guys will be the ones most in the know.. but basically I'd quite like to go to some of those shops full of parts - are there any in the greater Tokyo area you can you just pop into without making an arrangement with them first?

cheers

George

 

[Robbie J]

Depending on how much time you have, some of the shops are walkable from a train which is easy to use, if you hire a car you have more options. The better ones are further out but still do some nice stuff. Going to Nissan HQ is next to interesting mall and not far from resturants so that might not even count as a car outing

 

[Albrecht]

So just looking for some advice - @Robbie J & @Albrecht I'm guessing you guys will be the ones most in the know.. but basically I'd quite like to go to some of those shops full of parts - are there any in the greater Tokyo area you can you just pop into without making an arrangement with them first?

Please don't take this the wrong way, but are you going to be buying, or just looking?

By nature, the specialists for 'our' cars tend to be medium to small - sometimes family businesses or one man bands - and are best dealt with on a case-by-case basis. They might ask you what you are looking for and what you want to buy. Have you got a clear idea of what you might expect to see, or what you might want to see?

So - in my opinion/experience - the answer(s) depend very much on what you hope to achieve. There are quite a few car-related places you can go to, but only a few (in the wider Tokyo metropolitan area) where you might expect to find something you want/need to buy. The first-gen Z specialists tend not to be 'shops' with display cabinets and counters, but functioning workshops/garages. If you want to just go and look around it can be a bit awkward, and all the more so if you don't have much in the way of Japanese language skills.

I could list some more retail-focused targets, but it depends what you are looking for. Any clues?

 

[Robbie J]

Nissan Showroom in Ginza (the Porsche one is nice too) and Nissan HQ in Yokohama have no requirements to buy anything.

Ginza is a posh shopping area so very girlfriend friendly. I got a Z towel in Ginza for the dash and good coffee

 

[Albrecht]

Nissan Showroom in Ginza (the Porsche one is nice too) and Nissan HQ in Yokohama have no requirements to buy anything.

They are also not "those shops full of parts" that he's asking about.

I would consider - given a week in Tokyo - that the Ginza area would be a must-see anyway, quite apart from any car-related stuff. Whilst the Nissan Ginza Crossing showroom is nice, it's a bit of a lottery as to whether it will be showing anything of great interest. You might go there today and see Takeuchi san's 432-R on the turntable and the RZ34 'Custom Proto' next to it, but go there in a few weeks time and you'll see the latest eco-friendly one box family wagon being given the limelight. Its a bit of a lottery.

 

[Robotsan]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but are you going to be buying, or just looking?

By nature, the specialists for 'our' cars tend to be medium to small - sometimes family businesses or one man bands - and are best dealt with on a case-by-case basis. They might ask you what you are looking for and what you want to buy. Have you got a clear idea of what you might expect to see, or what you might want to see?

So - in my opinion/experience - the answer(s) depend very much on what you hope to achieve. There are quite a few car-related places you can go to, but only a few (in the wider Tokyo metropolitan area) where you might expect to find something you want/need to buy. The first-gen Z specialists tend not to be 'shops' with display cabinets and counters, but functioning workshops/garages. If you want to just go and look around it can be a bit awkward, and all the more so if you don't have much in the way of Japanese language skills.

I could list some more retail-focused targets, but it depends what you are looking for. Any clues?

Buying. Probably going to be in the market for a comp steering wheel, badges, maybe more. So not just looking to window shop

My partner used to live there, so she speaks and reads rudimentary japanese - enough for us to get by and be polite.

Yes I understood that they're pretty small businesses - I'm basing all of my knowledge on Robbie's recent posts so I saw a little of what to expect.

It was the small shops with glass cabinets full of parts that caught my eye - but I couldn't remember which ones they were and couldn't find them from a brief search through Robbie's posts. Was Kameari one of them?

Thanks

 

[Albrecht]

Buying. Probably going to be in the market for a comp steering wheel, badges, maybe more. So not just looking to window shop

That's good, because foreign visitors had - pre-Covid - been getting a reputation for turning up in groups, taking lots of photos (for their Instagram) and then leaving without any trade taking place. I talked to a few business owners about it and they were starting to turn from being non-plussed to being irritated about it. I can see their point.

My partner used to live there, so she speaks and reads rudimentary japanese - enough for us to get by and be polite.

Excellent. That will be a big help.

It was the small shops with glass cabinets full of parts that caught my eye - but I couldn't remember which ones they were and couldn't find them from a brief search through Robbie's posts. Was Kameari one of them?

Kameari Engine Works would be one of them, yes. A good candidate because they are a proper shop-front type business, and located just into Saitama prefecture in Yashio City - within easy reach of central Tokyo via a couple of train rides and a cab, bus (or nice walk) from the nearest station.

