Jump to content
SAU Community

Recommended Posts

was going to go to tokyo motor show on the wednesday night. but after seeing the news report down in nagasaki and all of the fugly cars they shown. i decided against it.

was it worth going?

also, picture 14 of this thread looks like saito daigo's D1 drift car. looks pretty similar to me. good photos none the less.

  • Replies 55
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted Images

I thought the Tokyo Motor Show was worth the visit, most especially because there were a number of cars on display that I was interested in seeing for myself - pictures just aren't the same. The only down sides for me were that Odaiba is a bit of a hike and the crowd was massive which means some cars are hard to get a good look at. Definitely glad I went though.

Thanks everyone.

With regards to the hire of the Nissan Cube, I hired it from Nissan Rent-a-car in Shinjuku. I do my bookings through this website: http://www2.tocoo.jp - they deal with multiple companies. Not all rental companies offer English GPS, but Nissan do. It's a ~Y1000 option and well worth it. Because I was staying at the Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku which is right near Shinjuku station I opted to use this outlet: http://www2.tocoo.jp/?file=rentcar_inbound/branch&id=02236&prefecture=13 - I've used them twice now and they have been perfect to deal with every time.

The GPS is easy enough to use but keep in mind that the Japanese map system is not the same as here. There's two ways of accurately finding your destination (most of the time):

1. Phone Number - the GPS System will allow you to enter the phone number of the place you want to visit.

2. GPS Co-ordinates - My preferred method is to look up the locations I want to drive to on Google Maps when I'm planning my trip and then convert the coordinates for that location into the format that the GPS System in the car uses. A helpful website for conversion of the coordinates is http://netvicious.com/gps/ - make a note of all the formats of the coordinates so you don't get caught out. I think from memory the GPS system in the Nissan uses Degrees/Minutes/Seconds format (xx.xx.xx, xxx.xx.xx).

The Nissan GPS system is pretty good, I never got lost with it. It's not 100% english but the directions are English and the signs on the roads in Japan are usually in both languages too.

I'd advise that you burn a CD of Mp3 music or take a spare SD Card with Mp3's on it to play in the car during your adventures, Japanese Radio stations can get a bit tiresome as they talk a lot between songs!

Edited by d0p3y

Awesome photo diary dopey, I wish I had been to some of the place you've seen! Some outstanding photos there.

Do you speak Japanese? How did you know all the best places to visit etc?

Was the GTR expensive to rent?

Awesome photo diary dopey, I wish I had been to some of the place you've seen! Some outstanding photos there.

Do you speak Japanese? How did you know all the best places to visit etc?

Was the GTR expensive to rent?

The GTR was Y46,200 for 24hrs hire, so depending on the exchange rate it's not too bad. There were three of us on holiday so divided by 3 mates it was certainly good value. Toll roads cost a small fortune though they are great to drive on. Rental was through Premium Rent - http://www.premium-rent.com/en/cartypes.php

I can't speak much Japanese, I understand a fair bit. Enough to get by.

I did a lot of research for places to visit just using Google, Travel Wiki, other Forums etc. There's quite a few threads on http://www.jdmstyletuning.com forums with other travel blogs and Japan holiday advice threads. If you put a lot of time into research you'll find heaps to do.

Thanks everyone.With regards to the hire of the Nissan Cube, I hired it from Nissan Rent-a-car in Shinjuku. I do my bookings through this website: http://www2.tocoo.jp - they deal with multiple companies. Not all rental companies offer English GPS, but Nissan do. It's a ~Y1000 option and well worth it. Because I was staying at the Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku which is right near Shinjuku station I opted to use this outlet: http://www2.tocoo.jp/?file=rentcar_inbound/branch&id=02236&prefecture=13 - I've used them twice now and they have been perfect to deal with every time.The GPS is easy enough to use but keep in mind that the Japanese map system is not the same as here. There's two ways of accurately finding your destination (most of the time):1. Phone Number - the GPS System will allow you to enter the phone number of the place you want to visit. 2. GPS Co-ordinates - My preferred method is to look up the locations I want to drive to on Google Maps when I'm planning my trip and then convert the coordinates for that location into the format that the GPS System in the car uses. A helpful website for conversion of the coordinates is http://netvicious.com/gps/ - make a note of all the formats of the coordinates so you don't get caught out. I think from memory the GPS system in the Nissan uses Degrees/Minutes/Seconds format (xx.xx.xx, xxx.xx.xx). The Nissan GPS system is pretty good, I never got lost with it. It's not 100% english but the directions are English and the signs on the roads in Japan are usually in both languages too.I'd advise that you burn a CD of Mp3 music or take a spare SD Card with Mp3's on it to play in the car during your adventures, Japanese Radio stations can get a bit tiresome as they talk a lot between songs!

Awesome!!

Huge thanx, that is some fantastic info.

Me learned :thumbsup:

Is there a engrish website on how the toll/roads system work in Japan?

It's all pretty simple - there's cash booths on every toll road I've come across. I wish there was a way for foreigners to obtain the ETC card but so far I haven't seen any way to hire or buy one so cash booths are the only way. Cash booths are usually marked by the big green sign like this:

3559399653_d98154b65d_o.jpg

Just remember to have lots of cash handy. I think the most I've spent is about $80 in one day. Most tolls are Y300-700 but the motorways can cost up to Y2500 on the long journeys. The more expensive motorways that are charged for different distances will have 2 toll booths - the first when you enter the motorway you collect a card and the second booth where you hand your card to the operator and pay the charge based on distance. When you get to the second booth they'll usually have an electornic sign showing how much to pay.

