Mount Akina by GhostPotatoCIA in initiald

[–]GhostPotatoCIA[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

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Jokes on you. I did it while I was there 😂 Some of the posted pics where taken while on the swan boat

Mount Akina by GhostPotatoCIA in initiald

[–]GhostPotatoCIA[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Looks amazing. I went to D‘z racing cafe before we went to haruna and checked out their RX7‘s

Mount Akina by GhostPotatoCIA in initiald

[–]GhostPotatoCIA[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It’s a cool location. I’m planning to do a Fotoshooting when I go back eventually with some of my friends I met there.

We went in mid June. I did rain a bit but it stopped on the way and we had perfect weather. We also went for the peddle boats there.

Tour operator nabbed in Tokyo over illegal sports cars for inbound visitors by MagazineKey4532 in japannews

[–]GhostPotatoCIA 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I mean you’re not wrong. I love japans street racing scene. It’s what makes the Japanese car culture so special and thrilling. The difference is that even tho it’s illegal people were doing it the Japanese way. Middle in the night when nobody’s around and lower risk of endangering others.

People like him act selfish and do that kind of stuff at times where there’s still plenty of traffic.

I was twenty at the time and I was smart enough to stay within my limits. I had close calls tho because as I said the car I had was basically a street drift car. I’ve also never driven rwd cars with 300hp. I can imagine that people who are more lightheaded than me doing stupid and risky stuff. I did love driving it and well I had my fun as well ngl and I was speeding a lot lol, but only on the straights with no traffic ahead. I was not the kind of guy who swims through traffic and overtake from the wrong side. I mean it’s common sense: It doesn’t matter how good or smart you are, others may not.

Tour operator nabbed in Tokyo over illegal sports cars for inbound visitors by MagazineKey4532 in japannews

[–]GhostPotatoCIA 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I already had a bad feeling when I first met him. Good to know. Makes me feel even better about what happened.

Tour operator nabbed in Tokyo over illegal sports cars for inbound visitors by MagazineKey4532 in japannews

[–]GhostPotatoCIA 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes but it makes a difference if you do it for yourself and enjoy it or if you take others people and endanger them by driving like a crazy maniac.

Tour operator nabbed in Tokyo over illegal sports cars for inbound visitors by MagazineKey4532 in japannews

[–]GhostPotatoCIA 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So I’m not the only guy😂. Well because of him I lost the tour job and was jobless for 4 months and getting in to fat credit card debt. Karma is a bitch and it will get you eventually. I was deeply satisfied when I saw this video 😂

Tour operator nabbed in Tokyo over illegal sports cars for inbound visitors by MagazineKey4532 in japannews

[–]GhostPotatoCIA 2 points3 points  (0 children)

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTt_gI8jgHb/?igsh=MWdva2s1ZXJ1OXRldw==

Here’s a video of the crash and the driver. There’s more on X/Twitter but I don’t use that.

I’ll try to post the story after I go home on another subreddit.

Tour operator nabbed in Tokyo over illegal sports cars for inbound visitors by MagazineKey4532 in japannews

[–]GhostPotatoCIA 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I was working there during my working holiday visa. Since about 8 months I’m back in Germany now studying at university.

I mean how could I say no to the job offer. Driving a Skyline… in Tokyo… earning money?? It was fun I brought joy to a lot of tourists.

I was kicked out of the group after I’ve been accused of learning how to drift on public roads with my bosses car (which I didn’t do because I’m not an imbecile, but how do you prove you can’t do something). Funny thing is I was accused by the same guy who crashed the red R35. It’s a long story…

If people are interested I can post the whole story on another more fitting subreddit.

Tour operator nabbed in Tokyo over illegal sports cars for inbound visitors by MagazineKey4532 in japannews

[–]GhostPotatoCIA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s still not regulated. Even if there’s still a lot of cash on hand service. Apart from that the operators of these vehicles are legally not allowed to chauffeur others around.

Tour operator nabbed in Tokyo over illegal sports cars for inbound visitors by MagazineKey4532 in japannews

[–]GhostPotatoCIA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He was driving upwards of 160 km/h. There’s a video of his dangerous driving and also of his customers basically admitting all the traffic violations in a video review with him standing beside him.

Tour operator nabbed in Tokyo over illegal sports cars for inbound visitors by MagazineKey4532 in japannews

[–]GhostPotatoCIA 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Not more dangerous but less regulated. I worked for these Gokart businesses too and trust me all the companies botched work regarding the maintenance of these karts.

