Featured image “JDM Garage R32 GTST…R!” by Paul Cook, licensed by CC BY-ND 2.0
Why should I go to Tatsumi PA?
Tatsumi PA is a popular place to check out cool cars in Tokyo. It’s not as famous as Daikoku PA, but still pretty well known among JDM car enthusiasts/bloggers. It’s also way smaller than Daikoku PA, so parking may be difficult.
There are actually two Tatsumi PAs: “Tatsumi No.1 PA” and “Tatsumi second PA.” Tatsumi No.1 PA is where you want to go to see cars (I’ll only be talking about No.1 in this article).
Because it sits high above ground level, it offers a great view of Tokyo – a nice backdrop if you plan on taking photos. It’s located in the Kōtō ward of Tokyo, sitting in roughly the southeastern part of the Tokyo Metropolis, meaning it’s only about a 10 minute drive from many parts of the Japanese capital.
Tatsumi PA is known as a place for cars to take a break that are driving spiritedly on Tokyo’s toll highways, officially called the Shuto Expressway, including the infamous C1 Inner Loop. Bloggers say that you will see cars here that are built for performance, rather than show, like at Daikoku PA. They also add that cars may not stay around long, so take photos when you can.
Can I take public transportation to Tatsumi PA?
No. You could get close by taking the bus or subway, but once you get there, there’s no way to walk up to the parking lot, which is high above ground. I read there are some stairs that go up to the parking area from street level, but they’re for workers/staff only.
On the map above, you can see Tatsumi No.1 Parking Area labeled in green. It looks like there are many different roads that connect to it, but there’s actually only one way to enter (shown by the green line), and one way to exit (shown by the purple line). Both are directly off the highway, so they can only be accessed by a car or motorcycle. I explain exactly which highways to take if you plan on driving there later in this post.
Can I take a taxi/Uber there?
Yes, but the driver might get lost on the way. A parking area is not a common place to get dropped off at, and the language barrier will make it hard to explain even if you have directions. Same thing goes for leaving, taxis/Ubers may have trouble finding your location, or they may not even try to pick you up at all. And remember, there’s no way to walk in or out either, so even if you get dropped off nearby, it’s no use. And if you do get dropped off inside, if you have no ride out you’ll be stuck inside there, a few stories above ground.
Basically, like Daikoku PA, you need to rent a car to get here, and I’ll explain how to do that next.
How do I rent a car/pay tolls/park my car in Tokyo?
I explain in my post on how to get to Daikoku PA about how to pay tolls, how to rent a car, where to park, etc.
Can I use Google Maps navigation to find Tatsumi PA?
Yes! Search “Tatsumi No.1 PA” on Google Maps and it will show up. Use it as your destination and Google Maps will navigate you to the correct place. Double check the destination to make sure you are being taken to the area above ground, not below it.
Even if using navigation, it may help to read the background information below before you start driving there so you don’t wind up underneath the parking area, or get lost and have to pay multiple toll road fees.
How do I get to Tatsumi PA?
The entrance (shown by the green line on the map above) can only be entered in one specific way. You have to be on the Bayshore Route Expressway (labeled with a ‘B’ on Google Maps) going northeast, then merge onto the Route 9 Expressway, going north.
As soon as you merge onto Route 9, you’ll start going slightly uphill. In just a few seconds you’ll exit on the right for Tatsumi PA.
The Google Maps Street View below shows the merge between the Bayshore Route and Route 9. Stay to the left, following signs for “Hakozaki,” and Route 9.
The Bayshore Route and Route 9 are both toll highways. There are only certain places you can get onto the toll highway, where you pass through a toll gate. If you use Google Maps navigation it’ll show you where to get on the highway, otherwise you’ll have to check Google Maps or another map manually to see where the closest toll gate is from your location.
There’s no way to enter Tatsumi PA from the Bayshore Route coming from the opposite direction, southwest. Because it can only be entered from one direction, this means if you’re already north or east of there, you’ll need to take surface streets past the parking area first, then merge onto the toll highways going the right direction — so you won’t have to pay the toll twice.
When is the best time to go to Tatsumi PA?
Friday/Saturday nights, arrive between 7pm and 10pm.
Ken Saito, in an article for Jalopnik, writes that sometimes the neighbors complain about the noise and the meets are shut down by police.
Redditors say (as of early 2019) the car meets get closed regularly on Fridays, and sometimes Saturdays. They also say not to go if weather is bad.
There are also a few special anniversary dates for specific cars that have meets:
January 3rd – New Year’s Day
March 2nd – Nissan Day/R32 Skylines
March 3rd – R33 Skylines
March 4th – R34 Skylines
July 7th – RX-7s
August 6th – AE86/GT86
Can I just pay somebody to take me to Tatsumi PA?
There is an AirBnB tour that will take you to Daikoku PA, Tatsumi No.1 PA, and Umihotaru PA for $120-$131/person (https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/627110).
Tatsumi No.1 PA official website
Official website for Tatsumi No.1 PA (https://www.shutoko-sv.jp/parking_area/pa/?id=1427364300-491721) (use Google translate)