Topic: BigMike's Big Japanese Vacation

[BUDDERS]

Hey Mike, I know it's a little late to ask, but, have you seen any of these.  I know they look like Hummers, but they are Toyotas.  It's the Toyota Land Cruiser Mega-Cruiser designed to compete with the H1's of Japan and as far as I know, only made for the Japanese market.

[FIREBALL]

I had to pull Rhonda away from the computer when she saw the sushi.

bout time you updated us!!  What........do you think you're there for yourself........not, you're there to entertain us. Keep it comin.

[BigMike [OP]]

By far the most delicious Sushi I had was "aburitorosa-mon" which was just Samon suchi that was torch flamed right in front of me. Mmmaaaaannnn they were so good I must have ate 6 of them. The "tamago" (sweet egg) sushi is my all time favorite sushi, and it was a close second.

We were there for a good hour and I just kept on eating and eating. Sushi is like to me. Bitesize and you just can't get enough. Misato said I ate more then 40 pieces of sushi. I had no idea. I started keeping count, but lost count after the 2nd one. Sushi back home are at least a good $4 for two pieces, so I figure I ate around $60 worth of sushi for just $31. I could have kept going to. I was only about 75% full, but we still had lots to do and I was feeling bad for having the sushi cook prepare the same sushi over and over again.

I tried at least one of almost every kind of sushi they offered. Some were pretty good, others, ummmm, I just swollowed it as fast as I could

Gotta get some more!!

[BUDDERS]

If you're ever down in San Diego, I'll take you to Onami's or Todai for all you can eat sushi.  Sure, everybody goes for the high quality sushi, but there is a lot of other good food at these places too...  Eight plates later my Ex had to roll me out of Todai lookin' like a pregnant lady with contractions cause I ate sooooo much.  The best part is that they are both $16 for lunch.  I lost all that weight a little later though  and felt like eating some more.  I learned my lesson:  Next time I will just take it slow and stay from lunch through dinner 

[BigMike [OP]]

Hey Mike, I know it's a little late to ask, but, have you seen any of these.

I have seen those in Car and Driver, but I have yet to spot on here. I have seen just one H2 and I was able to vomit all over the side of it as it drove by. If I see the Mega Cruiser you can be sure I'll be taking some pictures of it!!

I had to pull Rhonda away from the computer when she saw the sushi.

Dude, I am so down for getting sushi with you guys. We are gonna do it. Hey, find out if your sushi guy can make me some "Amazake" (ah-mah-zah-keh) which is a type of Sweet Sake. It is the best beverage in the world besides Mountain Dewski and Ice Tea. Misato told me that it is a traditional sake that usually is only prepared during New Years, and that most resturants do not have it.
So check with your guy!! I would love to have that!! You should try some if you have never heard of it. It is served hot and its very tasty

After we ate, we did some more window shopping. I found a cool out door sports store! I was pretty excited to find it. They had many familuar brands such as The North Face and Coleman, and they had Skis and Snow Boards from companies such as K2, Rossignol, and Atomic.

However, everything was priced high enough to ward off any would-be buyers. Check out this Jacket for $770.

[BigMike [OP]]

And of course no shopping experience in Japan is complete without some more Engrish!!

"If you can't find what necessary for you So I can't hear of you"    

[BigMike [OP]]

After we had fun shopping around, we decided to go to the other side of the island where they had a ginormous feriswheel

On our way over there, I discovered that Japan has learned how to teleport objects

And then we heard it was a 3 HOUR WAIT for the feriswheel

But fortunately we found this place

[BigMike [OP]]

For a brief moment in my life, I had found Toyota Heaven.                

