Press the red start button and the twin-turbo V6 wakes with a deep, mechanical bark. The gauges sweep. Somewhere ahead, the lights of the Wangan are waiting. This is the car Japan built to beat the world — and tonight, you're the one driving it.
Yes — but only with a few operators. Most Tokyo JDM experiences put a professional in the GT-R R35 and you in the passenger seat. ARTCARS hands you the key: you drive the R35 yourself with an English-speaking host in your passenger seat, about five hours, ¥79,000 per car including tolls, fuel and zero-deductible insurance.
Why most companies won't let you drive the R35
The GT-R is expensive to buy, expensive to insure and expensive to fix. A small scrape on a wide aluminium panel can cost more than a week of rentals, and parts can take time to arrive. Many operators manage that risk the simple way: they keep their own driver behind the wheel and sell a ride-along.
That's a reasonable business decision. But if you've travelled to Japan to drive "Godzilla" on its home roads, the passenger seat is a very different experience.
We took the other route. Every ARTCARS GT-R drive is supervised: your host rides with you and keeps a legal pace on a route we know well, and the briefing covers the car and the roads before you set off. That's how we can let you drive.
Why the R35 is a surprisingly good first JDM car
It sounds backwards, but the R35 is one of the easiest high-performance cars to drive in Tokyo:
- Dual-clutch automatic gearbox. No clutch to think about while your brain adjusts to driving on the left.
- All-wheel drive. Stable on wet roads, which matters from June's rainy season through the autumn typhoons.
- Four seats (2+2). A friend can come along for the ride and the photos.
- Calm at legal speeds. Tokyo's urban expressways are commonly signed at 50–80 km/h. The R35 settles into that rhythm without fuss.
It's still a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6. Respect the throttle, especially on cold tyres in winter.
The GT-R's "Godzilla" nickname dates back to the earlier Skyline GT-R, after its dominance in Australian touring car racing. The R35 dropped the Skyline name in 2007 and became simply the Nissan GT-R.
What it feels like on the night drive
The first few minutes are about getting comfortable: the wide body on narrow lanes, the steering that weights up as you go, the indicator stalk on the "wrong" side. By the time you're on the Wangan, the car starts to make sense. It tracks straight and true, the engine pulls cleanly in any gear, and the exhaust echoes off tunnel walls.
Then comes Rainbow Bridge — the city on both sides — and the long run around the bay towards Yokohama. The finale is the descent into Daikoku PA, where the spiral ramps drop you into a car park full of people who will turn to look at your car.
How our GT-R night drive works
- Book online at least three days ahead and choose the GT-R.
- English briefing at our Tokyo Bay base: document check, a walk-around of the car, and the road rules that catch visitors out.
- Let your host navigate you onto the Wangan, over Rainbow Bridge and along the bay to Daikoku PA.
- Park up at Daikoku. Walk the car meet, take photos with your GT-R.
- Drive back to base. About five hours in total.
If police have closed Daikoku that night — it happens — we lead you to another bay-side spot instead, usually Tatsumi PA or Umihotaru. The night still runs.
Price and what's included
| GT-R R35 night drive | |
|---|---|
| Price | ¥79,000 per car |
| Time | About 5 hours |
| Included | Car, English-speaking host, expressway tolls, fuel, zero-deductible insurance |
| Passengers | Room for passengers in the 2+2 cabin |
| Prefer a full day? | 24-hour rentals from ¥110,000 |
Torn between cars? Read GT-R vs 350Z.
Who can drive it
- Age 18 or older, with no young-driver surcharge (insurer conditions may apply). See renting a sports car under 25.
- A valid home licence, a 1949 Geneva Convention IDP, and your passport — all originals. See the IDP guide.
- An automatic-only licence is fine. The R35 has no clutch pedal.
Tips for your first GT-R drive
Leave the gearbox in full automatic for the first half hour. Once you're comfortable with the lanes and the left side of the road, try the paddles on a quiet stretch of the Wangan — the downshift blips are half the fun.
- Keep a generous gap to the car ahead at junctions. We'll always wait for you.
- The R35 is wide. On narrow lanes, aim to keep the car centred rather than hugging the line.
- Use the mirrors more than you think you need to — scooters and trucks are common on the bay routes.
- Read driving on the left: tips for visitors before you fly.
Photo ideas
The R35 looks its meanest from a low front three-quarter angle. At Daikoku, crouch down with the spiral ramps behind you and let the headlights glow. Ask your passenger to film the run over Rainbow Bridge from inside the car — never film while you drive.
Frequently asked questions
Is the GT-R R35 manual or automatic?
The R35 uses a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, so it drives like an automatic. You don't need a manual licence.
Can I drive the GT-R R35 without an International Driving Permit?
Only if your licence is from a country that uses an official Japanese translation instead, such as Germany, France or Switzerland. Everyone else needs a 1949 Geneva Convention IDP.
Can I take the GT-R on a circuit?
No. Our GT-R is for public roads on the night drive or a day rental. For track time, see drift experiences near Tokyo.
Can two of us share the driving?
Each driver must be registered and bring their own documents. Ask us when you book.