Welcome to 2025! As always, January begins Speed hunting year with a strong focus on Japanese car culture, especially with the Tokyo Motor Show taking place just days away. We are going great this year.
But before we get into Japan’s largest tuning show and all the car gatherings surrounding it, let’s start with a tradition that has been firmly established over the past decade: the informal New Year’s reunion in the Daikoku parking area.
While enthusiasts flock to Yokohama’s most famous car meeting spot from the first day of the year, January 3 usually sees the largest turnout. If you’re planning to attend, arriving to Daikoku early is a must.
I walked in just before 8:00am, and the place was already packed.
The diversity was simply enormous, a perfect example of what makes Japan’s car culture unique. Take the photo above, for example: a 1960s Prince Skyline parked next to an 1980s Ford truck, with a Lancia Delta Integrale completing the trio. This is something you will only see in Japan.
You’ll always be guaranteed a great mix of vehicles at Daikoku PA, but extra special items will appear at the New Year’s meet, like the white McLaren P1 parked right behind the Ferrari 575 Superamerica.
We saw this Strosek 964 a few years ago but it’s always a pleasure to see such rare examples of automotive splendor.
I won’t interrupt the flow of images here; They really speak for themselves.
Moments like these underscore the importance of preserving gathering places like Daikoku.
Where else can you witness such an organic celebration of pure automotive passion?
It’s funny that I mention this, because while I was taking it all in, the police showed up, loudly over the PA system, and told everyone it was time to leave.
I’m not sure what caused this early morning eviction — maybe the truck drivers weren’t too happy about their parking spots being taken over — but it caught a lot of people by surprise.
I heard a lot of comments like “What already?” and “Seriously today?”
Despite the ads, most people were in no hurry to pack up and go.
There were still about a hundred cars I had yet to see, and a few latecomers managed to sneak in before police closed the spiraling entry ramp into Daikoku Pennsylvania from the highway above.
I made my way to the top of the parking area – the usual area of turmoil – and sure enough, the truck spots were completely taken up.
The Lamborghini crew, which had been revving its engines continuously for 10 minutes, stopped its car in dramatic style. Also among them was the Reventón – still fully stock, the quietest ever.
With the constant barrage of police announcements, screaming engines, and exhaust blasts, the entire scene seemed chaotic, but in the best way possible. It made for a memorable start to the year.
At this point, access roads in and out of Daikoku were closed. Departing cars were forced to join in the impromptu parade in which several owners drove off as they exited.
This disruption was actually a blessing in disguise – it gave me more time to discover cars I’d missed, like the stunning De Tomaso Pantera.
And even Daihatsu Charade De Tommaso (Bianca version). How cool is this?
By 10:00 AM, the place was almost empty – a new record for a New Year’s meet in Daikoku PA!
A police officer approached me and told me to stop taking pictures and leave, but as I was doing so, I spotted one last car that I couldn’t resist taking a few pictures of.
I mean, how often do you see an original Lancia 037 Stradale – in Martini Racing livery no less? Nuts!
Cherry on top? On my way home, I had a little fun playing with it on the highway from behind the wheel of my newly acquired BMW M4 Cabrio. Weighing just over a ton, the Lancia remained composed when the Abarth supercharger reached maximum power.
And this is the end of my first adventure in the world of cars for the year 2025! I can only hope the rest of the year will be as good as this morning, albeit short, in the Daikoku parking area.
Dino Dalli Carbonari
Instagram: dino_dalle_carbonare
dino@speedhunters.com