So I've decided after years of putting it off to go to Japan in March of next year, something I've wanted to do for many years now, but kept it on the back burner. Part of it will be spent with a friend who's stationed at one of the US bases in Okinawa, a southerly tropical island, so I'll fly down there from Tokyo and be taken care off. I do however want to check out both Nagoya (where my Z spent the first half of its life) and Tokyo.

 

Whilst being a pretty seasoned traveler, I've yet to go any further east than India. Getting around Tokyo I'm sure won't be a problem as I understand that most signage is also in English/Western type set, however I want to take the bullet train to Nagoya and rent a car to go and visit the guys at Fairlady Pro-Shop (Z32-zone) who are about 45 mins west of Tokyo centre and if I can get access via application, a visit to Nissan DNA Heritage Museum in Hironodai.

 

Few questions: Little information on Bullet Train schedules and pricing online, can I assume that in Tokyo, it's fairly straight forward in getting tickets? In terms of driving, obviously I'll need to solely rely on GPS once out of Tokyo - how difficult is it once out of the main city centre?

 

Any information/conversation points welcome.

Edited September 15, 20178 yr by Funkysi

Thanks dude. Flying tomorrow, put snow chains on the Merc as the roads here are absolutely appalling.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]111098[/ATTACH]

 

Safe trip pal:thumbup1:

The owner is on the right in this pic, he used to work for Tokyo Auto until he set up pro zone.

 

Edited March 3, 20187 yr by phutumsch

You should have told him to rid the carrots :lol:

I also have a meeting with Mr. K's right hand man. :cool:

Here are the carts that i spotted on my travels, think it was near Diaba.

 

Simon.......a visit to Euno where there are lots of market type shops and don't forget the famous crossing at Shibuya is a must.

 

We got around with a Pasmo card each which we bought at Narita airport.

 

Pasmo and Suica cards, yes. I'm going to get the Suica card I think and yes, that's the Mario Kart. Can't wait to go on that.

 

I'm going to Euno with a Japanese girl I know, so doing that. I'm not in Tokyo for a huge amount of time, 5 days in total, the rest will he spent on Okinawa relaxing in the sun and eating sushi.

 

Car stuff planned/booked/arranged:

 

Nissan DNA heritage museum in Zama

Fairlady Pro Shop

Nissan Engine museum

Nissan World headquarters in Yokohama

NISMO World Headquarters also in Yokohama

 

I always do too much car stuff when I'm on vacation.

Edited March 2, 20187 yr by Funkysi

Did you go to Akihabara? Full of cool anime and tech shops.

You may need that because the owner speaks very little English, i was lucky as his son was there to translate.

They were all so so nice and welcoming, i took more pictures and i'll upload at a later date.

The yard is full of breakers/customer cars/ones for sale and their own, the one with me pictured they wanted only £2000 for it !! In this country it'd be worth way more, was an auto though.

Took a while to get there from Tokyo area but well worth it........enjoy !!

 

So I've wondered, do they have many cars for sale? Their website always lists very few, but maybe they only list the best: http://www.z32-zone.com/cgi-bin/Get-Z/db.cgi?action=online_shop&data_file=./data.dat&target_num=808

 

Rarely see a TT there, either.

 

£2,000 can hardly be right though, one is listed for £9,600 :ohmy:

Edited March 2, 20187 yr by dutchgold92

Did you go to Akihabara? Full of cool anime and tech shops.

 

We did but not overly keen on the anime, the locals love it but something i did want to see, 5 days and you should see most.

 

There is a NISSAN shop in Ginza, amongst the high end shops, here are the pics......

 

Concept car...

 

 

Skyline....

 

 

Me in said GTR...

 

 

Its backside...

 

 

Interior.....

 

 

Goodies to purchase.....

 

So I've wondered, do they have many cars for sale? Their website always lists very few, but maybe they only list the best: http://www.z32-zone.com/cgi-bin/Get-Z/db.cgi?action=online_shop&data_file=./data.dat&target_num=808

 

Rarely see a TT there, either.