RS Start is another shop-front type business based in Saitama, so do-able on the same day as a trip to Kameari. They are in Kami Fukuoka. They carry stock and aftermarket parts for the S30-series Z, but also a lot of C10-series Skyline parts.

Also in Saitama prefecture are Revive Jalopy. They carry a lot of rare stock parts and excellent reproductions of stuff you can't get any more. However, they are a workshop-based restoration business and they generally don't welcome walk-ins. If you want to visit you will probably need to tell them some specific parts that you want to buy, and then make an appointment to pay and collect. You probably won't see many parts 'on display'. Their stock room is private so not conducive to browsing, unfortunately.

Apart from businesses, by the time of your trip the Nissan Heritage Collection at Zama should have re-opened for organised tours. You will have to pre-book a place on a tour via their online portal. This is WELL worth doing and very much recommended. They don't let you as close up and personal to the cars as they used to ('souvenir hunters' put paid to that) but this is a one-hit experience of Nissan road, race and rally car history that you will not forget.

If you go West towards the Kansai area of Japan (your itinerary might include Kyoto?) there are other retailer recommendations such as M-Speed/Parts Assist in the Nara area: http://mspeed-japan.com/

 

[datsfun]

Alan is there a time limit / fixed times one can spend @ Zama? I mean is it 2 hours or one if those where once you are in, you can stay until doors close ?

I can see myself spending a whole day or two easily

 

[Albrecht]

Alan is there a time limit / fixed times one can spend @ Zama? I mean is it 2 hours or one if those where once you are in, you can stay until doors close ?

I believe the way they run the tours is with a fixed group entry time and a fixed group exit time (no idea how long it is these days, sorry) and they may well run more than one tour per day. There are a LOT of cars in there, so it can take a while to get round it all.

I first visited a long time ago now (the collection was then in a different building within the Zama facility, and a lot darker!) and they gave a small group of us free range to go all over the cars. Having said that, we were a 'known' quantity being from a trusted Nissan-affiliated club. These days the cars are mostly roped off into groups. Tour guides *might* allow slightly closer looks (interior, engine bay etc) with a little persuasion if of special interest, but nothing guaranteed.

Good searchable database here: https://www.nissan-global.com/EN/HERITAGE/index2.html

 

[Robotsan]

That's good, because foreign visitors had - pre-Covid - been getting a reputation for turning up in groups, taking lots of photos (for their Instagram) and then leaving without any trade taking place. I talked to a few business owners about it and they were starting to turn from being non-plussed to being irritated about it. I can see their point.



Excellent. That will be a big help.



Kameari Engine Works would be one of them, yes. A good candidate because they are a proper shop-front type business, and located just into Saitama prefecture in Yashio City - within easy reach of central Tokyo via a couple of train rides and a cab, bus (or nice walk) from the nearest station.

RS Start is another shop-front type business based in Saitama, so do-able on the same day as a trip to Kameari. They are in Kami Fukuoka. They carry stock and aftermarket parts for the S30-series Z, but also a lot of C10-series Skyline parts.

Also in Saitama prefecture are Revive Jalopy. They carry a lot of rare stock parts and excellent reproductions of stuff you can't get any more. However, they are a workshop-based restoration business and they generally don't welcome walk-ins. If you want to visit you will probably need to tell them some specific parts that you want to buy, and then make an appointment to pay and collect. You probably won't see many parts 'on display'. Their stock room is private so not conducive to browsing, unfortunately.

Apart from businesses, by the time of your trip the Nissan Heritage Collection at Zama should have re-opened for organised tours. You will have to pre-book a place on a tour via their online portal. This is WELL worth doing and very much recommended. They don't let you as close up and personal to the cars as they used to ('souvenir hunters' put paid to that) but this is a one-hit experience of Nissan road, race and rally car history that you will not forget.

If you go West towards the Kansai area of Japan (your itinerary might include Kyoto?) there are other retailer recommendations such as M-Speed/Parts Assist in the Nara area: http://mspeed-japan.com/

Thanks Alan, that's brilliant. I'll probably only get 1 day to do this sort of stuff so will have to see what's nearby so we can combine it with some other things.

Is Daikoku worth a visit? I wouldn't really be interested in the new stuff, but I read that they have a classics day every so often.

 

[Robbie J]

Thanks Alan, that's brilliant. I'll probably only get 1 day to do this sort of stuff so will have to see what's nearby so we can combine it with some other things.

Is Daikoku worth a visit? I wouldn't really be interested in the new stuff, but I read that they have a classics day every so often.

need to drive to Daikoku and it varies what's there on each night, Friday from 5 to 7pm is likely the best, the Police often clear it if it gets to busy

 

[Albrecht]

Is Daikoku worth a visit? I wouldn't really be interested in the new stuff, but I read that they have a classics day every so often.