[BigMike [OP]]

Despite the fact that there were a bunch of newer small minivans and suc's (Sport Utility CARs), you know I was drooling all over the place. I mean, this is my calling, my heritage.
On the planet Michael, the planet where my parents got me from, everyone there drives MR2s and they never break down. So you can understand why Toyotas are part of my history, my culture, my people.
People told me that while I am in Japan I should visit a shrine and metatate so that I can find my inner peace, well I found it here instead

Here I am in this nice but underpowered 2006 MR2 Spyder. You know, I've gotta show to the Japo's how to REALLY drive a MR2. Having the shifter on the left side of the driver is S T R A N G E.

[BigMike [OP]]

I was hoping to see a 2006 Hilux, but they only had Hilux Surfs (4Runners) on display.

Then they had a technology side with some engines cut out which were very cool!

Check that out B A B Y!!!! Toyota's F1 ENGINE!!!!! They had to get secerety on me to stop me from the glass case. Thats a true story! Its documented. 800-something horsepower and 13,000rpm. I'm gonna need a doctor. What's in that case, like 5 million dollars worth of research and product? Seriously.

They even had this Toyota F1 store. Can you say SA-WEET!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BigMike [OP]]

Then, I was pretty excited about the "History" garage, so we headed over there.

On the way there, we came across something I will never forget in my life, the Toyota GT-one. This is my all-time most favorite Toyota race car. You might think my favorite style of racing is F1, but its not. It almost is, but my #1 racing is LeMans, #2 is GT-series (Real cars raced professionally), and #3 F1.
The Toyota GT-one was an awesome LeMans car!! I wish I was older during that time! I would of loved to see it in action!!!!!
I've seen the Ferrari Enzo three times, touched a McLaren F1, a F40, and countless F1 cars at the SEMA show, but there is just something amazingly special to me about the GT-one. I would rather have the GT-one over any other car I have ever seen..
600 HP 3.6l Engine. Yeah, 167 HP / liter. Ummmmmmmmmm

It was a good thing that I had starched my underwear that night.

[BigMike [OP]]

And while we were walking down the stairs and then back up some other strairs, I kept telling Misato that I guarentee the Toyota 2000GT will bere here.

And what is the first car right after you enter the room? ha! The 2000GT.

Here are some Corollas, which were VERY COOL because this is what I am thinking about Building up either this summer or the next. Pre-'75 Toyota Corolla. California can't touch me with their Smog BS, and its a good 400 lbs lighter then the Celica.

I Love how these retro cars look, and no one would be expecting me to have my 4A-GZE Supercharged Race motor in there, pushing close to 300 HP out of 1.6 liters. The only car that my MR2 has EVER lost to was a Corvette C5. When I build a Corolla, I am going after the C5/C6. The Z06 will be a bit to much for me I think, but if we are on a road with speeds under 100 mph, then he would be hard pressed to shake me.

[BigMike [OP]]

But then, sadly, I discover that this is it. That's it, just the History Showcase of the Corolla model.

I think they do rotations with their cars. I bet they do it each month or so. Man, I was desperately excited about seeing some restored factory 1979 Toyota 4WD pickups and some factory restored Landcruisers, but it was not to be so...

Here are some more pics from the Corolla showcase, including the famous AE86-style Corolla used in the "Initial D" Japanese cartoons.

[BigMike [OP]]

We then walked into a series of rooms with little plastic and dicast model replicas of various cars, not just Toyota. I would say there was more then 1000 model cars in this building. Everywhere and everything dating back to the early 20s it looked like.

I did happen to find some Land Cruisers though! Check these little babies out!! The are made out of steel, and as I remember, they are about $40 a piece.

[BigMike [OP]]

In the window to the right of this model room, they had a complete replica of a race garage, with a fully torn down AE86 Corolla and like a Corona I think..

It was neat to see it. I wish my room looked like this. I would just lay down some cardboard and go to sleep here every night. Theres nothing like the smell of a greasy shop. ahhhhhhhhh They should make Shop candles so we can make our homes smell like them too.

Check out how they have MAC Tool boxes here. Interesting..

