To say that our arrival in Japan was overwhelming is an understatement. The Land Cruiser community’s welcome blew us away. While we were in Japan recently, that was just for the day to renew our Korean visa.
Now we’re in Japan to stay for, we hope, many months.
Read More: A Visa Run to Tsushima Island (Japan)
The Introduction
The story as to how we got here is too long to detail in this blog post, but it comes down to the power of the Internet and, in this case, Facebook. One introduction led to other introductions, thanks to Duncan Margetts, Sean Rigby, Takatori Takechika, and Masa. Coen’s message about the hole in one of the engine’s freeze plugs led to more contacts.
All this came together in a message from Mr. Nakashima, a 40-series aficionado and owner of the 4Friendee Land Cruiser workshop on Kyushu Island. He had two exciting things to share with us:
- I have 21mm freeze plugs for your Land Cruiser.
- We have a Land Cruisers get-together on Nov 5 & 6. Please join us.
The message included a photo of Toyota Trail’s cover which features our Land Cruiser (find the magazine here).
Travel Guides for Japan
(click on the images to look inside)
Products from Amazon
Kunchi Festival in Karatsu
We took the ferry from Busan (South Korea) and arrived in Japan (port of Fukuoka) on November 4. This gave us just enough time to see the last parade of the three-day Kunchi Festival in Karatsu on Friday afternoon. It was a perfect way to fall right into one of Japan’s traditional celebrations.
The island of Kyushu is quite mountainous, we learned the next day. We needed a large part of the day to meander through beautiful, forested mountain hills to cover the 150 kilometers to a camping area near Mount Aso. Here we fell right into a part of Japan’s modern culture: Toyota Land Cruisers.
The 19th Land Cruisers Festa on Kyushu
Some hundred Land Cruisers stood spread out over the terrain in clusters: The bad-ass, highly modified, tough-looking vehicles equipped for serious rock crawling, the brand-new, shiny Land Cruisers, and the bright-colored, classic 40-series to which our Land Cruiser belongs.
Read More: Accommodation & Camping in Japan
The Land Cruiser was immediately admired and would continue to do so throughout the weekend, and Mr. Nakashima walked up to Coen right away with two new freeze plugs – Thanks!
As it happens during events like this Landcruisers Festa, we all admired each others’ cars and took the vehicles for a spin in the forest. We finished the weekend with a fun competition: which vehicle could make the fastest loop while being pushed by five persons.
Check it out: the ‘Landcruising Adventure in Japan’ Goodies & Clothing
A Bath, Food, Language, & Signatures
Besides seeing the Land Cruiser’s family, we were introduced to the Japanese onsen (a hot-bath) in a lovely, secluded wooden cabin. Scrubbed clean we joined the crowd in a big teepee where Mr. Nakashima and his wife had organized dinner: a hot-pot with vegetables, meat, tofu – ingredients that were added as the evening progressed.
Few people spoke English, and while hands & feet language do work, here’s a big thanks to Eisuke for all the translating throughout the weekend!
Read More: Overland Travel Information on Japan
All in all we had a blast. We felt at home, felt welcome, and without doubt if cars can have feelings, so did the Land Cruiser. We felt somewhat odd with the celebrity status though, to say the least. Many asked us to sign not only their Toyota Trail’s cover featuring our Land Cruiser but their vehicles as well!
Thank you, Land Cruiser friends for sharing your Landcruisers Festa with us. We hope to meet many of you again in the months to come!
Read More: The Land Cruiser 40 Meeting East
Check it out: the ‘Landcruising Adventure in Japan’ Shirt Collection
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Genki! Loved this Japanese post as I’ve heard how difficult it is to get temporary import clearance for a “classic” vehicle into the Land of the Rising Sun! We’ve often travelled to The Far East (23 times) over the past decade but never to Japan so will follow your posts with interest. “Origato” (the Japanese did not have a word for “thank you” before the Portguese arrived sounds like “obrigado”. Sayonara from London. D&Mxx
No problem at all to get our paperwork done. The only thing they demand (apart from money) is car insurance, which was surprisingly easy to get here too (and much, much cheaper than in South Korea). I didn’t know about the Portuguese influence on their language. Thanks.
Also it is possible to rent fully equipped RV’s in Japan. They come in a variety of sizes, but I really like the miniature RV ones. Cheap, convenient to park in small spots and fuel efficient.
Very nice! You guys should visit Sorong,Papua , we have a Land Cruiser Community here too and we also would welcome you here, there are lots of beaches to visit like Raja Ampat Islands and also going offroading in the mountains and rivers
Awesome story… Keep on Landcruising!
I would like to know your contact.
I would like to know how much is the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ 47 long chassis hard top troopy, with 12HT or 1HDT engine, coils springs in front, five speed and manual transmission gear box, air conditioning, extra fuel tank in the rear (back), air cleaner snockle, heavy duty and comfortable suspension, heavy duty clutch and extra side door on the left side of the vehicle.
No idea, we are not selling cars.