Hi, it’s Yukey, a car-loving English teacher!
Did you know that there is a dreamland for sports car enthusiasts in a rural countryside of Ibaraki Prefecture?
It’s called 【Renta Cars SEiWA】
You can rent dream sports cars that every car lover wants to drive, including the Nissan Skyline GT-R (R33), Honda Civic Type R (FL5), Integra Type R (DC2), S660, Daihatsu Copen (L880K), and many more!
In particular, it is the only car rental shop in all of Japan that offers all four generations of the Mazda MX-5 Miata (Roadster), from the first NA model introduced in 1989 to the current ND model.
Most of the sports cars available here are rare manual transmissions. Even for those who drive daily, it’s an easy and thrilling way to step out of your everyday life.
However, even if you rent a cool manual car, getting stuck in traffic will ruin the fun and sense of freedom.
So why not experience driving a sports car here in Ibaraki, where you can fully enjoy nature with minimal traffic?
What kind of shop is Renta Cars SEiWA?
Renta Cars SEiWA is located in Takahagi City, Ibaraki Prefecture. It’s about a two-and-half-hour drive from Tokyo. Surrounded by the sea and mountains, it’s a beautiful city blessed with picturesque rural landscapes.
Last month, I visited it as a member of “Kenpoku BCP,” a community group dedicated to revitalizing the northern region of Ibaraki Prefecture. Even though I live in a neighboring city, this was actually my first time visiting Takahagi City.
When you arrive at Renta Cars SEiWA, this giant tree welcomes you. Since the area is surrounded by lush greenery, it doesn’t stand out, but it makes for a great landmark.
During this visit, the company representative, Mr. Tanaya, kindly gave us a tour. What surprised me wasn’t just the sheer number of sports cars, but their impeccable condition.
Every single vehicle—both inside and out—showed no signs of wear and tear and was kept in pristine condition.
Let me take you on a tour of Renta Cars SEiWA with the photos that I got to take on that day.
Instead of a soft-top canvas roof, the Mazda MX-5 Miata RF (current ND model, 6-speed manual) features a sleek, coupe-like hardtop. The white Miata behind it (current ND model) is an automatic.
Further back, the white Miata behind that (3rd generation NC model, 6-speed manual) has a rare hardtop. It was my first time seeing an NC hardtop in person!
A 2nd generation Miata (NB, 6-speed manual). Being able to compare and drive every generation of the Miata is such a luxury!
A 2-door Integra Type R (DC2, 5-speed manual). Personally, I prefer rear-wheel drive over front-wheel drive, but I love the Integra Type R, both the DC2 and DC5!
The Honda Beat (5-speed manual) features a naturally aspirated 3-cylinder engine putting out 64 horsepower mounted right behind the driver’s seat. A mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive car like this is something I’ve always wanted to try driving.
When it comes to mini (kei) convertibles, Honda offers the S660 alongside the Beat.
With this S660, you can enjoy an open-air drive on narrow roads without worrying about the size of the vehicle. Plus, since it’s an automatic, drivers with an automatic-only license can enjoy it too!
A 5-speed manual Mitsubishi Mirage Cyborg (CJ4A). According to Mr. Tanaya, Renta Cars SEiWA is the only rental shop in the entire country where you can rent a Mirage Cyborg!
Back in the 1990s when I was in elementary and middle school, it was just a common car you’d see everywhere. But with no successor, finding a hot-hatch Cyborg today is extremely rare.
While I wasn’t able to take photos this time, they also have the Honda Civic Type R (FL5, 6-speed manual), Suzuki Alto Works (5-speed manual), and Daihatsu Copen (1st generation L880K, 5-speed manual) on the list of their rental cars.
It truly is a heaven for JDM lovers!
*What’s JDM?
JDM stands for “Japan Domestic Market,” referring to Japanese vehicles manufactured specifically for the Japanese home market. Among overseas car enthusiasts, it often refers to high-performance Japanese sports cars built between the 1980s and 2000s.
Time for a ride!!
The cars I got to enjoy driving this time were a vivid blue 1st generation Miata (NA) and one of the iconic JDM cars — the R33 Skyline GT-R!
Mazda MX-5 Miata (1st Generation)
This was my very first time driving a convertible. While I had sat in the driver’s seat of the ongoing Miata before at the Hitachi Astemo Car Fair, driving a Miata was a total first. It was also my first time driving a car with an aftermarket exhaust, a day full of firsts!
The footwell was extremely small. The pedals were positioned much further to the right than I expected, and was genuinely surprised when I stretched my right leg straight out and hit the clutch pedal!
The steering felt remarkably direct, almost like driving a go-kart. The car turns precisely as much as you turn the wheel. I really loved that full sense of control!
The clutch weight felt pretty standard, but shifting required surprisingly more effort than I thought it would.
Thanks to the vehicle being in immaculate condition, the gears clicked in satisfyingly, and the clutch engaged smoothly. It felt so comfortable and responsive that you would never guess this car model was first introduced 37 years ago!
