Nothing announces a Japanese new year quite like the annual Daikoku Parking Area meeting.
It’s the Tokyo car enthusiast’s unofficial kick-start celebration, replacing midnight beers with an early morning coffee and loud music for straight-piped Lamborghinis.
Daikoku Parking area has had no shortage of bad press this year, and the almost nightly shutdowns have been proof of that. Coming into this year’s New Years meet, with the combination of a snowy evening prior, I was skeptical of a big turnout.
But rest assured, if anyone’s still going to make the effort to drive their cars through the salted roads and sub-zero morning temperatures, it’s the Japanese.
This year the crowds also grew, with hundreds turning out for the early morning gathering. Can you blame them? Where else are you going to see thirty Lamborghinis, a Datsun 240Z and a Ferrari 360 Challenge, all in one car park.
There was no shortage of all things Porsche, as well, including this very special orange-on-blue 997 GT3 RS. If we’re talking colours, I’d say yellow, however, would take the cake today for ‘best in show’.
Today also happens to be the 3rd of January, or 1/3 for the metrically challenged. At Daikoku however, that translated to S13 day. Despite them being one of the staple JDM chassis, you don’t see all too many in Japan, most have been crashed, exported – or more commonly – both.
Lamborghini Aventadors are just regular traffic at these New Years meetings, with over 25 doing the rounds this year, most making sure you hear them well before you can see them.
One of my favorite parts of Daikoku Parking Area is how the rarest of cars can be wedged in between a sea of commuter ecconoboxes. This Ford Escort Cosworth for example, stashed in the shaded and often overlooked corner of the car park.
Like clockwork, every year once the Daikoku festivities fizzle out, many will move to Tsuzuki PA; a much smaller rest area. It also happens to be on my way home, so a quick stop in to see what’s shown up is compulsory.
That wraps up the first of about 10 meetings to happen this time of year in Tokyo, so stay tuned for at least a few more of these to feature on Turnpike over the coming week.
Happy New Year!
What a great way to start the new year! Daikoku never fails to impress like you have cars from JDM builds to supercars all in one parking lot I need to go someday
Great spots all around ! With the flowers in Daikoku, it almost looks like spring haha. Thanks for the share.