Visiting Porsche Experience Center Tokyo

Last week, I visited the Porsche Experience Center Tokyo (PEC Tokyo), which opened in October in Kisarazu, Chiba Prefecture.

The Porsche Experience Center is a Porsche brand facility with the concept of being a place to “unleash the true performance hidden within Porsche and maximize your instincts as a driver.”

Actually, when my family traveled to Los Angeles before, we stopped by the Porsche Experience Center LA. Although we didn’t drive on the track, we enjoyed driving in the simulator room, dining in the restaurant while watching Porsches run with their engines roaring, and had a fulfilling time. We had hoped, “It would be great if something like this opened in Japan someday.”

So I had been really looking forward to experiencing the ninth Porsche Experience Center in the world, PEC Tokyo.

On the day, unusually for me, the weather was clear and sunny—almost hot.

Inside PEC Tokyo, there is a 2.1 km-long road course featuring iconic corners reminiscent of the Nürburgring, such as the Carousel and Corkscrew, as well as a low-friction handling track, drift circle, kick plate, and other courses designed to let you truly feel Porsche’s performance.

*Image source: Porsche Japan “Porsche Track Experience”

You can drive this course using Porsches provided by the facility.

The available models include not only sports cars like the 911, Boxster, and Cayman, but also the Panamera, Taycan, Cayenne, and Macan—you can choose from all seven Porsche lineup models.

Inside the building, there is also a Porsche car exhibition space, restaurant, café, simulator room, and a Porsche goods shop (the merchandise is the same as what’s sold at dealerships).

You can also experience a demo lap driven by a Porsche driving coach while seated in the passenger seat (same-day registration possible if there is availability), so wives and family members accompanying their husbands can also enjoy their wait time.

My husband and I had booked programs in advance to experience driving Porsches on the course, but we initially thought, “Honestly, it’s pretty expensive…”

I reserved the “Mid vs Rear” program, a 90-minute experience costing 77,000 yen, which explores the differences between mid-engine and rear-engine Porsches in depth.

My husband reserved the “Rear-Wheel Drive vs All-Wheel Drive” program, also 90 minutes for 77,000 yen, where you compare driving two different 911s: the rear-wheel-drive Carrera and the all-wheel-drive Carrera 4, across various modules.

Both are just under 80,000 yen for 90 minutes.

…That’s really expensive ( -_- )…

However, after experiencing it firsthand, I realized this facility is packed with far more value and appeal than I had imagined.

So in today’s article, I’d like to share what the on-track program was actually like and also discuss how it differs from Porsche’s driving school (Porsche Track Experience).

The Attractions of PEC Tokyo

Before visiting PEC Tokyo, I had the impression that it was simply a facility where you could “experience Porsche by driving the latest models and having fun.”

I thought it was something like a more serious version of Mercedes-Benz’s Mercedes me, allowing people unfamiliar with Porsche to casually experience the brand.

But that image was pleasantly overturned.

PEC Tokyo is not just a place to experience Porsche; it is a serious facility where you can significantly improve your driving skills using Porsche cars.

Attraction ① One-on-One Instruction from Instructors

The most valuable aspect, in my opinion, is that you can receive one-on-one coaching from an instructor (coach).

Driving on different types of courses naturally exposes your driving habits, and for 90 minutes, a dedicated coach rides with you and provides detailed guidance.

In my case, I was told that because I only looked right in front of me on the course, my handling, throttle, and brake inputs were delayed, resulting in less smooth driving. Then I received this advice:

“Always look further ahead on the course. After passing this corner, keep your eyes on what’s coming next. Doing so will help you drive more linearly and allow you to start handling earlier and more gradually, which leads to smoother and faster driving.”

Even though I was told this, I tended to get distracted by the corner right in front of me and forgot to look ahead. But as I got used to the course, I gradually started looking further ahead and was able to drive more smoothly at higher speeds.

Because the instruction is given precisely on the spot, I could feel my driving technique improving during those 90 minutes.

My husband was told, regarding braking, that instead of fully lifting his foot off the pedal when releasing the brake, he should do it more gradually. When he focused on this, the coach praised his improvement compared to the start of the program, and he himself felt his driving had changed.