The naturally aspirated 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine puts out 120 horsepower according to its catalog specs. While it’s hard to call it “powerful,” requiring frequent gear changes on winding mountain roads is part of what makes it so much fun!
On winding, twisty uphill curves, I found myself constantly wondering whether to rev higher in 3rd gear or cruise smoothly in 4th. But even that decision-making process was a joyful part of the driving experience.
Nissan Skyline GT-R (R33)
Next up was my very first time driving a GT-R, which was so fun that it still makes me grin just thinking back on it.
It was my first time driving a four-wheel drive. I had never driven a turbo-charged car before, either.
Getting to drive the R33 — my personal favorite among all generations of the GT-R — had me smiling non-stop. It was so much fun that I was smiling all day long!
Just looking at the GT-R badge sends my excitement through the roof.
This is the R33, introduced in 1995. Look how stunning it is!
Back when it was still available at a dealer shop as a new car, I was in elementary and junior high school, but even then, I rarely saw them on the street. Just getting to admire it up close was sheer bliss, getting to actually drive it felt like absolute heaven!
Despite the low profile, coming straight out of the Miata made both the headroom and footwell felt surprisingly spacious.
I forgot to take a picture of it, but the large rear wing sat right in the rear view mirror when I looked into it, or rather, completely blocked my rearward vision.
Yet, even that added to the special feel, reminded me of the pure joy of driving a fast, cool sports car.
Both the steering wheel and clutch are heavy, so it takes some time getting used to them. But thankfully, this is Ibaraki with wide roads and light traffic, I could enjoy driving without feeling rushed or anxious even when I accidentally stalled.
Since the rental vehicle was on wider 285/35R18 tires than standard, the turning radius wasn’t great.
It takes some extra care when navigating tight spaces, but as you go faster, it glides along effortlessly and comfortably, proving why it’s one of Japan’s most iconic sports cars.
With so much power under the hood, I felt a bit intimidated before getting in, but once I took the wheel, it was insanely fun because of its controllability!!
It turns as much as you input, accelerates from any speed the moment you step on the gas, and the powerful brakes give you total confidence that you can stop at any time. I’ve always loved driving, but this car made me want to keep driving forever.
Nissan’s masterpiece, the 2.6-liter twin-turbo inline-6 RB26DETT engine, delivered all the power and torque you’d expect. Due to gentleman’s agreement at the time, its catalog rating was capped at 280 horsepower, but it felt powerful.
Low-end torque was surprisingly plentiful, making throttle and shift work effortless.
The GT-R’s signature quad-round rear combination taillights.
Driving Route
Since part of the goal was to learn more about Takahagi City, our route took us on a scenic loop around the city.
I took the wheel of the Mazda MX-5 Miata, and we left Renta Cars Seiwa for lunch at Shieri-kan, a cafe located right by the sea. It turned out that cafe was temporarily closed.
Instead of Shieri-kan, we had lunch at a bakery, Atelier Komugi, where you can enjoy bread with rich aroma of fresh wheat.
I bought a melon bun and Bacon epi as souvenirs at Atelier Komugi, and they were so tasty that I ate them up even before I got to take photos of them!
We headed up to Koyama Dam.
There was a river along side the road leading up to Koyama Dam. It was really comforting when I heard the sound of the flowing water because I love rivers, waterfalls, and ravines.
The fog was so dense that I couldn’t even see a thing of the dam. However, I didn’t have time to feel disappointed at all because I had awesome subjects to take photos of, the GT-R and MX-5!
I was now behind the wheel of the GT-R, and we drove to Tatsugo Miso, a miso shop founded in 1854.
Surrounded by tall trees, there we met a traditional-Japanese-looking shop.
It is truly amazing that they have been in business since the Edo period. As I run my own English school myself, I know how hard it is to keep attracting customers, so I was inspired.
Afterward, we headed to the Hozumi-ke Residence. It was only a one-kilometer drive to get there.
The Hozumi family, the original owner of the house, was a wealthy farming family back in the mid-Edo period (in the 18th century).
There are a huge house with a thatched roof on top, well-manicured garden with a pond, and a bamboo forest. You can enjoy the old, traditional Japanese atmosphere.
And then we stopped at a gas station before going back to Renta Cars SEiWA.
I checked Google Maps when I came home to find out that it was a 32-kilometer drive in total.
We left Renta Cars SEiWA for the drive at 11:45 a.m. and were back at around 4 p.m. If you have time just as much, you can easily drive around Takagaghi City.
Conclusion – Go Drive a Sports Car!!
Traveling while driving a sports car you love — without a doubt, this was one of the best days of my life.
Because of the occasional rain during this visit, I wasn’t able to drop the top on the Miata. Next time, I want to rent the Miata RF to enjoy the open-air experience while taking in the evolution of the modern Miata!
Be sure to check the Renta Cars SEiWA website for available models, reservation details, and more♪
Highly recommended for anyone who loves sports cars, wants an escape from the ordinary, or simply wants to enjoy rural nature while out on a drive!
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