Advice for my trip to Japan?
Jan 22, 2018, 11:45 am
#46
Join Date: Sep 2004
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There's a Rakuten associated tour agency that offer Mario Cart drives/tours around Tokyo. I'd assumed the OP meant something like that.
I've seen people in Halloween Costumes in groups doing it.
I also think I may have read that there are authorities trying to crack down on the practice, so I don't how much longer this service will be available for.
I've seen people in Halloween Costumes in groups doing it.
I also think I may have read that there are authorities trying to crack down on the practice, so I don't how much longer this service will be available for.
I actually saw a group over by the SkyTree when I was in Tokyo a few weeks back and was annoyed by it. To be fair, they weren't doing anything particularly annoying but I am also a curmudgeon
Most of them were wearing costumes like one of the characters from the game. I'm sure it's a mostly harmless thing to do but it also seems really daft, which is how I feel about stuff like the Robot Restaurant. YMMV, obviously.
Jan 22, 2018, 12:13 pm
#47
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One of the articles I've read about the crackdown.
I actually saw a group over by the SkyTree when I was in Tokyo a few weeks back and was annoyed by it. To be fair, they weren't doing anything particularly annoying but I am also a curmudgeon Most of them were wearing costumes like one of the characters from the game. I'm sure it's a mostly harmless thing to do but it also seems really daft, which is how I feel about stuff like the Robot Restaurant. YMMV, obviously.
I actually saw a group over by the SkyTree when I was in Tokyo a few weeks back and was annoyed by it. To be fair, they weren't doing anything particularly annoying but I am also a curmudgeon
Most of them were wearing costumes like one of the characters from the game. I'm sure it's a mostly harmless thing to do but it also seems really daft, which is how I feel about stuff like the Robot Restaurant. YMMV, obviously.I saw them around Roppongi and a couple of other areas when I was in tokyo in early January.
Regards
tbs
Jan 22, 2018, 1:19 pm
#48
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,512
Zerotai - its probably not going to be as exciting as you think however if you want to then make sure you hire a car overnight and go down to daikoku futo in Yokohama. While its not what it was 15 years ago people still do gather there with some interesting cars. And talking of games, I think, can’t be sure, but I think the photo Lap Lap took is actually from the R246 track in Gran Turismo. The rendering in the game is a very very accurate representation of real life so quite eerie if you walk around it. If there’s any car stuff you want to see in Japan just ask and there’s a good chance I can help you.
Jan 23, 2018, 1:01 am
#49
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Zerotai - its probably not going to be as exciting as you think however if you want to then make sure you hire a car overnight and go down to daikoku futo in Yokohama. While its not what it was 15 years ago people still do gather there with some interesting cars. And talking of games, I think, can’t be sure, but I think the photo Lap Lap took is actually from the R246 track in Gran Turismo. The rendering in the game is a very very accurate representation of real life so quite eerie if you walk around it. If there’s any car stuff you want to see in Japan just ask and there’s a good chance I can help you.
Jan 23, 2018, 3:37 am
#52
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Thanks for all the recommendations, seems like a few FT members would be in Japan during my time frame, perhaps we could get together or something haha.
By driving around in Tokyo, I literally meant renting a car and driving around the Tokyo highway. I am a car guy and played arcade games like Wangan Midnight that features tokyo highways, (ie. C1 route) Probably is a bad idea due to heavy traffic but will explore the option if that works out.
As for mario cart, I completely forgot about that. I'll have to research if they're still offering the service at that time. I actually thought it was some sort of a joke and not a real company running it.
I booked my ticket for a whopping 1.5k cad
YYZ - HKG Mar 30
HKG - KIX Apr 3
HND - YYZ Apr 15
So I have about 11 days in Japan, thinking of doing 4-5 days based in Osaka and 5-6 days based in Tokyo (base meaning hotel base and just day travel to areas) 1 day to Mishima/Izu area, Nagoya Toyota Museum. I don't know how this is going to work out at the moment...still trying to figure it out.
By driving around in Tokyo, I literally meant renting a car and driving around the Tokyo highway. I am a car guy and played arcade games like Wangan Midnight that features tokyo highways, (ie. C1 route) Probably is a bad idea due to heavy traffic but will explore the option if that works out.
As for mario cart, I completely forgot about that. I'll have to research if they're still offering the service at that time. I actually thought it was some sort of a joke and not a real company running it.
I booked my ticket for a whopping 1.5k cad
YYZ - HKG Mar 30
HKG - KIX Apr 3
HND - YYZ Apr 15
So I have about 11 days in Japan, thinking of doing 4-5 days based in Osaka and 5-6 days based in Tokyo (base meaning hotel base and just day travel to areas) 1 day to Mishima/Izu area, Nagoya Toyota Museum. I don't know how this is going to work out at the moment...still trying to figure it out.
Jan 28, 2018, 8:40 pm
#53
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https://maricar.osaka/en/osaka.html
Jan 30, 2018, 4:21 pm
#54
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 6
Thanks all. About Yokohama car meets, I'm not sure going there solo is a good idea? Seems like you need a car to get there and night time probably doesn't work for me. Thanks for the tip though, Jalopnik wrote a piece about it some time ago.
Actually I have another concern. Travelling to small cities like Takayama or Hakone with the possibility of staying overnight, how would one bring a large piece of luggage there? Am I suppose to ship it to the service counter there? See link > Hida Takayama Carry Service | Traveling to Japan | YAMATO TRANSPORT GLOBAL
However I don't see a Black Cat service counter at Hakone, am I SOL and have to lug that thing there?
Actually I have another concern. Travelling to small cities like Takayama or Hakone with the possibility of staying overnight, how would one bring a large piece of luggage there? Am I suppose to ship it to the service counter there? See link > Hida Takayama Carry Service | Traveling to Japan | YAMATO TRANSPORT GLOBAL
However I don't see a Black Cat service counter at Hakone, am I SOL and have to lug that thing there?
Feb 5, 2018, 8:24 am
#56
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
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Posts: 3,752
Yes, that's what I do when I'm headed off into the countryside for a couple of days. I am a huge fan of Japan's luggage shipping companies. Put necessary articles plus a couple of changes of socks, shirts, and underwear in the carry-on, entrust your large suitcase to a delivery service, and you're free to go off the beaten track.
