Alien2nrs in Japan - Ryokan & back home

For the last night sleep, we choose a Ryokan - Homeikan Morikawa Bekkan, witch is located close to Ueno park.


A Ryokan embodies the very essence of Japan and is surely the accommodation of choice if you wish to personally experience the uniqueness of Japan - the architecture, lifestyle, nature, traditions and culture. A great way to experience the spirit of Japanese customs that have been passed down over many generations.


The Ryokan Homeikan Morikawa offered the classic feel and the Japanese hospitality, the relaxing mineral baths etc. The door even had my name on it.


The rooms were really big and had all that you need.


The traditional Japanese bed, the futon.


UP-Garage souvenirs - Go for green!


The mineral bath was very relaxing. The water was hot and the room was really steamy. After few Biiru's the Finns were right at home.


How cool is this Yukata robe!?!


For relaxing times, make it Kirin time... lol.


This was our last stay in Japan, Ryokan Homeikan - well worth it.


When heading home, we had to leave in style - a ride in Skyline...


... well actually Keisei line Skyliner.




:D


All aboard!


Travel insurance ad.


Time to board the plane.


The Blue Wings - taking us back home.

Alien2nrs in japan - Car shop day 3

Are you ready for this? The car shop day 3!

Me & Juhis headed to Machida City, located in the western part of the greater metropolis of Tokyo. Home of the greatest tuning shops...


We had to take 5 metros & Trains to get there...

First stop was at Monster Sport.
Very clean & professional shop. Famous of their Suzuki Escudo Pikes Peak car.



This Evo is called Maziora V2 Champ RS - it was also in TAS.


Show room had Evo 6 & Sti.


On the yard was this beautiful Tommi Mäkinen Evo 6.


In the shop they had their Rally Evo...


...lots of Monster parts, Race Engines etc...

Next stop was my favorite - Bee*R (Bee Racing).


The shop.


Toyota Athlete Crown, a D1 car driven by Masayoshi Tokita.

The D1 Crown has a 2JZGTE engine from a Toyota Aristo. The 2JZ is stroked to 3.4L using HKS kit. It has HKS single T04Z turbine kit, Holinger sequential transmission with an ORC clutch and a TRD LSD. The car is pushing around 700hp.


Some customer cars as well, like the R34 Nismo S-tune and R32 GT-R.


Bee*R's famous charged S15...


...SR with Super Charger & Turbo!


D1 B324R, driven by Tsuyoshi Tezuka.


GTROC sticker :)


Yokomo's B324R RC-drifter...


The RC-drifters detail is very accurate. GTROC should be very proud of this!


An other B324R drifter. You can spot the difference between the cars, look at the mirrors ;)


Bee*R B324R type-II, non widebody. Using R34 hood.


With this kit, you can also use OEM R34 bumper.


This BNR32 belongs to certain JGTC driver. +800 bhp!


The apprentice and the Master Imai-san.

Used & Outlet - Wheel Proshop Yokohama Garage-kan was next on the line.

As the name says, it's a shop for used wheels. Representing the quality brands.


The front yard looked very promising...


... and it didn't let us down.


Gram Lights.


Trafficstar Riverside - SFR.


More wheels on the yard...

That's for the wheels for now.

It was time to go where few have gone before.


The street sign giving up some hints.


The Tomei HQ & pro shop.

After the office tour it was time to see the research & development line.


VQ35 cams, heads, ect...


New Evo turbos, custom built by Tomei.


Engine dyno room nr 1. (Tomei has 2 of them).

The production line...


The camshaft master. This man is the only man who makes cams at Tomei.
He's been making them since '68! We saw cams for new Lambos, Nismo, etc.


These Titanium headers where just mockup models :o


Test bench BNR32.


Tons of goodies to ship around the world.


Fairlady 350Z was still sporting the 3.5L engine. Other cars in the same Z masters -series where running the 3,8L. This car was still hard to beat. It's all about the power band - not the horsepower said Tomei.

Last but no least we hit the aftermarket & used parts paradise - The UP-Garage!


Wheels waiting to get checked in.


Toyota Mark II sporting Work Emotion XT7's.


SSR - Star Formula!



Work Meister S1 3P's.


BBS LM's.


OMG - there was 4 halls of wheels!!!

SSR, Rays, Work... you name it - they had it.
All used, good condition. Why don't we have places like this!?!


Second floor was full of aero parts, hoods, wings, bumpers... brands like RalliArt, Mugen, Greddy, Nismo...

Then they had one shop just for the mechanical parts.


Endless brake kit.


Exhausts.


CoilOvers.


BNR32 engine with turbos etc - ¥159.000.

Shop for seats, electronics & other accesories... just mental.


UP-Garage <3

Alien2nrs in Japan - Roppongi

Tokyo is famous of it's nightlife and Roppongi is the place to go, so we headed out for the night.


Metro to Roppongi.


Spotted R35 GT-R on the way.


Shark in a fish tank...


... next to this interesting big creature.


TGI Firdays offered great meal in a American style.


Gas Panic!


We found this cool robot with a light stick escorting cars by, lol!


Sweet Lexus - Kurihara Taxi.


Roppongi main street.




