Tokyo hustle and bustle: On the road in Japan in a Toyota Crown
What am I even doing here? This thought is swirling around in my head as I sit in the waiting area of a car rental agency in Tokyo. Soon I'll be behind the wheel, plunging into the traffic of a city of nine million. (The greater Tokyo area even has 40 million inhabitants.) Okay, I've been driving practically professionally for 18 years and have also driven on the left in other countries. But this is going to be something else entirely, I have a feeling.
I was already aware of this, as Toyota had asked me weeks beforehand to have my driver's license translated into Japanese. This is done through the ADAC (German Automobile Club) and is the essential requirement for driving a car in Japan as a tourist. But as is often the case: once you're standing on the diving board, you get the jitters.
Source: Motor1.com Germany
Luckily, I came prepared: At the Hanozono Shrine in Shinjuku, I bought two amulets for road safety, one for my passenger. Nothing can go wrong now, right? At the rental car agency, four brand-new black Toyota Crown sedans are waiting for our group. Essentially the VW Passat of Japan, the 16th generation of the Crown was released in 2023, and Crown is now a sub-brand within the Toyota empire.
I take a look at my ride: hatchback styling, but with a small trunk opening via a lid. In any case, the Crown sedan is exactly 5.03 meters long, 1.89 meters wide, and 1.47 meters high. Excellent dimensions for a mega-metropolis. Irony aside. I squeeze myself behind the steering wheel on the right side and try to maneuver my legs in. Somehow, more height adjustment would be great right now. My left leg is snuggled against the massive center console.
Road trip Tokyo/Hakone with the Toyota Crown sedan (2025)
Image from: Motor1.com Germany
Okay, here goes, there's no point in delaying. Of course, I immediately mix up the wiper (left) and turn signal (right) levers during the first turn signal activation. Luckily, the Crown has an automatic transmission. The factory-installed navigation system loses its bearings after just 200 meters in the hustle and bustle of Shinjuku. It's a good thing that a) the police don't see my U-turn, b) it's around midday, and c) the Japanese are courteous.
But during the half hour that takes me through Shinjuku and Shibuya (including the famous Shibuya Crossing), I have to be on my guard like a hawk. The traffic lights are mostly mounted high up, and you also need to know which one applies to you. And always watch out for pedestrians. Luckily, the GPS has sorted itself out and is showing me which lane I should be in. Because the winding street layout would command the respect of any seasoned sailor.
And another good thing: In Japanese cities, cars are practically never parked on the street. Nevertheless, the Crown's two side mirrors are my best friends that day. What's more, the rental car is recording certain situations, as it informs us. Big Brother sends its regards.
Image from: Motor1.com Germany
Image from: Motor1.com Germany
Image from: Motor1.com Germany
Images courtesy of: Motor1.com Germany
We finally reach the highway; things get more relaxed. The speed limit there is 100 km/h, by the way, while in town it's usually 40. The 2.5-liter hybrid engine in our Crown is well-suited to this, with a system output of 185 hp without a turbo, but still a respectable 300 Nm of torque. The numerous Porsche 911s, often sporting fitting license plates like 9-11 or 9-91, have considerably more torque, and their sheer number surprises us. Beyond Kawasaki (yes, the one with the motorcycles) and Yokohama (home of Nissan), we reach the enormous Gunma rest area. Countless restaurants with affordable Japanese food await us here. Take that, fuel and rest!
In one of the shops, I even find a toy car of our Crown from Tomica in 1:66 scale. If that's not a good omen, I don't know what is. About 25 minutes later, we arrive in a very scenic area. The hybrid engine and its CVT transmission sing a cacophonous, strained song. A road, sometimes very winding, snakes its way towards Hakone. It's an active volcano on Japan's main island of Honshu and lies about 80 kilometers southwest of Tokyo in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Image from: Motor1.com Germany
Image from: Motor1.com Germany
Image from: Motor1.com Germany
Images courtesy of: Motor1.com Germany
The Hakone volcano, which reaches heights of up to 1,438 meters, is home to a toll road, the famous Hakone Turnpike. Since the 19th century, the region around Hakone has been one of Japan's most popular and frequently visited recreational and tourist areas. It is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, which also includes Mount Fuji to the west and the Izu Peninsula to the south.
The Hakone Turnpike was originally designed for trucks, but with the construction of modern highways, it lost its significance. However, in recent years, the Japanese car and tuning scene has rediscovered it. Amidst the golden autumn landscape, a Nissan GT-R Skyline R34 suddenly appears, accompanied by a Toyota AE86 in the "Initial D" livery and a late-model Mazda RX-7 FD . I have to pinch myself; I've stumbled into a manga.
Over 14 kilometers, you reach an altitude of just over 1,000 meters and can theoretically see Mount Fuji in the distance. Because on this autumn day, it's too hazy, the sky too cloudy. That's not so bad, though, because the scenery along our route also offers fantastic views.
Image from: Motor1.com Germany
We can't linger too long; after all, we have to drive the roughly 100 kilometers back to Tokyo. Woe betide us if we get caught in rush hour. Luckily, that doesn't happen; we're stuck in a traffic jam for a long time around Yokohama. Due to an accident, some diligent Japanese have closed off half the highway. We don't reach downtown Tokyo again until around 7:30 p.m. Now my colleague is driving, and I can take in the lights and atmosphere of Shibuya and the surrounding areas.
"I wanna wake up in a city that doesn't sleep," sang Frank Sinatra, who was very popular in Japan, about New York. He could just as easily have meant Tokyo. Next time, I need his music in the car. And a small Kei car .
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