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An Epic Vintage Journey From Kyoto to Tokyo

24/10/2017

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Hotel Moments Events
In celebration of its 10th Anniversary, The Peninsula Tokyo sponsored The Peninsula Tokyo Rally Nippon 2017, a designated Peninsula Signature Event, bringing together classic car enthusiasts on an epic motoring experience through Japan. From October 21 to 24 2017, 160 drivers and passengers of 80 iconic vintage motorcars participated in the three-night, four-day journey across Japan’s main island of Honshu from Kyoto to Tokyo, celebrating the unique bond of camaraderie stemming from their shared passions for motoring and the ultimate in automotive design and engineering.

Throughout the 1,100-kilometer  drive, the Rally participants experienced the tastes as well as the sights and sounds of Honshu, with sponsored stops and lunches en route in addition to regional breakfasts and dinners, local sakes, and fine wines and spirits provided with accommodation at luxury hotels and traditional Japanese inns. The climactic route took the drivers to five UNESCO World Heritage and Cultural Heritage Sites, including National Parks, historical landmarks, and ancient Japanese shrines. Kyoto, the starting point, has held the No. 1 spot on Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best City list for the last two years. On the final day of the drive, the participants were treated to stellar views of Mount Fuji, Japan’s most iconic mountain and a symbolic entity for the Japanese people.

The Rally participants arrived on  October 24 at The Peninsula Tokyo, the final destination of the unforgettable ride, to much fanfare. The Rally concluded that evening at the hotel, with a glamorous Gala dinner to fete the participants.

The Peninsula Tokyo Rally Nippon 2017 was the first event of its kind to be sponsored by a luxury hotel company in Japan, and underscored The Peninsula Hotels’ long association with classic cars. Marking the start of The Peninsula Tokyo’s second decade since the hotel opened in September 2007, The Peninsula Tokyo Rally Nippon 2017 followed best practices for local tourism support and sustainability concerns.