Reccomendations In Tokyo

[oRiCLe]

Hey guys, i am going to Japan (Sapporo) for a few days for work this Friday, and have the option of staying over a night or two in Tokyo on the way back (gotta love those work paid for trips) , can ppl reccomend some things to do/see in Tokyo or not far from it, i have been to Japan twice before, but always for work and straight up to Sapporo and direct back each time...so some ideas would be good, like drifting, sights etc. ta.

cheers.

[oRiCLe]

also, anyone have some information about the swap meets that are around for car parts also, where and when they are on, ta.

[sewid]

You could make your way to Chiba and visit a couple of places in one day. Crystal, Top Secret, Up Garage and Carrest are all in Chiba, albeit quite spread out.

You could also make it to Tokyo bay superautobacs and Omori Nismo factory if you had extra time.

To get to Crystal take the train from Tokyo Station to Chiba station, hop on the Chiba urban monorail and get off at the Sports Center stop. Get out of the monorail station and head right off the escalator. Walk for 10 minutes until you see a footbridge, cross over to the other side of the road, from the bridge you can see McDonalds. Walk 2 minutes further and you will see Crystal. May or may not be interesting to you, they do have a decent selection of new GTR parts upstairs.

To get to Top Secret, I believe it is on the same street as Crystal but its more like a cab ride. You could try getting on the bus that drives past Crystal (bus stop is close by, in the direction of the station). Never done this myself tho.

Chiba Up Garage is trickier to find but pretty fun to browse thru. Take the train to Chiba station and then switch to the local line. Take the train again to Chiba Chuo station and get out and find a map. Walk to Shinjuku Park which isn't really much of a park its more like a gravelly walking park which extends south from Chiba Chuo station thru the suburban parts of Chiba. Walk along Shinjuku park until it hits a footbridge, if you walk up onto the footbridge and look to your right you will see Up Garage. Walk back down off the footbridge and head towards it.

Carrest is pretty far out of Chiba as well but was quite a lot of fun for me. They have a JGTC GTR in the shop and the place is huge. You need to make your way from Tokyo to Shinnarashino on the JR Keiyo train line. You can probably also get there from Chiba check the map. Exit Shinnarashino station towards all the major shops and head to the parking lot exit traffic lights and turn left down the main road. Keep walking for a while, you will pass a parking garage on your left and go over a bridge, after walking for about 7 minutes you will finally see the big Carrest sign and parking lot.

[sewid]

As for Tokyo Bay SuperAutobacs. Take the JR Keiyo line to Shinkiba and change for the local Rinkai line. Take that train to Shinonome and get out on the side of the station facing the big freeway overpass thing. Walk towards the big freeway and go under it, on the other side you will see the signs for Tokyobay Superautobacs. The first thing you'll see in fact is the Tommy Kaira dealership.

Nismo Omori factory is easy too. Get to Shinagawa station on the JR Yamanote line and change for the local Keikyu line. Take that to Omorikaigan station and get out on the main street side. Cross over the footbridge and head left. Walk for 5 minutes and thats it. You will see big Nismo building.

[oRiCLe]

WOW! cheers mate! awesome, i will be printing that out and goin for a bit of a trip around

i definately want to go and visit upgarage and autobachs if i can get myself some new toys for the gtr

hmm might have to pack light to bring the stuff back :S

[akeenan]

i love non local directions

[phantc_s15]

that was some awesome info sewid!

when visiting workshops....do they usually allow you to browse thru the garage? or whats the best way to approach them...seeing as i'm not after modifying my car there and just want to browse?

Edited August 19, 2005 by phantc_s15