I've noticed that the GPS system in the Nissan will usually show you the estimate of how much the toll charge will be which is handy but not entirely vital.

There's a few guides on the net for driving, ie: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2022.html & http://expatsguide.jp/ch6 - for the most part it's pretty straight forward and easy to grasp.

Remember to get your international driving permit from NRMA before you leave the country!

When you go to fuel up the car just remember the word "mantan" and they will give you a full tank. Usually a station attendant will guide you in and fill the car up for you, no need to get out of the car at all.

It's all pretty simple - there's cash booths on every toll road I've come across. I wish there was a way for foreigners to obtain the ETC card but so far I haven't seen any way to hire or buy one so cash booths are the only way. Cash booths are usually marked by the big green sign like this:

3559399653_d98154b65d_o.jpg

Just remember to have lots of cash handy. I think the most I've spent is about $80 in one day. Most tolls are Y300-700 but the motorways can cost up to Y2500 on the long journeys. The more expensive motorways that are charged for different distances will have 2 toll booths - the first when you enter the motorway you collect a card and the second booth where you hand your card to the operator and pay the charge based on distance. When you get to the second booth they'll usually have an electornic sign showing how much to pay.

I've noticed that the GPS system in the Nissan will usually show you the estimate of how much the toll charge will be which is handy but not entirely vital.

There's a few guides on the net for driving, ie: http://www.japan-gui...om/e/e2022.html & http://expatsguide.jp/ch6 - for the most part it's pretty straight forward and easy to grasp.

Remember to get your international driving permit from NRMA before you leave the country!

When you go to fuel up the car just remember the word "mantan" and they will give you a full tank. Usually a station attendant will guide you in and fill the car up for you, no need to get out of the car at all.

You pretty much need a Japanese credit card to get ETC.

You can buy with cash but you'll need at least half decent Japanese to buy one from the companies that run the toll roads.

Also to add on filling up... Regular Mantan kudasai.. (fill her up with regular please) Genkin de onegai (paying by cash please)

You get a slight discount by using cash instead of credit card.

  • 2 weeks later...

dude... I'm super fkn jealous. Only spent 6 days there and I had the locals laughing at me for taking pictures of everything. You must have had alot of attention! haha

Bloody awesome photos

No probs.

I didn't get many looks, well, I don't think so anyway. I didn't pay too much attention to others whilst I was taking photos. The only time I can definitely recall somebody noticing was at Daikoku Futo - they were talking about me but I don't think they realised I understood a bit of Japanese. Nothing bad they were just exclaiming "wow, a foreigner all the way out here". People were surprisingly friendly for the most part and I had a chat to a few people about their cars. Those who seem intimidating initially are often quite friendly once spoken to!

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 months later...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now



  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • The old manifold was quite under the GTR strut brace.  The new manifold is quite [unknown] the GTR strut brace. The GTR strut brace was needed to clear the bonnet vents. The Old strut brace will almost certainly clear the new manifold, but not the bonnet vents. The old strut brace will almost certainly clear the new manifold, and the new bonnet without vents. But I am hoping the GTR strut brace clears the new manifold :p
    • On the bright side, at least you knew that it happened and remedied before anything happened. A friend of mine just took his Fiat 124 to a shop for an oil change and they didn't tighten the oil filter housing properly. 4.5 quarts spewed out and even after refilling + tightening the cap the engine has a tick now.
    • So, more pain. The FAST manifold is a little larger than the stocker. This is problematic because there really wasn't much clearance to begin with, so going from 'barely enough' well into 'no' is sad based on the external dimensions of the thing, even though where it bolts to the head is the same. Result is the fuel rails sit a good 25mm higher, and this is a bit of an issue with the wiring that runs behind the motor, and the fuel lines, and everything else. When pushing the manifold on, it required a huge amount of force to crush wiring looms to fit it, sensors like the MAP sensor are about 1mm from the firewall, and the FPR just has to bend ABS lines to be forced into place. After some brainstorming and some sad drinking, the loom for some reason ran from the grommet behind the ABS sensor, then to the driver side head, then back to the passenger side head. So all of this was pulled back and stripped, a few wires cut and rejoined, so that the 'branch' was now on the passenger side's head as below: Before you basically couldn't see anything behind the driver head. This is much improved! The MAP sensor is now pointing up (instead of at the firewall) Brackets have been made up for the rail. The rails are for a LS1, the manifold is designed around a LS2 as it's base. Which of course has slightly different bracketry and water pump clearance, hence the mods people need to do. Should be hopefully mounted tonight. I spent money on a new FPR that is slightly more compact than my Turbosmart FPR1200. The gauge has also been moved to the rail. There's also apparently an ORB to AN Union instead of the adapter, because the ~25mm of the current adapter is going to make the difference. Provided this all goes together and arrives today, it'll be the totally not stressful attempt to start it.
    • This seems like a pointless exercise. There is no E30 availability. Ongoing availability of E85 should not be assumed. Flex-fuel is the only sensible approach, so you can use E85 when and where you can get it, 98 when that's al you can get, and anything in between as you fill it up and drain it down. And if that means replacing the pumps, fitting a flex capable sensor/ECU/whatever has to be done to these Renault shitboxen, then.....so be it?
×
×
  • Create New...