Japan Car Meets: Everything you need to know
3 min read
What I learned about car culture in Japan and how you can experience it for yourself.
Ever since I posted this reel and this one, my DM's have been blowing up with people asking this:
"When is the next car meet?"
In today's post, I want to break down some of the cool stuff I learned about car culture in Japan, both in Tokyo and beyond. If you want to skip straight to the useful links at the bottom, feel free to scroll down!
First off, you might be one of those people who watched my video and thought, "This doesn't seem like the real thing; it feels so commercialized." And, well, you're not entirely wrong.
Types of Car Meets in Japan
You’ll find various events, from casual gatherings to fundraisers and more exclusive private meets. These showcase a variety of themes, from drift cars to vintage models or specific makes and models. Yes, there are commercialized car meets where you can buy tickets on a portal like Get Your Guide (not my top pick, btw). Then, there are the super exclusive meets, open only to a specific community and usually held in secret locations. To get into those, you'd need to know someone, and it would have to coincide with your visit dates.
How to Find Car Meets in Japan
If you're visiting Japan for the first time and don't know anyone in the circle, you'll unlikely find one of those "secret" meets.
But do you know the best way to get in? Go to the public events, network, and make friends :)
My [local] friends told me about a pop-up event called @theclutchkickback and @tokyomotorcollection at UDX in Akihabara. To clarify, I don't have any partnership or affiliation with this group. I attended as a regular guest, had a blast, and shared my experience. I suggest following their accounts to stay updated on upcoming events. I found another website here (although you may need to Google translate). Another great way to find car events is to follow Reddit threads - there are plenty that cover niche car meets and events all over Japan.
After the car meet, I went to a drift event in Chiba, and it was epic. I can't wait to attend more car events when I go back to Japan later this year.
What to Expect at a Car Meet
A car meet is like a community event where enthusiasts come together to share their passion, exchange knowledge, and socialize. At a car meet, you can see the creativity and craftsmanship that owners put into their vehicles up close. Car owners come from Japan and, surprisingly, many other countries. I found that people are generally very friendly, so I highly recommend connecting with them and asking them for details about other similar events.
You can expect diverse vehicles, from highly modified drift cars and meticulously restored vintage Japanese classics to the latest high-performance sports cars and luxury imports. The setting is unique and entertaining even if cars aren’t your thing. Car meets can be an exciting and less popular way to immerse yourself in Japan’s car culture.


Car Meet Resources:
To find out about future events, follow these two accounts: @theclutchkickback and @tokyomotorcollection
If you want to take drifting lessons, follow Rohab Khan, Rohab teaches drifting in Yokohama and participates in various drift events in Japan and overseas (many of which are open to the public)
If you want to try or train Formula 1 racing, follow Tom's Racing
Many Reddit threads are dedicated to car meets in Tokyo, so I recommend checking them out before your trip!
Last but not least, I've seen tickets sold to the Daikoku Car Club events on Get Your Guide. I haven't tried, but given the nature of the ticket sales, I think these events are probably very commercialized. However, if left with no other options, I'd still go if I were you! So, if you're into cars or just curious about Japan's car culture, go out there and explore. You might find yourself in the middle of an unforgettable experience.
I hope you found this post helpful :)
Until next time,
Elona