Places to buy and see Z stuff in Japan

[zr240]

Hi all

I will be going to Japan and staying in Shinjuku for work. I am there from the 29th feb to 9th of Mar. Could anyone suggest some places to go around there to check out any zed related stuff. I would also like to pick up some fibreglass flairs if possible as well as anything else I can fit in my suitcase!!!

Thanks

Ashley

[trs]

bump to the top,

since I will be staying in a small town 2 hours south of Tokyo for a month around July.

[Z-point]

You have to wait until Alan comes back from Japan, in about two weeks from now.

He is one of the happy few who know his way over there.

[zr240]

HI

I will be leaving on Sunday.

Is Alan back yet as I would love to know some places to check out!

Thanks

again

Ashley

[Mr Camouflage]

Send him a PM and find out.

Theres a Nissan museum I think, where nissan keep alot (all) of their old cars, and prototypes. I saw some photos of it somewhere (here i think). Would be a good place to visit. I think it gets snowed in during the winter from memory.

[Z-point]

I send him a mail to make him aware of this thread.

Did you polish the bottle? ROFL

[HS30-H]

Thanks Z-point for volunteering me.....

I'm always worried about recommending places / shops / garages of Z-related interest in Japan. Sometimes I get a report back that a place I sent somebody to was a 'let down' or 'not very good.....'.

You can't really go to Japan expecting to find shops and businesses that look like a Z superstore, or a Wal Mart dedicated just to Z cars. Japan just isn't like that. Sure there are big general-purpose automotive stores like Yellow Hat, Auto Helloes, AS Auto Tech and Autobacs etc, but for the most part these are glorified tyre shops with 1000 different types of car shampoo on their shelves.

The 'Super Autobacs' stores are a little more interesting, but even these have a lot of 'surface' bling and not a lot of depth. If you are - like us - into old cars, then there is not a lot to occupy you in one of these stores.

There are more and more used parts 'recycling' shops springing up in Japan lately, though. Some of these can be of interest, and its possible to find Z-related and L-series engine related parts in the chains like 'UP GARAGE'. However, much of the older stuff in these shops really needs to be closely inspected. The truth is that the best used parts tend to change hands privately or on web auctions these days........

There are not many Z specialist shops and garages in Japan, as they really could not make enough business out of the Z scene. They tend to cater for other cars, and at the very least for other types of old Nissan cars. The pure restoration workshops tend to be just that, and not really have a 'shop front' that caters for drop-in visitors. They also do not tend to have much stock of new or used parts on their shelves. This can be a slight disappointment to a visitor.

Tokyo is a huge and sprawling city, and most of the old-car related businesses have been pushed towards the neighbouring counties. Indeed, many of them started in the suburbs or on the edge of the countryside and have now moved further and further outside town. This means it can be something of a trek to get to them. All the more reason to be disappointed if you get there and its not quite what you were hoping for.

Language problems are not to be underestimated! I hope it does not sound too rude to say that hard-core auto enthusiasts ( everywhere in the world ) were not necessarily the best language students when they went to school. However, having said that, a common interest is a great way of breaking the ice - and I would recommend taking along a few photos of your car and some data / spec. lists on the parts you use. Its always handy to have a pretty firm idea of what you are looking for too, rather than having an "I'll know it when I see it" kind of attitude. That's what I've found anyway. If you are looking for a set of Overfenders for an S30-series Z then say so straight away.

Addresses in Japan can be a big problem for visitors. In fact, they can be a big problem for the Japanese themselves. Older district names and villages can be a particular problem, as the Kanji characters are in some cases almost impossible to read correctly without reference to a Japanese Post Office address guide. Computers have been helping with this in some respects, and its possible to get great help from local authority websites.

In most cases you will be faced with a train journey that calls for changing trains and train lines / companies. This can be confusing and time consuming. Even after getting off the train at the nearest station you are sure to be faced with a good walk or even a taxi ride to the address you are seeking. Japanese maps ( especially the home-made types used by shops and restaurants in their advertisements ) can be extremely inaccurate!

My advice is to call on the help of hotel staff, or the staff of the company that you will be working at. This can be invaluable. Indeed, hotel Concierges in Japan are extremely helpful and will go out of their way to assist you in getting to where you want to go. In the past I've had a full route planned out for me by hotel staff, and they even called my destination address to get local street advice. Fantastic. Basically, if you say to them "I want to go here" - then they will surely make a good job of helping you get there with the minimum of fuss. Office colleagues / staff will surely be just as helpful.

I've just returned from a trip to Japan, and whilst there I rented a car ( in Tokyo ) because I wanted to visit around 6 addresses in the Yokohama / Kanagawa area all on one day. The car was the latest Skyline 350GT, with a very trick navigation system. It had a function where you could key in a telephone number, and it would guide you to the address. I've used this type of navigation system in the past, but they were a bit hit and miss. This one was GREAT. It constantly re-set itself if I took a detour or made a false move. Maybe you could consider a rental car for this purpose?

