dodgybrooks

The cop cars around where I live are mostly really scary Toyota Crowns or keis, although apparently there is a turbo Aristo that does the highways and I've been pulled over by a turb B4 Legacy. Yea Takumi has quit the tofu business and now drives for the Miyagi prefecture police team.

dude, niseko is absolutely insane. went there last year and it was blew my mind. it's got every kind of run you could think of (except a board park, it snows too much to build one) including the most insane tree runs i have ever boarded here in japan, and the place enormous. super huge. and of course, being in hokkaido, its got some of the softest powder in the world, and it snows a shit tin. there are tons of aussies there, half of the mountain would be from aus. the town at the bottom of the mountain looks like its got some cool places to drink, although i didn't get to many of them so not really sure. but definatly worth the cash mate. makes every other hill you go to after seem like a waste of time.

of course you can dude! here is what you do: Give me your money - i'll buy it and drive it here in japan for the year it takes to be able to import it under the personal import scheme and then i'll stick it on a boat and it's all yours! no compliance costs and you get my personal guarantee that i won't drift it or take it to track days or gymkahnas!

dude, head down to odaiba. it's got the toyota megaweb which is a huge toyota showroom with some cool shit including a JGTC supra which you can climb into, but the best bit is the museum there with a changing collection of cars (apart from an F1 car from toyota's 1st year in F1, a paris dakar celica and a GT1, which are always there). last year i was there it had an old skool gt-r and an AE86 dressed up all Initial D style, the time before a whole heap of toyota racing cars from different series, the time before that i can't remember but they probably would have been really cool. well worth a visit. cheapest places to stay are capsule hotels. there are plenty in shinjuku. they aren't luxury by any stretch but you can only find them in japan so save some money and get some culture at the same time.

wohoo, im first. I have been living here in Yamanashi, between Mt Fuji and Tokyo, for 2 years teaching English (unfortunately). This coming school year will be my last year of teaching, as I'm then off to language school to polish up the Japanese. From there, a proper job! So I'll probably spend another 4 years here, 1 teaching, 1 studying and 2 working. Why I came? (and on this I'd like to hear everyone's reason) I studied electronic engineering at uni and love Japanese cars (a given for being a member on this forum), so with Sony, Nissan and the like begging, I came exploring.

yea right, thanks. yep hokkaido powder is insane. am just back from a trip up there. can't compare it to niigata but it's a world different from nagano, well worth the extra expense. an aussie dude bought some lifts at one of the biggest resorts up there called Niseko 2 years ago so there are heaps of aussies heading up there these days.

where do you go boarding mate? cant read that plate in the pic

"serviced on", mate

Has anyone sucessfully privately imported a car back to aus but remained in Japan? I've looked at the rules and seems you have to have proof that you are returning with the car and you have plans of staying in Australia. I'm keen on sending my car back next year but have no plans of leaving Japan just yet. DaiOni:1.5man/month for insurance? Must be something special. I pay about 4man/year for 3rd party on an Evo and I'm 26. I'll check on the fire/theft thing tonight when I have a look at the policy but I'd be willing to forgo theft while living in Japan (maybe not Australia) for a 14man saving.

No one has written about the coolest car on the japanese roads, the k-truck. my girlfriend's dad was given one the other day, and today I was lucky enough to take it for a spin to the video shop. amazing, 660cc supercharged 4WD Subaru Samba. well, you'd never see one on the aussie roads, so if you imported one at least it would be different!!

you boys are right, MOS burger kicks the big macs arse. but natto? man that stuff is the most revolting excuse for food in the world. i've heard all the 'good for you body' explanations but its tastes like crap. so does ume boshi, and so does uni. just my humble opinion. and correct me if i'm wrong, but doesn't no-miso mean brains?

Count me in

awesome shots mate. I'll be going to the next round at fujispeedway, if your not spending all day snapping away then wanna hook up? and if your busy afterwards I know a wicked touge right next to the speedway were we can have some fun. i drive an evo and would LOVE a ride in a 34.

yea that boy knows what he's talking about i would love to know if that kind of behaviour goes on in foreign communities in other countries, or just in this crazy place.

very nice pics mate, bring that handy camera of yours to the gt300 next month am now kicking myself that i didnt take up your offer whats the story with the rb20 under your name? you hooked yourself up? mate if you have then get your ass back down here and we'll tear the hell out of the mountains.

evo. the FD looks a lot more like a hollywood beauty, the evo like a kings cross sluut, and everyone knows that sluuts do a much better job when it comes down to it. well, i like sluuts anyway....

Yea miso ramen is where it starts and finishes. miso ramen with futomen and gyoza. where aussie pissheads on the way home from the pub eat kebabs, japanese pissheads on the way home eat ramen or go to yoshinoya

gday, if any of you boys are heading there soon, i'd love to hook up and see it too. don't live far from tokyo and have a car, aint no skyline but if you dont mind riding in an evo then i can give you a lift.

Cheers mate, will look into them. Sorry your leaving with bad feelings about this place, but have fun packing hey! Stephen

gday guys, was wondering if anyone could help me out. bought a car here in japan on the weekend (get it in 2 weeks), and am now need insurance. if you know of any insurance companies worth recomending, then please let me know. thanks stephen

reads `parking brake's SW (What that means I don't know) number, parking brake state (on or off??) imputted into the C/U.' hope it helped stephen

gday adam, how good is ur jap? if you can read a few basics then head to a site called www.carsensor.net its a bit like the aussie trading post but has about 28thou cars in it per week. it isn't auction data but will give you a good idea of price compared to kms and options etc. there are more magazines/web sites like this but this one is a good place to start. hope it helped stephen