Picture this: It’s the middle of the afternoon in the summer in Japan. You’re standing at the top of a mountain road with a line of JDM hero machines cooling down after a tough heavy running. It may sound like a dream, but a few months ago this was my reality.
Located near Hakone and Mount Fuji, Fun2Drive offers a unique experience for car enthusiasts visiting Japan: a chance to drive JDM icons on iconic Japanese roads.
For as long as I’d dreamed of visiting Japan, a day trip with Fun2Drive was at the top of my ‘must-do’ list. So when I planned a two-week visit to this extraordinary country, it was one of the first bookings I made.
I chose the ‘Ultimate Hakone Tour’, a five-hour guided tour from 10am to 3pm covering some of Japan’s most famous roads including Hakone Skyline, Tsubaki Line, Ashinoko Skyline and the famous Hakone Turnpike. The tour features a highlights film of famous routes featured in Dino’s stories, grainy videos from Japan’s golden age of performance tuning and of course, Initial D.
The day started with a briefing, outlining the route and showing videos of potential accidents. The sight of an R32 Skyline GT-R hitting a guardrail was met with a collective grimace by the tour group.
Fun2Drive’s commitment to safety is paramount. The cars at the heart of this operation are becoming increasingly valuable, and repairing or replacing them after accidents is a major concern for the company.
To reduce risk, the tour is conducted in English and guides are positioned in vehicles at the front and back of the convoy, regulating the pace and providing commentary on hazards to keep everyone safe.
After the safety briefing, it was time for the group to fire up our cars for the day. As a keen rally enthusiast, I booked Fun2Drive’s 2000 Subaru Impreza Type R STI Version 6 Limited – in Sonic Blue Mica with gold rims, of course.
Despite growing up around rally events surrounded by Subarus, I’d only driven a handful of Imprezas before, for very brief stints. Still, stepping into this GC8 STI coupe felt like the perfect choice, and the first tap of the throttle to bring the boxer-squeal to life confirmed that. With my girlfriend beside me and our panniers loaded, we set off.
Starting at the back of the convoy allowed me to familiarize myself with the car and driving in Japan. Coming from Ireland, where we also drive on the left, made it a lot easier, but there is still an adventure in taking to the roads of a new country. Especially Japan, for someone who gets dizzy from the constant view of Where cars and Toyota Crown taxis.
After a short two-kilometre drive, our convoy pulled to the side of the road as the lead guide raced ahead to check the road was clear. It was the stuff of JDM fantasies, the tree-lined road silent except for the idling of the assembled cars.
Up front was a Nissan R35 GT-R. This was supposed to be a BNR34 Skyline GT-R, but the renter’s lack of experience with manual transmissions made a late swap necessary. Up back was a Canadian couple in a Datsun Fairlady Z. I struggled to keep up with the flame-breathing S30 later in the day, so it was no surprise to find a modified RB25DET under the hood of this classic.
Maximum Initial D points went to the AE86 Toyota Trueno, and behind it a Porsche 911 Turbo – one of two non-Japanese cars in the Fun2Drive fleet – which looked stunning on split BBS RS wheels. The black 964 provided a nice contrast to the immaculate NA1 Honda NSX that followed, with a wide FD3S Mazda RX-7 filling our view ahead.
Other cars you can rent include the Nissan C10 Hakosuka and C110 Features Replicas of the GT-R, a new NC1 Honda NSX, A80 and A90 Toyota Supras, a Tommi Mäkinen Edition Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI and a modified AP1 Honda S2000, to name a few.
The pace was perfectly balanced between relaxed cruising and energetic driving when the opportunity and road conditions allowed. The Impreza was agile and responsive and was an absolute joy to drive on the twisties. The Dunlop Direzza tyres gripped well and the 280PS turbocharged 2.0L boxer engine delivered a decent kick.
After a lunch break at a small eatery on the Hakone Skyline, decorated with car memorabilia, the route order was adjusted. Opportunities to swap positions at each stop meant that everyone could enjoy the cars as they wished.
During the breaks the cars could cool down from the high temperatures in June and have a nice chat.
Cruising through Hakone it was surreal to see the bright blue reflection of the Impreza bouncing off the shop windows. The final fuel stop, where all the cars converged on a small forecourt, ended the day in the best possible way. What a sight!
I had mixed feelings when we got back to Fun2Drive HQ after an incredible day of driving. The Subaru and the tour were exceptional – I would do it again in a heartbeat. It was just a little sad to think that Japanese cars like these are now out of reach for many enthusiasts. Thankfully, Fun2Drive exists to make driving these cars accessible – in the JDM motherland.
As new arrivals prepared for an hour-long taster tour of many of the same cars, our group said their goodbyes. While most headed back to Tokyo—a journey that took about two hours by train and bus—we opted to stay in Gotemba, a 20-minute bus ride away.
Not only was it close to Gotemba Premium Outlets, a large outlet mall, this location also offered spectacular views of Mount Fuji when it wasn’t shrouded in clouds. Oh, and Fuji Speedway is on the edge of town.
Fun2Drive has a tour that visits the legendary circuit – with the opportunity to drive a few laps – but I used the few spare hours before our return trip to Tokyo to visit the museum.
The two-story Fuji Motorsports Museum is home to some of Japan’s most iconic race cars. It’s been a while since I’ve uttered a curse word, but when I rounded a corner and saw a Mazda 787B and a Toyota GT-One, I couldn’t resist. You can check out more about the museum at Jaden Low’s IAMTHESPEEDHUNTER Post.
Looking back on my time in Japan, the day with Fun2Drive stands out as a highlight. Driving a legendary car on Japan’s most iconic roads, surrounded by other car enthusiasts, was a unique experience. It seems JDM dreams can come true.
Cian Donnellan
Instagram: jandon