Chasing Z's Or Hakos Or Any Cool Japanese Car Museum/shops In Toyko

[dat240z]

Hi guys, Im off to Tokyo next week and have a few days spare to hopefully try track down some cool Z garages and or museums. I know the Nissan/Datsun museum is close by but from what Ive read isnt always open to visitors? Im also hopeful of finding some genuine fender mirrors. Could anyone recommend some places??

 

 

[Andrew_L26]

If you manage to find a few sets at a decent price let me know, I'd love some fender mirrors

[dat240z]

Im not sure if at a decent price is achievable mate!! They are certainly getting very very expensive but Ill see what pops up. Does anyone know the going rate for a set? Genuine s30 or sss bluebird types?

[Huw]

Hmm. I you find any let me know!

 

Shop wise, revive jalopy in Saitama seems to have a good rep for hard to find original bits.

 

Star road, on the nth side of tokyo seems to have a good rep for cars and engines.

 

Datsun freeway in Chiba has some interesting repro stuff.

 

Not sure how visitor friendly they are.

 

Where is the Datsun meseum you mention? In Yokohama HQ with the show room for the mpdern stuff?

Edited May 1, 2016 by Huw

[dat240z]

Yeah the Yokohama Nissan museum, which to my knowledge has every single type of car ever produced.

[Hokin]

Rocky auto?

[HS30-H]

Yeah the Yokohama Nissan museum, which to my knowledge has every single type of car ever produced.

 

Nissan's 'Heritage Collection' is based at the Zama Operations Centre in the grounds of the old Zama plant. It's actually quite a long way from Yokohama, and it's nearer to Atsugi, just off Route 246/Tomei Expressway. Nearest train station is probably Minami Rinkan on the Odakyu Line.

 

It's not really open to the general public, and any visitors have to be part of a guided tour with relatively strict timings. If you contact Nissan's Yokohama HQ and get your name down you might be able to join an already-scheduled group visit. It's worth a try. Unless you have an appointment you won't get past security at the front gate...

 

 

Another place to not just turn up at is Revive Jalopy. Nishi san and his family quite often attend car shows and meets with their trade stand, and might well be elsewhere. It's best to make an appointment to visit, and have a list of any stuff you want to buy (and the cash to pay for it...). Don't expect a showroom/shopfront. It's a restoration business first and foremost and their stock is hidden away from civilians. It helps if you are fairly fluent in Japanese, too.

[dat240z]

Thanks for the tip HS30-H san.

[HS30-H]

Thanks for the tip HS30-H san.

 

You're welcome.

 

Just a thought: One of the easiest ways to see a few old Japanese cars in one place, and not too far from Tokyo, is to check out some of the 'usual suspect' dealers like FLEX Auto Review and Vintage Yoshino in Yokohama. FLEX also have a site in Kawaguchi, Saitama. Red Megaphone (usually a few C10s and C110s in stock) are in the north western Tokyo suburbs of Nerima and that's an easy local train ride away. Biko Works, another Skyline specialist dealer, are near Chiba city in Chiba prefecture, on the east side of Tokyo Bay and another fairly easy train ride from central Tokyo.

 

Good luck. 

[gav240z]

Didn't someone post about a tour you can do organised by Dino from Speedhunters? They take you to various workshops like Fujita Engineering, Ando-San's TA Auto and a few other specialist shops in Japan?

 

Check this out.

http://www.viczcar.com/forum/topic/14287-new-z-for-perth/?p=170128

[CroS13]

how did you go with finding these places dat240z?

Im actually off on my honeymoon today, 1 week in the Philippines then 1 month in Japan.

I WILL hit up star road, and hopefully some of the vintage classic car dealers in Tokyo. Also plan on going to a few up garages and go see super auto bachs.

 

I THINK biko works might have moved? Ive been going on all these websites, and it seems Biko have another address listed on there, also when you go to google map for the address, it looks like the signs are all gone. and that was from october 2015.

 

I'd like to hit up Red Megafone, I looked on google maps, it looked to be a bit of a walk from the train station though. Anyway.... Im also going to do a tour of the Toyota factory when im in Nagoya (Only there for 3 days though) and i'll be in Kyoto/Osaka for 8 days too.

Keep an eye out in this thread......

Rudi.

[Cozza]

Awesome, have a great time Rudi.

[dat240z]

Congrats and have a great trip mate. Japan and the people are so awesome. Friendly, helpful and respectful. I was talking to a guy in a bar in Yokohama and he saw a picture on my phone home screen which is the green 240z and my Shiba Inu. He was very excited I had both Japans favorite car and dog in Australia. I enquired about fender mirrors and he called some wreckers but could only get the short stalk SSS ones. 

 

I didnt get to any car resto shops or see much old school on the roads at all but there are plenty of expensive cars and showrooms.... especially in and around Ginza (uber rich area) and Ropponghi Hills (night life area).  Make sure you use taxis as little as possible - very expensive. The metro system is flawless. Since its your honeymoon - (I did this when I got engaged on my trip last week)... take her to New York Bar and Grill on the 52nd floor of the Park Hyatt in Shinjuku.... Views and meal is great but pricey - theres plenty of time and opportunity for traditional Japanese cuisine later on!! Theres also a very classy bar called The Bar (Peninsular Hotel) which overlooks the Imperial Gardens - top shelf..

 

If you need any advice or recommendations let me know.

 

Have fun