Teemu was the hero of the night. He ended up with some locals, drinking Sake til 7 am in the morning on a roof top somewhere in Shibuya, whatching sun rise!
It was a good night out :D

Alien2nrs in Japan - Asakusa, Ueno

Asakusa is known for it's old temples. This traditional area is Tokyo's most famous for the Sensō-ji district, a Buddhist temple dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon. We had to check it out.


But first we had to get some breakfast – DOUTOR Gourmet Coffee.


This place had really good sandwiches, not to mention a pleasant ambience and, ofcourse, decent coffee.



Front of the shop we spotted this nice WRX Type RA. Souped up with Prodrive gear, like the roof scoop.


Narrow buildings - this is how it's done.


Kitchen store in Ueno - Asakusa dori ave.


Asakusa - few others heading to the the tempel as well...


Purify your hands before the temple.


The Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), with its giant chōchin, is the outer gate of the famous Sensō-ji.


This place was founded in 628 A.D.


Girls all dressed up - Why? Because every year, Japan celebrates "Coming of Age" day (Seijin no Hi) annually on the second Monday of January. It's the celebrating day if you turn 20 years old that year. It's also a day where every city and town celebrate, it's considered as a National holiday.


Uuh, Gaijins (foreigners) - We were like superstars! Paparazzi's were everywhere, lol.




On the "Coming of Age" girls wear coloured traditional kimono or more specifically, the "hakama". While most men wear suits.


DoCoMo FAIL - not connecting people :D


Spotted this sweet Hatchi-Roku in Asakusa. Genuine RS watanabe wheels, nice!


What about this HotRod? Japan is full of sweet rides.


Suntory BOSS, Café au Lait - ¥100. Good price!

After Asakusa we hitted back to Ueno.


Ueno center, OICITY.


Ueno boys...


ŌEDO Sushi. ¥126 per plate, not bad.


These dudes were keeping the plate lines full.


Hotto-Sake!


Tobikko = Flying fish Roe.


Random tiger found on the streets of Ueno.

Alien2nrs in japan - Shibuya, Akihabara

Shibuya is a shopping and entertainment district in Tokyo.


About million people goes trough this intersection daily!


When the light turns green...


R34 spotterd on the way to the center.


Center Gai - birthplace of many Japanese fashion trends.


Gundam's everywhere.


Nice Kitty poster... Hello rescue!?!


Pikachu.


The famos Shibuya crossing. On the background is the Shibuya 109, witch is a trend setting fashion complex. Over hundred boutiques on ten floors!


People about to cross the intersection...


Unleash the mayhem :D


On our way to Akihabara the electric city - we spotted this S15 Spec R.


Akaihabara is also the gamers paradise.




More robots.


An other clean S15 followd by tuned Lexus.


Aria Company Lancer was spotted as well.


Next we ordered some Robot food. How to use the machine? Here is how...


Teemu having hes Robot snake soup dinner.


My set was good, Sapporo beer crowning it.

Alien2nrs in japan - Harajuku, Shinjuku

We had to check out the tourist sights & attractions in Harajuku and Shinjuku.


The clothing alley - Takeshita-dori in Harajuku.


Rabbits...



Clothes for animals as well, just silly.


Hello Kitty - this Kitty White had it's own carriage.


ehkä söpö - funny store name, it translates to finnish as: maybe cute :)


Shinjuku streets.


Domokun corner in Kiddy Land.


Hello Kitty floor in Kiddy Land.


The Harajuku bridge - spot the panda.


A view from the Harajuku bridge. In the horizon is the DoCoMo tower.


Yoyogi Park.


Mid Knight gang.


They had really cool bikes.



Black Shadow gang.

Alien2nrs in Japan - Bosozoku night

We meet up wit the bunch of drift maniacs in the restaurant called Tony Romas.

Next we hit the stormy weather out. It was freezing cold & dark, but still the locals were gathering and having fun at the parking lot.




Local car clubs meeting at Toyosuna parking lot.







Bosozoku, fantacy cars, vanners, call it what you will - they're crazy.


Here's a vid of them on the highway. LOUD!


Widebody 4-door liner.


Autech S15.


Uras S15.


The Police had a raid - Bosozoku bike gang was near by...

Alien2nrs in Japan - Car shop day 2

Next was the visit to Kazama-Auto. Yamashita-san was there to show us the goods. Andy helping with translateing some of the stuff.


D1 baby!


Work in progress, just fitted the body work, next was the interior.


Pretty wild aero & nice custom one off Volk wheels.


RC Drifting is getting bigger in Japan. That's why Kazama built their own RC Drift land!



They have a line of top cars & accessory for sale as well.


Sexy Knights RX7.




Yard full of goodies for sale.

Alien2nrs in Japan - Car shop day

So we went to see Andys & Emilys shop - The Powervehicles.

First it was an 1 h train ride of to Saitama. Nice contry side area up nort of Tokyo.


Emily picked us up in this beast!



Hella flush!


Scooby & Evo.



Make-Up - yellow RB26 powered Silvia.






An other RB26 powered Silvia! It's cool how the engine sticks out.




This is the Mark II, we were running the night before. It has a 1,5JZ engine swap - Nice!
The streets of Tokyo are never the same again! :D

Thanks for the tour Andy & Emily - Domo-Arigato!!!