 

SWB's are like here, more scarce, they did have another for sale in the garage and the one i'm photo'd next to did have a cover on it initially and they said it was their best car but a steal i thought at £2000, i'm sure i've got that correct.

 

I think people like here, keep hold of the truly most desirable.

 

On my travels i spotted about 4 skylines but not one 300zx.

You should have told him to rid the carrots :lol:

 

Need to correct something here, the owners Z is on the left in this pic and the other guys SWB is on the right - a domestic pilot he his apparently !!

 

 

Owners Z......

 

 

And here the pilot is, beautiful this car - i sat in it, dreaming of owning a TT SWB myself !!

 

 

And the rear of it, they moved and put them all in a line for my wife and i, the white one you see in the garage was also for sale but again another auto LWB.

 

Shibuya, unbelievable crossing !!

 

What lip spoilers and rear bumper spoilers are on those cars??

What lip spoilers and rear bumper spoilers are on those cars??

Looks like a stillen type III

I'm planning to go after my next stint of work, I want to cram as MUCH as i can into a week - I want to go to a car meet at the daikoku futo parking area, visit a few tuning shops - what's the Z32 focused shops? I really wanted to go in Jan to the TAS, but was shipped away 2 weeks prior.

Thanks dude. Flying tomorrow, put snow chains on the Merc as the roads here are absolutely appalling.

 

Stay safe Si and I hope it’s as good as you’ve imagined it to be. Looking forward to seeing so pics. :cool3:

Talking of Stillen...

 

 

Me again, there were a few cars with 99 insert headlights you may notice, some of which weren't genuine - think they said 'real speed' on them.

 

Think that Real Speed stuff is expensive Andy. I was talking about the owners Z lip spoiler, it looks kind of round at the edge?? Has vents in the side, just curious is all:thumbup1:

Awesome thread and love the pics Andy :thumbup1: Simon is on his way so watch this space.

Yup, just on the train from Narita Airport into Tokyo. Japanese train networks although super efficient are very confusing.

Have a great trip Si, Were moving down to south west so might see you around

 

What part of the SW you moving to Tony, it’s pretty vast.

What part of the SW you moving to Tony, it’s pretty vast.

I'm for jobs in Cornwall and Devon and will know this week

 

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

Yup, just on the train from Narita Airport into Tokyo. Japanese train networks although super efficient are very confusing.

 

You'll just get used to it and then come home !!

 

We often stood on the concourse a while checking my map, signs, etc, and almost always got the correct train, if it goes the wrong direction you cannot just jump on the other side/platform to get you 'back'.

 

Some trains are 'local', for instance the one back to Narita was an express one, hour and a quarter journey, so it missed stops out, so standing on the platform we had to let 2 trains go by before the express one, bang on time of course, we also asked the guards to be sure, they're more than happy to assist even with broken English they show you the train time required on their ipad screen, they're so sweet and helpful.

 

What a wonderful country Japan, puts England to shame - enjoy your evening :cool3:.

So much amazing stuff happened today. Not too sure where to begin. This morning I met the former director of NISMO who picked myself and my Japanese friend up from the station in his 1964 Cedric. Full guided tour of the museum at the Zama plant, I have hundreds of photos that I need to sift through. It was a complete honour and a privilege.

 

Following that, he took us for ramen before dropping us back to the station where we'd parked the 350.

 

Then drove down to see the guys at Z0ne in Sagamihara. Super friendly chap a and it turns out the own and I have a number of contacts in common.

 

Interesting fact; the owner, Hideki Omura, supplied the Z32 used in Kill Bill.

 

Tons and tons of awesome parts there. Great time and great guys and I might be doing some sort of spares deal perhaps at a later date.

 

 

 

How great is this a second club member at the Pro Zone in Japan and getting photographed on their FB page with good publicity for our club. Awesome.

Thanks Simon, keep up the great work and look forward to more pics mate.