Tuning Houses / Visiting / Merchandise etc..

[Poida]

Hey guys..

I think i've just about read every topic in this section and its probably been one of the best forums, info and people wise that i've come across in a while. Top work there

I've got a heap of questions, but im going to try and keep them on one subject in here!

Regarding visiting.. Im planning on staying roughly 3 months in Japan. I will be staying for the first month with a host family in outer tokyo. After this i plan on doing a bit of travelling via a JR rail pass all over japan..

One of the biggest drawcards for me is its cars and their totally different culture. Also the fact that on my last two trips, i didnt have any time to explore or check out what i wanted to see. Due mainly to the fact i was on a school trip and with parents prior to this.

So this time, i wanna do it my way, and one of the things i really would like to see or atleast get a photo infront of, is some of their tuning houses, cars, cultural areas, and anything that i havent seen before or is different to Australia. (Read just about everything.)

So, i'm keen on visiting some of the bigger name tuning shops, autobacs, up garage etc, and hopefully attending a few events. A D1 round would be very cool, and im definitely hanging out for TAS 2005!

So here are my questions. Generally what are the tuning shops like? Do they sell merchandise that i can buy/use daily? Without my car there i feel a bit silly going to some of these places, so is it worth having a look at? What might i be able to pickup while there?

What about events wise.. I see some of you, rezz, dave, lee have attend some? To a short term gaijin (hoping for long term stay + work), are they relatively easy to get to? I mean is there hope of me getting to some of these places without my own vehicle?

And lastly.. if you were going for a few month holiday where would you go, and what you want to see?

Thanking you in advance guys

[topi]

I only went for a very short time, but Autobacs is deffinately worth a visit. Oh and dont worry about turning upto places with no car.

[Poida]

sorry just hit submit accidently.. Just edited half the thread.. My bad.. :Oops:

[Rezz]

If you want to see the some of the best Japan has to offer as far as tuning shops go conveniently without a car, I'd suggest Tokyo. Some of the guys on here (Blitz aka Nick for one) will be able to point you in the right direction as far as tuning shops are concerned. To answer your 1st question, yes, you can buy merchandise you can use daily (eg: clothes, stickers, DVDs, lighters etc) but depending on where you go stock might be a bit lacking.

As for events it really depends on when you decide to come here... although you mentioned the TAS '05, so I assume you're coming around Jan - March?

On the other hand, if you came to Osaka, Troy and I could take you to some cool places by car... and meet the extended SAU/Performance Forums Osaka family.

If I were coming here on a 3 month holiday, I'd go to: Fuji-san, Himeji castle, Hiroshima Gembaku do-mu (Bomb Dome), Koyasan in Wakayama (awesome buddist "temple town" - with one of the best graveyards you'll ever see!) Tokyo Ginza (all vistors have to go there) and take the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo to Osaka... I'm sure the other guys will have better places in mind though!!!

[Poida]

Hey Rezz thanks for your reply.

The story is, we had a girl stay with us for a homestay while she studied here (Brisbane). Now she has offered me the same option of staying with her in Japan. She lives in Tsuru in the Yamanshi prefecture roughly a few hours out of Tokyo. (I think some one mentioned they live near there?) So basically i was going for a bit of a homestay for a month.. then going travelling on my own.. Was hoping to maybe go snowboarding then checking out all the sights and sounds of Japan. Was also hoping to meet some other gaijins on the way, especially the ones who are interested in the same things as me which would be pretty cool! After i did that i was planning on staying somewhere, possibly back with my homestay, and looking for work, now that i've finally finished my TESOL course :oops:

[Rezz]

Hey Dave, he's going to Yamanashi...

[yukz2daizzo]

if you're thinking of clubbing, i would suggest you head down to roponggi they have quite a few small ones over there, but if you're into big clubs then yokohama is the place for you.

[Poida]

Hey guys,

First of all thanks for the replies

Secondly, i have booked my flight and i am soo soo keen to get on tehre now!! Im leaving on the 29th of this month.. Im really looking forward to meeting up with some Gaijins over there, especially to show us around the car scene over there.. Rezz, Dave, Lee, would you guys be up for something like this?!

[Rezz]

So Poida, you're coming to Kansai right? So where will be when the TAS is on? If you're in Kansai you can travel with me if you can chip in some for toll/gas

[Poida]

So Poida, you're coming to Kansai right? So where will be when the TAS is on? If you're in Kansai you can travel with me if you can chip in some for toll/gas

Rezz id be more than happy to do that! At the moment i dont really have an itinerary except for staying in Tsuru for the first month or so.. After this i was planning on going somewhere else and checking it out.. Seeing as it would be so close to TAS by the time im out of Yamanashi maybe Osaka should be the next stop on my list

[chopobo]

sorry for stealing ur thread but its on similar topic

im coming japan on chrismas day and staying for about a month

i wanna know if u guys got addresses to the popular tuning houses around tokyo area

ill be staying in shinjuku, shibuya area and wanna visit the car museums etc

do you think it would be worth it getting a JR rail pass or are these places all within tokyo vincinity

oh yeah also up for TAS of course.

[Rezz]

Seeing as it would be so close to TAS by the time im out of Yamanashi maybe Osaka should be the next stop on my list

You should stay in Yamanashi until TAS then, it's ALOT closer to Tokyo than Osaka!

[Ronin 09]

sorry for stealing ur thread but its on similar topic

im coming japan on chrismas day and staying for about a month

i wanna know if u guys got addresses to the popular tuning houses around tokyo area  

ill be staying in shinjuku, shibuya area and wanna visit the car museums etc

do you think it would be worth it getting a JR rail pass or are these places all within tokyo vincinity

oh yeah also up for TAS of course.

Chop, don't tell me you're flying on xmas eve from Sydney on a Qantas flight... b/c I am...

[chopobo]

ooOoOo

nah christmas morning from melbourne with JAL

[bigwurm]

To make your trip to Japan complete, you really really need a Yakuza style tatoo

[chopobo]

lol but then u won't be able to go into onsen

[Poida]

is that true? About the yakuza tatoos and not being allowed in to hot springs?..

[lwells]

To make your trip to Japan complete, you really really need a Yakuza style tatoo

I thought the deal was to lop off part of your finger? The Yakuza must be getting soft these days

LW.