Shinji’s Two Car Solution: The Good Hills Garage

Tucked away in the Chiba countryside sits one of the most genuine private garages I’ve seen in Japan.

It’s neither a shop or a studio, and it’s not full of million-dollar supercars. It’s real; a true reflection of a Japanese car enthusiast, and Shinji-san’s Garage has been on our to-do list for quite some time. After some recent updates to the setup, Dino and I spent the day with Shinji enjoying his cars and the newly refreshed space.

The garage sits next to Shinji’s home; a clean, Scandinavian-style chalet with a timber deck that faces the cars. Inside, the garage is split into two halves: one functional, one personal.

Toolboxes, compressors and cars on one side, and on the other an inviting lounge and hangout area with model cars, vintage Option magazines and Porsche art covering the walls. Every shelf and surface tells a story about where Shinji’s passion has grown from.  

He’s what you could consider an OG in the JDM car world. Growing up through the ‘golden era’, Shinji has dabbled in all corners of the scene. As a long time friend of Nakai-san and serial Porsche enjoyer, it’s the car that permanently sits in his garage that really put him on the map.

Sitting as a centrepiece is Shinji’s 964 RWB. Built by Nakai-san in 2007 and purchased by Shinji in 2009, this is not just any RWB. This is the only 964 Carrera RS ever built by RWB. This isn’t Shinji’s first RWB either, starting off with a white 964 Carrera 2.

The RS is one of the earliest “smooth fender” conversions Nakai-san ever made. Shinji bought it before RS values became astronomical, at a time where such a conversion didn’t stir as much fuss. But the reality is, an RS represents RWB’s true roots more than almost any other car out there.

These kits were built for racing – not posing – as was the RS, but that’s an argument best left for another time.

Beside the RS sits Shinji’s red-over-black ‘blood panda’ Toyota AE86 Trueno. Housing a 20-valve Blacktop, the car was painted to match his original AE86. It may be sedate compared to Shinji’s RS, and it’s a much more usable weekend car, but still with all the bits necessary for the occasional circuit drift day. 

In the corner sits a Ducati Monster, another one of Shinji’s obsessions, parked between scale models and various bits of memorabilia. Outside is a collection of daily drivers including a Porsche Panamera and a pristine, short-wheelbase Mercedes G-Class.

The garage itself was constructed seven years ago by the same builder who helped Nakai-san design his RWB workshop in Chiba, explaining the familiar aesthetic. Corrugated walls, tall shutters, raw lighting and wooden walls – a look almost synonymous with Rauh-Welt. 

But why is this 964 RS called ‘Good Hills Garage,’ you may ask? “Yoshi”, Shinji’s family name, translates loosely to “good hills.” Poetic, given the intention of these cars, and time spent enjoying roads in just that setting.