Daikoku is a bit of a lottery as to what will turn up on any given day/evening/time. I liked it best as an early (properly early) meet-up place for car club runs on Saturdays and Sundays, but - to be brutally honest - the impromptu evening/night scene there can be very Barry Boy on acid. Not my cup of tea.

If you can wangle it, a covert accidentally car-related visit to the Tsutaya 'T-Site' book shop in the cool Daikanyama district of Tokyo on a Sunday morning could be a hit. The GF should like the cool shopping in the area and T-Site itself is a lovely place to spend a few hours book browsing, with a couple of nice cafes on site too. They have a 'Cars & Coffee' type car park drive-in meet on the second Sunday of every month that attracts all manner of exotica and oldies. Generally speaking its the type of stuff that won't see at Daikoku, and they sometimes have a 'themed' participation. Very often 'The Right Crowd, And No Crowding'.

English | 代官山T-SITE

代官山T-SITEで何かご不明な点はこちらからお問合わせください。

store.tsite.jp

Cars & Coffee Done Tokyo-Style - Speedhunters

I’m a happy chap right now. You know why? It’s because I’ve discovered another awesome bunch of people that are into cars. Coming across a new gathering of enthusiasts is always fun, but to have one happen literally down the road from your home, well it just makes it so damn exciting. Think...

www.speedhunters.com

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Daikoku is a bit of a lottery as to what will turn up on any given day/evening/time. I liked it best as an early (properly early) meet-up place for car club runs on Saturdays and Sundays, but - to be brutally honest - the impromptu evening/night scene there can be very Barry Boy on acid. Not my cup of tea.

If you can wangle it, a covert accidentally car-related visit to the Tsutaya 'T-Site' book shop in the cool Daikanyama district of Tokyo on a Sunday morning could be a hit. The GF should like the cool shopping in the area and T-Site itself is a lovely place to spend a few hours book browsing, with a couple of nice cafes on site too. They have a 'Cars & Coffee' type car park drive-in meet on the second Sunday of every month that attracts all manner of exotica and oldies. Generally speaking its the type of stuff that won't see at Daikoku, and they sometimes have a 'themed' participation. Very often 'The Right Crowd, And No Crowding'.

English | 代官山T-SITE

代官山T-SITEで何かご不明な点はこちらからお問合わせください。

store.tsite.jp

Cars & Coffee Done Tokyo-Style - Speedhunters

I’m a happy chap right now. You know why? It’s because I’ve discovered another awesome bunch of people that are into cars. Coming across a new gathering of enthusiasts is always fun, but to have one happen literally down the road from your home, well it just makes it so damn exciting. Think...

www.speedhunters.com

View attachment 56663

You have very 'in depth' knowledge of the area/scene Alan.

Re yellow Honda:

1968 Honda S800 Coupe For Sale By Auction

Genuine mileageEnthusiast ownedRestored in 2012 The Appeal The Honda S800 coupe is a stylish and distinctive sports car with a low centr...

www.carandclassic.com

 

[Robotsan]

Daikoku is a bit of a lottery as to what will turn up on any given day/evening/time. I liked it best as an early (properly early) meet-up place for car club runs on Saturdays and Sundays, but - to be brutally honest - the impromptu evening/night scene there can be very Barry Boy on acid. Not my cup of tea.

If you can wangle it, a covert accidentally car-related visit to the Tsutaya 'T-Site' book shop in the cool Daikanyama district of Tokyo on a Sunday morning could be a hit. The GF should like the cool shopping in the area and T-Site itself is a lovely place to spend a few hours book browsing, with a couple of nice cafes on site too. They have a 'Cars & Coffee' type car park drive-in meet on the second Sunday of every month that attracts all manner of exotica and oldies. Generally speaking its the type of stuff that won't see at Daikoku, and they sometimes have a 'themed' participation. Very often 'The Right Crowd, And No Crowding'.

English | 代官山T-SITE

代官山T-SITEで何かご不明な点はこちらからお問合わせください。

store.tsite.jp

Cars & Coffee Done Tokyo-Style - Speedhunters

I’m a happy chap right now. You know why? It’s because I’ve discovered another awesome bunch of people that are into cars. Coming across a new gathering of enthusiasts is always fun, but to have one happen literally down the road from your home, well it just makes it so damn exciting. Think...

www.speedhunters.com

View attachment 56663

Yeah I'd read that the 3rd Sunday of every month is when the most classics turn up, and generally Sunday mornings is more that way. Definitely more up my street too. I bet a Friday night with the Bosozoku cars is quite an assault on the senses though

That one in Daikanyama sounds very promising too - thanks for that. Bit of an early start needed for that though it sounds like! But I do really like the idea of it.

Thanks!

 

[Robbie J]

we went twice, I think Wednesday and a Thursday the following week. only 30 cars there each time but it was wet one day and cold another

complete mix of cars