FAQ

A guided self-drive cruise through Yokohama and Daikoku PA — Japan’s most iconic car meet — led by professional racing driver TARZAN YAMADA. You drive a JDM car we provide and follow Tarzan into the streets, cars and stories most visitors never get to see.

Tours are priced per car at ¥99,000 (tax included). One car carries up to 4 guests, so a group can share a single car at that price. You can also book multiple cars for larger groups. Exact availability and pricing are shown on the booking page.

Routes centre on the streets of Yokohama and aim to include the famous Daikoku PA, with options finishing at Yokohama Hammerhead and the bayfront. Daikoku PA is a public rest area and is sometimes closed to gatherings by the police at short notice — if that happens on your date, we take you to an equally great spot nearby instead. The exact meeting point is shared after booking. Each tour runs roughly 2–3 hours.

Tours run on the dates published on our booking calendar. Each tour day has two departures — Morning at 10:00 and Afternoon at 14:00 — and each tour lasts roughly 2–3 hours. New dates are added regularly, and bookings close 24 hours before the start time. If you don’t see a date that works, contact us and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

Daikoku PA is a public highway rest area, and the police occasionally close it to car gatherings without notice — this is outside our control, so we can’t guarantee entry on any given date. If it’s closed when we arrive, Tarzan simply takes the convoy to another iconic location nearby, and the tour continues. A closure is not grounds for a refund, but the experience — the drive, the guiding, the photos — stays the same.

Our tours are self-drive — you operate the vehicle yourself throughout the route, following the lead car. If you would prefer to join as a non-driving passenger rather than drive, please contact us before booking and we will do our best to arrange it.

The driver must be 26 or over and hold one of the following: (1) a valid Japanese driver’s licence; (2) an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention; or (3) if your licence is from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan — which do not issue Geneva IDPs — your national licence together with an official Japanese translation (issued by JAF, or by your country’s embassy/consulate in Japan; for Taiwan, the Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association). Important: IDPs issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention are NOT valid in Japan, so an IDP alone will not work for many countries — check which document you need before booking. Foreign nationals residing in Japan for 3 months or more must hold a Japanese licence. You must not be under the influence of alcohol or anything that impairs driving.

Drivers must be 26 or over. Non-driving passengers are welcome at any age — just ask us when you book so we can arrange it. Everyone in the car must be seated with a seatbelt.

Most of our cars are manual (MT), so MT driving experience is essentially required. Only the R35 GT-R is automatic, and it is not available every day. If you can drive automatic only, please do not book directly — contact us first through the inquiry form, and we will let you know whether we can accommodate you on your preferred date.

Yes — and it’s a highlight of the tour. Rather than staying in one car, you can swap between the JDM cars on the run at safe stops, at no extra cost. How many cars are out depends on the day’s group size (usually at least two), and the exact models depend on availability. Most are manual (MT), so MT driving experience is needed.

Yes. English-speaking assistant staff support the tour so you can take part comfortably even if you don’t speak Japanese.

We assign vehicles at our discretion. Requests are always welcome and we do our best to accommodate them, but a specific car cannot be guaranteed. You can see the current fleet on the Cars page.

More than 24 hours before the tour start: free cancellation with a full refund. Within 24 hours of the start, or a no-show: full charge, no refund. If we cancel from our side (e.g. weather or disaster), you receive a full refund or rescheduling.

Payment is made in full at the time of booking through secure Stripe checkout (Visa or Mastercard). Your booking is confirmed once payment completes, and you receive a confirmation email.

You don’t need racing or track experience, but these are powerful cars on public roads — including expressway and night driving — so you should be a confident driver comfortable in normal traffic. Manual (MT) experience is required for the manual cars (every car except the R35 GT-R). Before your first drive you’ll watch a short safety briefing, and TARZAN YAMADA leads the convoy with assistant staff throughout. Please drive within your limits and follow the lead car and staff instructions at all times.

Every tour is covered by motor insurance. Third-party bodily injury and property damage are covered without limit, and occupants (driver and passengers) are covered for personal injury up to ¥10,000,000 per person. If the tour vehicle is damaged, your payment is capped: up to ¥150,000 for repairable damage, or up to ¥1,000,000 if the vehicle is written off — that cap is the most you would pay. You are responsible for any traffic fines incurred during the tour. The cover and the cap do not apply if you drive under the influence, without a valid licence, or in serious breach of the tour rules or staff instructions. If an incident occurs, stop safely and follow staff instructions.

Yes — solo guests are welcome. Each booking is for one car (up to 4 guests), so you can book a car for yourself, or bring friends to share the cost. Tours run as a convoy of several cars, so you’re never out there on your own.

Yes. Every tour listed on this site is personally guided by TARZAN YAMADA — he leads the convoy on every run. English-speaking assistant staff also join to help with logistics and translation.

Tours run in most weather. If severe weather makes driving unsafe, we’ll contact you to reschedule or offer a full refund. We keep an eye on the forecast and will let you know as early as possible.

The ¥99,000-per-car price includes a vehicle from our fleet for the full route, vehicle insurance, guidance by TARZAN YAMADA, assistant staff accompaniment, photo opportunities at iconic locations, a video of you driving during the tour, a photo and signature with TARZAN YAMADA, and tour-exclusive merchandise. Transport to and from the meeting point, and food and drinks, are not included.