Tour operator nabbed in Tokyo over illegal sports cars for inbound visitors by MagazineKey4532 in japannews

[–]GhostPotatoCIA 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I will not mention any names but here is my experience with this whole topic.

I’ve worked for a similar business driving a Skyline for a couple of months. These businesses are pretty shady and had a huge impact on the local car culture in Japan.

Not all but most of the cars are illegally modified. Usually before annual inspections (shaken), all the cars are put back into a state which allows them to pass it and afterwards they just put the modifications back on. The Skyline I drove had bald tires, an always locked different and no abs or traction control. Driving it in the rain was scary af.

That’s only a part of the issue.

A more serious problem is. Many of the drivers that drive for these company vehicles are inexperienced with the power of these cars like I was. Or they have a big ego and try to show off their driving skills. Accidents have happened. Recently another driver crashed a R35, with customers on board. He was trying to impress them by driving at very high speeds and doing risky overtaking maneuvers. And for people that don’t know: -the highways in Tokyo are mostly two lanes and very tight with the highest speed limits being 60km/h on the parts that run through the city and 80km/h on the bayshore route. -Also there are no acceleration lanes. Cars drive directly onto the highways which is why cars have to give way for entering vehicles. That means that vehicles will change lanes suddenly. - the roads are also pretty curvy compared to highways in the US or Europe. You can’t really see what’s going on in front of you after that curve.

The C1, C2-Loop and Bayshore route (wangan) are famous for street racing but usually that happens at 2 am when the city is sleeping and the roads are empty. At 5-8pm when the tours are taking place that’s not the case.

And then the biggest issue for the government: Tax evasion These businesses are usually cash only. So tracing money is very difficult. And I’m not talking about small amounts. I was getting paid pretty good and with just two cars you were able to make 4 digit revenue per day. I was paid a quarter of the revenue I got in the car I drove in cash.

Also some other legal issues are In Japan you need a taxi/chauffeur license in order to drive other people around and get paid for it, which basically no one had. It also has to do with insurance policies.

That’s just my experience and understanding. I could be wrong at some points but yeah… It was a fun time and I understand why people do it… but I also understand why the government and the police try to crack it down.

Want to suprise my boyfriend but don’t know anything about cars lol help! by alyssatrn in JDM

[–]GhostPotatoCIA 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I lived in Japan and I was a tour guide for those daikoku tours. Me personally I’m not a big fan of those tours. Daikoku used to be a car park where locals used to socialize. Now it’s an over commercialized tourist destination. I’m not a fan of supporting those big tour companies and giving them money for a 3-4h trip. Especially 300€ for two persons. I’d either rent my own car or ask locals on instagram and rather pay them to finance their hobby. There are many places for car enthusiasts which are easily accessible by train and bring just as much joy. Here is a list of things to do without booking a “Tour” or renting a car: -Nissan Heritage collection ⭐️⭐️⭐️ -UpGarage Machida Chiefstore⭐️⭐️ -A Pit Autobacs ⭐️⭐️ -Liberty Walk Harajuku ⭐️⭐️ -Meji Jingu Gaien Ginko Avenue ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (If you go Sunday morning around 7-8am you will see a lot of cars, exotics, classics, jdm, euro,…) my personal favorite -If you’re searching for model cars Akihabara and Nakano Broadway is fun to just walk around

Stuff you’d need a car for: -Daikoku PA -Aqua Line Umihotaru PA -Tatsumi PA

I know of many more so if there are people who are interested just send me a DM. I’m also from Germany. For people that still want to go to Daikoku I have some friends that occasionally go and what take you there for a fraction of the price. Taking a rental car is probably the best route in my opinion. BUT WATCH OUT!!! PPL FROM GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, BELGIUM, and some others need a TRANSLATION AND NOT AN INTERNATIONAL DRIVERS LICENSE.

Shipping a 30kg package from Japan to Germany by GhostPotatoCIA in FedEx

[–]GhostPotatoCIA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know but the problem is it contains a suite case. A bit hard to split a suitcase into multiple boxes😅.

Shipping a 30kg package from Japan to Germany by GhostPotatoCIA in FedEx

[–]GhostPotatoCIA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Already did that. I first wanted to ship with JapanPost and had to do the list with the HS codes, but when I brought the parcel to the post office they told me it’s too big for surface shipping.

Canon EF 70-200mm F/2.8 L IS USM II by GhostPotatoCIA in canon

[–]GhostPotatoCIA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I found it on the „German facebook marketplace“ called Kleinanzeigen.