🏎️ JDM Car Day — Jeff & Matt
Phase: Tokyo (conditional — schedule one day) Who: Jeff + Matt driving / Jeannette + Ana independent day Energy: 🔴 High (for Jeff & Matt) / 🟢 Flexible (for Jeannette & Ana)
⚠️ Action Required Before Trip: Both Jeff and Matt need a 1949 Geneva Convention IDP from AAA. Cost ~$20, same-day at a AAA branch. Bring your US driver’s license + 2 passport photos. Must carry both IDP and US license while driving in Japan.
🎯 Recommended Experience — Fun2Drive (Hakone)
Why this one:
- Guided tours on the actual Hakone touge roads — the real thing
- Largest JDM fleet in Japan (R34 GT-R, NSX, RX-7, JZA80 Supra, AE86, S2000, EVO, STi, and more)
- Foreign-driver-friendly with English-speaking guides
- Routes include Hakone Turnpike, Hakone Skyline, Ashinoko Skyline, Nagao Touge
Website: https://fun2drive-japan.com/ Location: Hakone-machi, Sengokuhara, Kanagawa (~2 hours from Tokyo)
Tour Options (April = Peak Season Pricing)
| Tour | Duration | BNR34 GT-R | NSX NC1 | JZA80 Supra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swift Hakone Drive | ~2–3 hrs | ~¥51,000 | ~¥66,000 | ~¥42,000 |
| Ultimate Hakone Drive | ~4+ hrs | ~¥94,000 | ~¥121,000 | ~¥77,000 |
- Additional driver registration: ¥3,300/person — register both Jeff and Matt if swapping
- Included: Guide, basic insurance, tolls, tax
- Excluded: Fuel, lunch
- Payment: ¥1,000 deposit by credit card; remainder in cash on the day
⚠️ Book immediately. April is peak season — R34 and NSX slots fill months in advance.
🚗 Alternative — Drivers Lounge (Tokyo/Kawasaki)
Website: https://www.driversloungejp.com/ Unique feature: Drive 2–4 different cars in a single day (car rotation system) Full-day tour: ~¥108,000/person all-inclusive (fuel, tolls, car rental, guide) Routes: Izu Skyline, Hakone Turnpike, Hakone Skyline, Nagao Touge; optional Daikoku PA car meet
🚗 Osaka Option — MR. HIRO Car Studio
Website: https://mrhiro-jdm.com/rental Address: 4-12-21 Izumio, Taisho Ward, Osaka Fleet: AE86, RX-7 FC + FD, 180SX, Silvia S15, NSX, S2000, R32 GT-R Driving roads from Osaka:
- Mt. Rokko / Kobe — 45–60 min from Osaka, winding mountain road to Kobe views
- Shigi-Ikoma Skyline — 30–40 min, Osaka/Nara ridge, excellent night views Book via Klook or directly (English support available)
🗺️ Iconic Roads — Tokyo Day
Hakone Turnpike — ~13 km of sweeping mountain bends climbing 1,000m+ Hakone Skyline + Ashinoko Skyline — ridge road with Fuji views on clear days Izu Skyline — long Pacific-view ridge road, less crowded than Hakone Nikko Irohazaka — 48 named hairpins, Initial D territory (further, ~2.5 hrs from Tokyo)
👩👧 Jeannette & Ana — Split Day Options
While Jeff and Matt are driving, Jeannette and Ana have a free day in Tokyo. Good options:
Shopping day:
- Itoya Ginza — stationery flagship
- Loft Shibuya — lifestyle and gifts
- Hands Shinjuku — stationery and craft supplies
- General Ginza or Shibuya afternoon
Relaxed sightseeing:
- Senso-ji Temple — Asakusa morning, Nakamise shopping
- Meiji Shrine — forested calm, easy pace
- TeamLab Planets (Odaiba) — advance tickets required
Low-key day:
- Ikebukuro neighborhood exploration (base area)
- Café hopping
- Rest day — genuinely fine and worth protecting
Rule: Jeannette and Ana plan their day independently. No coordination needed with the car day.
📋 Logistics Checklist
- Get IDP from AAA — Jeff (before trip)
- Get IDP from AAA — Matt (before trip)
- Book Fun2Drive (or Drivers Lounge) — as early as possible
- Register both drivers at booking (+¥3,300/person)
- Prepare cash for balance payment on the day
- Confirm car selection in advance
- Jeannette & Ana plan their own day independently