Japan in a Van – Revisiting Global Auto
We were redoing our very first trip all over again, but no one was complaining. We had to check out Global Auto before it closed, arguably the most incredible line up of Japanese dream cars globally; the view at this place is entirely surreal, like something out of a video game.
Instant overload! What a view
I was incredibly snap happy here, the bike! The vending machine, the two 32’s and the 35 just chilling, I couldn’t get enough.
Every single car here was worthy of a photo.
It’s like when you max out a car in a video game and then have all the cash and build a garage filled with the best of the best.
Imagine this view was just on the main street.
Wouldnt be a bad place to work! This guy was cleaning the innew barrel of these TE37s; everything was just so picturesque.
A customer was just collecting this GTR.
I love this photo!
Everything is so densely packed; it’s hard to try to document it all without photos looking the same.
I could stare at this for hours! The cool lighting casting down on the GTR’s with the Iconic Global sign at the back.
Turn your head a small bit to the right, and there’s more…
This 32 was total perfection, chunky Bronze TE37’s Nismo pods!
Two 34’s tucked in at the back, A brain-melting overload.
The iconic double lights, cool to see each generation here.
The place is quite intimidating. We tipped toed around the cars until eventually; We managed to strike up a chat with one of the workers about his thoughts on everything getting exported to other countries. He said he was happy to see the cars go to other countries as it helps keep research and development with these chassis, whereas Japan appears to be finished developing new parts for these cars.
He also said it’s a lot harder for them to fix older models as parts have dried up inJapan, so he was happy to see new stuff getting manufactured in new markets for cars going overseas. He hopes different counties might develop new components for an otherwise dead market in Japan, a very unexpected take on things.
This was in getting its headlights buffed.
What a bay! I’m sure every single car there has the goodies to match the looks. That’s what Global auto is all about.
Reuben looking slightly demented, overwhelmed, and happy all at the same time.
The view from our car window, across the street. Insane.
We needed a drink after Global, so we hit the nearest 7 eleven down the street.
I love the endless choice of drinks we can’t get in Ireland.
We followed this GTR back down past the global front; it was all a little too much.
A perfect OEM machine on OEM wheels. Always good to see them in the wild.
After an hour-long drool taking in Global Auto’s spectacular views, we went for a cruise around Osaka.
There’s quite a lot of stuff still on the streets over there was great to see. We stopped for a quick look at the infamous Izumiotsu parking area where the Honda scene usually frequents, but there was nothing to see; the place was dead. I was worried that maybe the scene here has dried up, but we would be proven wrong the following night.
This tunnel links both car parks over the highway.
Nothing to see asides from this cool RX8.
Signs to warn about vehicle noise.
The views from Izumiotsu are cool! Everything looks like a movie set.
We went back out for a spot of car hunting.
We found this beauty of a Supra; you’d forget how good looking these cars are.
We went down to the old dock areas where people used to drift; sadly, these days, the Osaka street scene is more or less dead. We did spot this gigantic crane thought.
The trucks emit his cool led light onto the spray when its rains. It’s pretty mesmerising.
More cool lights, everything is a potential photo.
Jimny!
We worked our way into Osaka with the hopes of finding a Hotel; sadly, they don’t take bookings after 9 pm in most places.
We drove around aimlessly for another few hours.
We met up with our Mate Rob Bery at the end of the night for a few hours and checked out his AE86, then went back to Izumiotsu to sleep as we couldn’t find a place to book for sleeping after 9 pm, the Alphard would be our hotel a few more nights on the trip…