10 replies to this topic

[Mbloes]

Was in Japan last week and, while I was not really thinking slot cars, I did need to make a stop at a prominent toy store there -  Hakuhinkan Toy Park

 

Imagine my surprise to find a slot car track on the top floor. It was an eight lane track, easily 100+ feet, coin-operated and very nicely designed.  It was a little bit modular, but it was eight lanes and, most importantly, not plastic. Unfortunately, there doesn't really appear to be any photos on its website but I'm sure they're out there on the internet somewhere.

 

So, of course I had to try it.  ou put two ¥100 coins (about two bucks) in the machine for 5 minutes time. An employee lets you pick out a car and off you go. In addition, the employee will "race" with you and kind of act as the "rabbit."

 

Fast forward to me taking my brother to Haneda Airport. We head up to their fantastic observation deck as one does for a beer and to watch the planes (God bless Japan for actually being able to do this - that's my brother in the checked shirt with one of Japan's finest in his hand.)

 

 

Afterwards, I stroll through the airport mall, where I find another branch of this toy store, with another slot car track inside!

 

 

 

And of course, I had to drop another few hundred yen to check it out.

 

They have a passable selection of Scalextric and Carrera cars plus accessories for sale. The cars that you rent though, were Hornby (I'm not familiar with this brand but I'm not a big plastic car guy). These cars, charitably, were not great.

 

I did wind up with the track record for my lane, though.

 

I'm still trying to wrap my head around finding a slot car track in an airport mall.

[Samiam]

I did wind up with the track record for my lane, though.

So you hold the "world record" for airport rental slot cars. 

[elinsley]

They have a nice Retro race series in Tokyo.

[elinsley]

Haruki and about seven others from Retro Tokyo came over for RetroPalooza.

[don.siegel]

Hornby is Scalextric - there may be some brand conflicts as the reason for using a different brand name. 

 

Thanks for sharing story, pretty amazing! 

 

Don 

[TSR]

There were quite a few commercial raceways in the 1990s in Japan, where racers built and raced absolutely beautiful 1/24 scale cars from plastic model kits over heavy metal chassis made by Plafit and other local companies. But when the Spanish cars (Ninco and Fly), became available in Japan, all that pretty much vanished. 

It is great to see tat there are still some tracks operating in various places, but there is virtually no place for them any longer in Japanese magazines...

[Mbloes]

It is great to see tat there are still some tracks operating in various places, but there is virtually no place for them any longer in Japanese magazines...

 

Yeah, I'm not totally sure if you can actually bring your own cars here or these tracks are just a vehicle to promote product sales or whatever.

 

The controllers that you use are Professor Motor type and are hardwired into the control panel. The control panels do, however, have provisions for your basic three-wire controller.

 

So maybe they have some sort of race program after-hours or something - I don't know and I couldn't really communicate with the employees (other than smiling).

 

But I've gotta think they probably wouldn't let me just show up with my own gear and go for it.

[Samiam]

This is why every world traveler should carry a car and controller in your carry on. You just never know when you'll run into a slot car track. 

 

Imagine a track at every major American airport. It's bind-moggling. 

[Half Fast]

Consider me moggled. 

 

Cheers

[Mbloes]

This is why every world traveler should carry a car and controller in your carry on. You just never know when you'll run into a slot car track. 

 

It's just so perfect for a crazy date (like I've dated in a million years) or out with your buddies. It's got everything: food, booze, planespotting and, of course, slots.

 

The toys tore / track is landside (before security) so is otherwise accessible to everybody - not just passengers. And Japan being Japan, you can take the train from Tokyo proper and it terminates right into the terminal. Hop off and head to the fourth floor for all the action.

[usadar]

There are several commercial raceways in Tokyo area. Most of them are for Pla-Fit cars and some of them are for 1/32 home-set cars like Hakuhinkan.

 

There is no commercial raceway in Japan where you can run American slot cars from stamped steel cars to wing cars.

 

My raceway with a Gerding King track is located in Tokyo where we race IRRA^® Retro slot cars. The track is built with enough power to race G7 wing cars but we just concentrate ourselves on Retro.

 

The raceway is not open to the public but welcomes racers introduced by our members. Presently more than 20 members are registered and 16-18 racers turn-out at our monthly races.

Good racing,

 

Haruki