And the coolest thing, is that right behind that race engine is a 4A-GE ENGINE BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nice Touch Toyota
But I don't understand that Turbo on that race engine. Its like its hooked up to the intake but not the exhaust, and the exhaust header pipes are non-turbo. What the heck! If they did that just for looks, then I am pretty pissed Who do they think they are fooling? Not us Americans!!! heheheh

[BigMike [OP]]

Then on the way out of the Toyota City Showcase Building, we came across a couple non-Toyota classic cars.

A Cool Corvette

Of course the DMC DeLorean (It seems to be everywhere)

And I have read about the original Nissan Skylines, but I have never seen one.
Does anyone know if Nissan offered the early 70s Skyline in the states?

I would rather race that care then a Toyota Corolla. I love the Skyline name and I think it looks better. When I do eventually build an old retro small lightweight pre-'75 car, this is how I want the final product to look like. That would be sweet in my opinion. I know I could pick up chicks in that thing

[BigMike [OP]]

Below the Toyota City Showcase, there was an underground two-story mall that we spent another hour or two inside of.

It was v e r y crowded. It looked like a Las Vegas Ceasers Palace knock off, and a poor one at that. short hall ways would lead to a circular fountain room with 4 exits and a restaurant, and they have the simulated sky light effect on the ceiling, but it seemed more narrow, more crowded, and just more conjested then the one is Vegas. Things seemed down sized and smaller. The water fountains were smaller, sculptors were smaller, and they did not have a cool laser show with animated characters.

Then, with the end of the day quickly approaching, we headed back through the Teleporter and made our way to the mainland via the train. The bridge looked really cool at night and we named it the "Rainbow Bridge" for obvious reasons, and I also got my first look at the Tokyo Tower, which I had not noticed on the way there. An Eiffel Tower knock off perhaps?

And thus concludes Sunday, Dec 25th. Wow, what a day. Now you know why I'm behind on my updates This took me all day to do just these!!!!!

[FIREBALL]

Awesome Mikey. They yota museum........i wanna go!!

If you make it back to the store with the models see if they have a 71 Carina. I would pay you handsomley for one of those.

[cruzila]

We then walked into a series of rooms with little plastic and dicast model replicas of various cars, not just Toyota. I would say there was more then 1000 model cars in this building. Everywhere and everything dating back to the early 20s it looked like.

I did happen to find some Land Cruisers though! Check these little babies out!! The are made out of steel, and as I remember, they are about $40 a piece.

Hey Mike, bring me some of those!! I bet you could sell every one you bring back. Got Cash?

[BUDDERS]

Hey guys, how about the F1 motor in a sand rail?    I gotta say Mike, I'm a little dissapointed.  I wouldn't have let security stop me from getting to that motor.

[reklund5]

So, uh, Mike.....whadidja buy to bring back for me?      I KNOW they had a hotrodded 7M somewhere around there...

[BigMike [OP]]

Hey Ryan, I've actually been looking for something for you but I have not found it yet. I know of a couple more places that I will try next week, so I might need your mailing address soon

I could head back to Odaiba by myself sometime next week, so I could pick up a couple FJ40 Landcruisers and also look for your Corona FB.

I'll let you guys know...

[reklund5]

Thanks Mike!  Don't go out of your way for little old me though...spend your time with Misato and have fun!

Ryan

[Rocksurfer]

Thanks Mike!  Don't go out of your way for little old me though...spend your time with Misato and have fun!

Ryan

I think he'd be more than happy to have to go back to the museum for little old you. (he probably forgot to grab some on purpose so he'd need to go back one last time.)

[kdogae86]

  hey big mike, just thinking of you after my long drive through trimmer on the one lane country road to pine flat. my scooby is way faster than the ae86 so youd better get one of those cute little corrollas to keep up. hope your having too much fun. maybe some day ill buy another truck.
kdog

[BigMike [OP]]

hey big mike, just thinking of you after my long drive through trimmer on the one lane country road to pine flat. my scooby is way faster than the ae86 so youd better get one of those cute little corrollas to keep up. hope your having too much fun. maybe some day ill buy another truck.
kdog

Hey kdog what's up my brotha! It's about time you get your slow butt in here to check out what I've been doing over on the island nation. Yeah I was definately thinking about you and Bill when I found that Corolla display, especially with the Tofu Shop Hachi there. Bill would have been in pure heaven, especially if it were a Celica display!!

About driving in the mountains, man I really wanna do that again. I always think that no matter what I build, it won't handle as well as my MR2 (mid engine superiority) but it seems that whenever I see a Datsun 510b or a fixed up older Celica, they look like they could beat my MR2. I know a FR layout will have totally different pros and cons then a MR, so I'll just have to get use to that until the friggen state moves the smog year to post '85 (which will not happen for a long time). Then I would build the best year for the MR2, 1985.

We are going out to Ueno and then back to Shinjuku to have dinner with Masa and his girlfriend. Yes, Masa! The guy who I met in the airport at LAX and crashed at his pad that night. We are gonna hang out tonight which is pretty cool Also, the ironic thing is that we even will be flying back home together on the same plane! Same flight number and departure time! But this time we will most likely have different seats, but that is still pretty cool. What are the odds that I would become friends with this guy, hang out at his house, fly together, eat dinner together in Tokyo, then fly back to America together? I'm pretty sure we'll be friends for life. Everytime I head to LA I'll be sure to give him a call and see what he's up to-

I'll see if I can find some time tonight to throw up some more pics!
Cya
Mike

[mudguts]

You still haven't ate any fugu have you?       

[trekker]

glad to see your having a great time i want to go there now

[BigMike [OP]]

Yesterday night we walked out from Bakurocho towards what I thought was the city of Kanda (North-West from here), but we actually walked right into Nihon-bashi and then right into Tokyo city itself. We have already visited Tokyo city last week, but we took the subway there. I was pretty surprised to see that these places are all within walking distance. Granted it was a good 5 miles or so, it wasn't so bad when I'm walking with Misato and having fun

But what was bad was the weather. It was pretty breezy, about a constant 15 mph wind, and  IT  WAS  COLD.

So I checked the weather when we got back home, and it was -1.1 C, which is 30 degrees F, which was the coldest day I have seen in Tokyo thus far. 30 degrees + 10-15 mph windchill can't be good.

I have a large snow jacket that I brought, and then a couple light jackets. It's pretty annoying walking around with the snow jacket, so I've just been wearing my light jackets.

My daily wear:
Keeping my legs warm: Long thermal Socks, Undies , Hanes cotton "long-underwear" (long-johns), covered by jeans.
Keeping my upperbody warm: Shortsleeve cotton t-shirt, then Longsleeve shirt, then longsleeve dress/polo shirt, and then a light jacket. Wool gloves and a beanie try to keep my hands and head warm.

And I am often pretty cold with this setup. My legs are cold and my face + ears are freezing. A couple of times I thought I lost an ear or two, just fell right off maybe. Also, even with gloves and sqeezing my fists, my skin between each finger is  c o l d.

I'm sure this kind of weather is common to many of you, but for me this is the coldest weather that I have stayed in for more then a weekend.

This whole area looks huge on a map, but when you walk around and actually get a feeling for where things are, the land space here is much much smaller then I originally thought. LA basin has gotta be three times the size of this place, yet Tokyo has 12.5 Million citizens compared to LA which has about 10 Million. Almost 3 more million people in 1/3 the space.

[FIREBALL]

NO NO!!! Not Corona.........CARINA.  I think they still make them for overseas markets, but they were only imported to the US for 2 years, 71 and 72. Very rare car for the US.
Mine was a 71. Looks similar to the corona but has celica suspension and the taillights are vertical and roll over the back next to the trunk lit.

Glad you're havin a good time Mikey. That's pretty wild that you and Masa are back on the same plane. Hopefully you won't have the same probs for your departure.