I'll list some possible targets on the next post:

[HS30-H]

*STAR ROAD

I can't say that I've been to this particular garage, but they ARE in the Tokyo metropolitan area - so you could get there from Shinjuku relatively easily. They are in the Edogawa ward of Tokyo. That's "Downtown".

tel: 03 5668 5675 e-mail: starroad@ci.mbn.or.jp

The following three are in Saitama prefecture, but essentially in the sprawling suburbs north of Tokyo:

*R.S. START ( Skyline / Z performance parts )

Kami-Fukuoka Shi ( Shi = City ), Saitama Ken ( Ken = prefecture ).

tel: 049 262 2848 www.rsstart.com

*HBC 240 ( used Z cars / Skylines + some parts )

Yashio Shi, Saitama Ken.

tel: 048 995 4800

*KAMEARI ENGINE WORKS ( L-series engine specialists )

Yashio Shi, Saitama Ken.

tel: 048 998 2323

The following are in Chiba prefecture, which is the prefecture east of Tokyo - and where Narita Airport is located:

*PLATINUM ( used cars - many old Nissans, used parts too. )

Ichihara Shi, Chiba Ken.

tel: 0436 36 7631

*BIKO WORKS ( used cars and parts. Some cars with RB swaps )

Chiba Shi, Chiba Ken.

tel: 043 286 7400 www.seikoh.co.jp/bikou

The following are in the Yokohama area, not too far from Tokyo:

*FLEX AUTO REVIEW ( used cars - a very big chain )

Yokohama Shi, Kanagawa Ken.

tel: 045 941 7333 www.rakuten.co.jp/flexauto/

e-mail: info@flexauto.net

*VINTAGE CAR YOSHINO ( used cars, some used parts )

Yokohama Shi, Kanagawa Ken.

tel: 045 701 9604 www.7plala.or.jp/yoshinojihan/

e-mail: yoshinojihan@violin.ocn.ne.jp

edit: Sorry - their website address is not working, so it must be wrong. This is what they have published, so it must be a misprint, and I can't find the right url. Sorry. At least their e-mail address is the correct one.

The following are further out, but well worth a visit if you can make it:

*CITY AUTO ( new parts, used parts, performance parts )

Gunma Ken.

tel: 0276 88 5366

*SPIRIT GARAGE ( performance parts, new parts, used parts )

Gunma Ken.

tel: 0270 62 0441 www.spiritgarage.com

All in all, I recommend a trip to SPIRIT GARAGE out of the whole list. You will see some good stuff there, and be able to buy your Overfenders / Flares at the same time. Make sure they are not having a day off when you visit. The good news is that they are usually open on Sunday. Gunma and back is a day's round trip from Tokyo though.

If I can be of any more help, please let me know.

Good luck!

Alan T.

[Z-point]

Sorry Alan to drag you in this thread. But what a nice websites, great looking!

I found/saw some nice bucket seats at the spirit garage. :love:

Would it not be nice to visit a local S30 club.

[Alfadog]

Being the optimist that I am, I'm bookmarking this thread as reference for when I go on holiday to Japan!!!

[trs]

<print!>

Thanks a tonne for the list of workshops.

Hope you don't mind me hijacking your thread zr240, but the info in this topic could be very helpful for fellow Z pilgrimages to the motherland.

Apparently, I will be based in a place called Yamagata, which is near Sendai- 2 3/4 of an hour north of Tokyo. We will be travelling pretty much all over the country.

Fortunately I may have the benefit of a friend who can speak japanese, albeit one who has zero interest in cars.

I was also interested in any racing events or motorsports festivals which occured in June. To be even more precise, a historic racing event which featured the spirit garage s30z racing against other like minded vehicles.

I will most likely be doing this trip again next year with less time constraints. When do you think is the best time to head to Japan in regards to Z related activities?

Cheers once again,

Vincent

[Chino 240Z]

Vincent San,

The area you will be going to in just beautiful. I had a friend in Yamagata and he loved his stay. I lived in Sendai, Morioka, Kitakami, Akita (Akita dogs originated from here) and Oodate. My favorite place is Japan was Aizuwakamatsu. Aizu is inland from Sendai & not to far from Yamagata. There is a castle in Aizu. (actually they are everywhere) with alot of Samurai history there. Yamagata is a fairly good size city. Outside the city the streets are narrow with lots of rice fields and forrest with every thing green. You will see lots of cars, mini trucks and vans on the road that were never released to the U.S.A. Once in awhile you may see a Mustang or a big American made car and it looks so out of place on the small streets. Get out of the big city and see the country, that is when you can really see and feel Japan and its people. If you get a chance to see someones Zed, ask them about it. They are always proud when someone notices their car! Don't forget to take some pictures of your car with you to share too.

O'Genki desu yo.

Craig

:classic: