Driving with Drivers Lounge

There is a specific kind of adrenaline that only a Japanese mountain pass can provide. Last month, as part of the Drivers Lounge JP Hakone and Izu tour, I found myself behind the wheel of a legendary Nissan Silvia S15 Spec-R. The mission? Keep pace with a flame-spitting BNR32 Skyline GT-R as we carved through the legendary Izu Skyline.

While the world knows Japan for the bright lights of Shinjuku and the organized chaos of Shibuya, enthusiasts know the real Japan begins where the expressway ends. Last week, I joined the team at Drivers Lounge in Kawasaki for a deep dive into the mountain passes—or "touge"—of Hakone and Izu. Drivers Lounge's Nissan R32 Skyline GTR The Ascent: Hakone Turnpike Our journey began at the base of the Hakone Turnpike (the "MAZDA Turnpike"). Often referred to as Japan’s Nürburgri