Seeing the best of Japan’s stance scene at Wekfest was an experience in itself, and it left me wondering: could it really get any better than this? The answer is yes.
The day after Wekfest Japan 2026, Dino, Alec, and I headed to Okuibuki Motor Park (formerly Okuibuki Ski Resort) in Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture, for DoriDore — the annual drift event where car style is as important as driving skill.
The drive leading up to the venue was incredible. Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos from the journey itself, but the scenery is still seared into my memory. Rolling green hills, endless rice fields, small waterfalls, and quiet Japanese villages tucked between the mountains. It felt like something pulled straight out of a Studio Ghibli film.
I was completely lost in the beauty of it all, right up until a Bayside Blue R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R appeared in our mirrors as we neared the venue. That was when the excitement really kicked in.
Exiting Dino’s BMW M4 Convertible, I wasted no time heading straight for the paddock. When I say every single car was built to ‘show car standards’, I’m genuinely not exaggerating.
It almost felt as though Wekfest had never ended. The only difference was that, instead of a polished indoor venue, we found ourselves at a gritty mountain race track. And rather than sitting stationary, some of the same cars we’d seen on the showfloor at Port Messe Nagoya less than 24 hours prior were about to be thrown around with reckless abandon. Weeks later, it still boggles my mind.
What made it even more surreal was seeing this JC Mazda Cosmo. I first came across the build at the 2020 Tokyo Auto Salon, and knowing it still looks this good six years later put a huge smile on my face. Besides, how often do you get to see a Cosmo drifting around a mountain circuit?
As I continued walking, I noticed a crowd gathered around what looked like a kei truck, so I had to go in for a closer look. I’m glad I did, because Amend Racing’s ‘Predator’ Suzuki Carry is on an entirely different level of insanity. The tiny pickup has been completely transformed from its once-utilitarian form into a purpose-built drift machine, now featuring extensive custom chassis modifications and a Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle engine/6-speed sequential gearbox combo. I couldn’t wait to see it in action, and ultimately it didn’t disappoint.
As I made my way to another paddock/parking area, where many well-known drivers and shops had set up, some cars were already heading out for the first Drift Showdown session. I still couldn’t believe that some of these builds were actually about to be drifted, but as they lined up one by one, it quickly became clear why many regard DoriDore as Japan’s premier drifting event. The quality of the cars was incredible, unlike anything I’d ever seen before.
As soon as the action began, the hills of Okuibuki were filled with tyre smoke and engine noise. DoriDore 2026 was officially underway.
But the pleasant conditions didn’t last long. Just as I was settling into the atmosphere, the skies opened up, and rainfall of almost biblical proportions began. I had no choice but to retreat to the tiny media room. Out on the track, meanwhile, grip became barely existent.
Thankfully, the downpour didn’t last too long, so I took the opportunity to continue my rain-abandoned visit to the second paddock, where brands including HKS and Valino were set up. Noki Nakamura was there with his D1-spec Nissan Silvia S14, and behind him was Mad Mike Whiddett with his new TCP-Magic-built FD3S Mazda RX-7, ‘BATRUP’. Alongside Mike was his son Lincoln and his TCP 6-rotor Mazda MX-5, which unfortunately suffered a few mechanical gremlins during the day. Still, it was great to see the Kiwi duo enjoying themselves.
As the rain returned – and looked like it was here to stay – I decided to take a rapid-fire run through DoriDore’s other attraction: the Fenderist car show.
This part of the event was all about showcasing slammed cars, and much like Wekfest, it was sensory overload. What got me even more excited was the sheer number of Toyota 86s scattered throughout the show. I’ll definitely be leaving Japan with far more inspiration for my own build than I probably should have.
The rain picked up even more, and as much as I didn’t want the day to end, it finally felt like the right time to call it quits. Or so I thought…
There was one final part of the DoriDore schedule that I had forgotten all about: the Touge Showcase. With the rain just hammering down at this point, I genuinely couldn’t imagine anyone being brave enough to send their show-level drift car down the slippery mountain road. But then Alec messaged me, saying most of the cars were already lined up and getting ready to go. The second I read that, I ran.
I managed to meet up with Alec just in time to capture a few shots before we packed up and made the long drive back to Tokyo.
This was the moment when it all really clicked for me – I finally got a taste of authentic Japanese drift culture. Rain or not, watching these maniacs ripping it – or at least trying to – down a tight mountain pass was an insane experience I won’t forget. But I’d love to see it in the dry as well, so you can bet I’ll be back one day to witness DoriDore in all its glory.
