How to Drive Tokyo R246 in Real Life

[PikachuRacer11]

There may of been videos about people who driven a lap around the famous GT Circuit in real life, but not many instructions on how to run it yourself.

I was exploring Japan via Google Earth and discovered the location of the well-known street circuit seen in GT3 to GT6 that starts on Route 246 in the Shibuya District of Tokyo. I explored the street view and found the route of the fictional street circuit. This is what I can find within limits of the program, but is likely 99% correct (the names of the streets may or may not be exact, as the signs are a bit blurry at times on the program and I am not 100% fluent in Japanese yet). Trying my best to properly give navigation details, below provides the instructions to lead you around "Tokyo R246" in real life.

Tokyo R246 "Fictional" Street Circuit Navigation Instructions:
1) Start at Aoyama-Dori [R246] (Track's starting line was next to the 7-Eleven "Seven&i Holdings" Convenience Shop building)
2) Take a Left at the [R414] intersection
3) At the one-way intersection next to a softball park, Turn Left to continue down the [R414]
4) Keep Right at the "Sendagaya/Shinanomatchi" intersection, to continue down the [R414]
5) At the following intersection, continue Right at the sign to continue down the [R414]
6) From the next intersection, Take a Left at the sign & go straight across the immediately-following [R319] intersection, to continue down [R414]
7) Take a Right on the intersection with two signs that say "Shinjuku City" and "Gakushuin Shotoka", to continue down the [R414].
8) Turn Right at a sign that says "Wakaba E.", to enter Sotobori-Dori [R405]
9) Continue Right until you pass under the bridge, then Turn Right at the intersection to return to Aoyama-Dori [R246]

Maybe if I visit Japan someday, I'll try taking on a proper lap of R246 (within Japan's Driving laws, of course).

Google maps vicinity where R246 is located: https://www.google.com/maps/@35.6640384,139.7253857,1420a,35y,44.54t/data=!3m1!1e3

 

[Savolainen83]

Went to Tokyo in 2017, and walked the perimeter of the track while taking pictures and a few short videos. Took about 2-3 hours if I remember correctly.

Was really suprised how much trees and greenery the area contains. Don't know if the time of year I was there had anything to do with it or not.

Also planning a new trip for next year, and solely on Tokyo, so I have a mission to go there again and look around at a more relaxed pace.

Also have some small plans to visit few of the recent Scapes locations if I find them. Mori Tower skydeck at least.

But yes, I would love to be able to drive the roads myself, but even the walking will do.

Also the "main straight" contained many premium car dealerships, including McLaren, Alpina BMW, Bentley, Lamborghini, Ferrari and of course Honda.

 

[GTvsForza]

I like the idea of walking/driving along the layout of city circuits. I'd like to see how different they are compared to their videogame counterparts.

 

[Savolainen83]

Here's a few pics I took on the trip.

As you can see, the pics only show part of the main straight, the first corner with the Royal Garden Cafe, the following straight, and the lefthander going towards the now demolished Olympic Stadion.

I did take more then those pictures but it might be easier if I used some imagehosting website to show the rest instead of filling my posts with uploaded pictures. I think.

 

[Liquid]

It's neat that you can get around it in real life somewhat but this was a horrible track and one of the very worst in any Gran Turismo game.

 

[Savolainen83]

It's neat that you can get around it in real life somewhat but this was a horrible track and one of the very worst in any Gran Turismo game.

Horrible? Why? Is it the layout thats bothering you or the scenery/location?

I find the track itself quite nice to drive on and hope that it makes a return at some point in time with better/updated graphics and scenery.

 

[TVR27]

Here's a few pics I took on the trip.

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As you can see, the pics only show part of the main straight, the first corner with the Royal Garden Cafe, the following straight, and the lefthader going towards the now demolished Olympic Stadion.

I did take more then those pictures but it might be easier if I used some imagehosting website show the rest instead of filling my posts with uploaded pictures. I think.

The roads look perfect to drive on!

 

[polysmut]

Take your Honda home.

 

[Touring Mars]

I’m in Tokyo right now and I visited R246 the other night after work - I walked from the top of the oval section to the intersection at the Royal Garden Cafe - I wanted to walk more of the ‘circuit’ but it was dark so it didn’t seem worth it since I couldn’t take any pictures - sadly, my plan to return during the day probably won’t happen as I only have two more days in Tokyo and there are still so many things I would like to see - and my feet hurt!

I liked R246 as a circuit in the game, and it was great fun to visit the place for real - crossing the road on foot at the tight left hander (in the 8th picture above) was fun... remembering how many times I’ve stacked it into the wall there, I reckon I should have left a plaque there in memory of so many failed hot laps. I had dinner in a tiny restaurant at the end of the main straight (pic 6 above), and walked a bit of the main road (towards Aoyoma-Itchome subway station) where there are a number of car showrooms inc. Ferrari, Lamborghini and Aston Martin - alas I didn’t have enough Cr. to buy any of those

 

[Sureboss]

@Touring Mars But more importantly, did you see @daan winning a race there in real life? Cos he never stops winning there.

 

[GTPVenomZombie]

Take your Honda home.

That's it! I'm booting up GT5 in a bit.

 

[Savolainen83]

Since the Nürb 24h thread is so quiet at the moment, might aswell post some more pictures to this thread.

First up, pictures of the car dealerships that were lining the main straight:

 

[Savolainen83]

Heres some more, this time more of the track itself.

Sorry about the last few pictures for being dark.
I spent so long there but arrived so late that the sun managed to set before I completed the full lap.

And sorry about posting twice in a row mods, but I hope its not considered as a double post since I left enough time between posts.

 

[Savolainen83]

Near the first left-hand corner is a informationboard that has this picture of the treelined straight from different eras.

 

[W3H5]

It's neat that you can get around it in real life somewhat but this was a horrible track and one of the very worst in any Gran Turismo game.

No way, José!

I loved many of GTs street circuits and R246 was up there with the best of them.

 

[Savolainen83]

I really hope we get this track back in some point of GT Sports life. Would look awesome with the different times of day available on the other Tokyo tracks.

 

[Grand Prix]

It's neat that you can get around it in real life somewhat but this was a horrible track and one of the very worst in any Gran Turismo game.

I'm pretty sure the worst track in GT ever was Hong Kong. Either that or Seoul. But probably Hong Kong.

I found R246 to have a good flow to it. It had nice, round curves, not much of that "let's ruin a curve by chopping it up into multiple sharp apexes" Tilke stuff. Some boss high speed S curves as well. Loved it since GT3.