Porsche’s driving school also offers instruction from professional racers or those with race experience. However, one instructor typically handles multiple cars and gives advice via radio from outside.

Of course, you can still get good advice that way, but at PEC Tokyo, the coach rides alongside you and watches your driving constantly, allowing for more precise and timely instruction.

That’s why even just 90 minutes here can dramatically boost your driving skills, which is a huge attraction.

Attraction ② Customize Your 90 Minutes to Your Preferences

I learned after participating that you can freely customize your 90-minute session quite a bit. Since I was in a two-car comparison program, I first experienced all the courses in a Boxster GTS 4.0, then switched to a 911 after 45 minutes to compare in order.

According to the coach, although the center has only been open for a month, many repeat visitors already come. These guests often have requests like “I want to focus on practicing drifting today” or “I want to practice mainly on the circuit to drive faster,” so the sessions can be customized accordingly.

Based on this, my husband said that next time he would choose a program using just one car for 90 minutes and communicate his driving challenges and requests beforehand.

Unlike the driving school, where the curriculum is more fixed, at PEC Tokyo, if you want to focus on a particular area, they will accommodate your wishes as much as possible, which is another big appeal.

That said, 90 minutes goes by quickly, and there’s no classroom instruction, so if you want to learn driving theory in a classroom setting or do repetitive practice, the driving school might be more suitable.

So I feel that using both the driving school and PEC Tokyo effectively can help you improve your driving skills more efficiently.

Attraction ③ No Need for Pre- or Post-Session Vehicle Maintenance

At Porsche’s driving school, you participate with your own Porsche, so you need to prepare in advance by ensuring:

“The vehicle parts are genuine,”
“Tires are Porsche-approved with N markings,”
“Tire tread depth is sufficient,”
“No scratches or foreign object damage,”
“Sufficient brake pad thickness (recommended to have maintenance check equivalent to a 6-month Porsche dealer inspection),”
“And wear driving gloves on the day.”

In other words, you have to maintain and check your own car.

On the other hand, at PEC Tokyo, you use Porsches provided by the facility, so you can participate empty-handed.

Also, you can do things like full acceleration to full braking and drifting—things you might hesitate to do in your own Porsche—without worry.

While PEC Tokyo’s programs cost between 50,000 and 80,000 yen for 90 minutes, which is pricier than the driving school, when you factor in the cost and effort of maintaining your own Porsche beforehand and oil changes afterward, it doesn’t seem unreasonable.

PEC Tokyo is ideal for those serious about improving their driving skills, but it’s also very enjoyable for those who want to participate casually. When I asked a coach about this, they said:

Recently, a woman who said, “I’m a nervous driver, but I wanted to try driving a Porsche, so I joined,” and someone who said, “I just bought a Porsche and want to learn how to drive it properly,” among many others, come here from a wide range of backgrounds.
PEC Tokyo’s coaches include amateur racers, professional racers, and even GT racers. The standards to become a Porsche coach here are very strict, requiring extensive training to qualify.
Because of this, the coaches can properly instruct anyone and are trained to control the car safely if it ever becomes unstable, so participants can feel very secure.

My Husband’s Impressions of PEC Tokyo

By the way, my husband said this about PEC Tokyo:

It was way better than I expected! Just getting advice from the instructor made my driving smoother, and I could feel myself driving faster and better in a short time. It made me realize how important it is to regularly review your driving.
I’ve attended Porsche driving schools before, but if you don’t go for a while, you tend to slip into bad habits.
If you really want to drive safely, fast, and smoothly, you need to have an instructor watch and coach you properly. It’s like skiing—just a little instruction from a pro can dramatically change your technique.
Also, before joining, I was wondering, “Which car should I drive… 911 or maybe the GT4?” but maybe the car doesn’t matter that much. It seems more satisfying to communicate your challenges and requests and customize the 90 minutes accordingly.
If I have a business trip to Tokyo again, I definitely want to join again!

Finally, I asked a coach to sum up what kind of facility PEC Tokyo is, and they said:

This is a Disneyland for car enthusiasts, and we operate it with the goal of providing that level of fun and satisfaction. Thanks to that, everyone enjoys it immensely and leaves with big smiles after 90 minutes. There aren’t many places where adults can enjoy themselves so purely, so we want to continue offering a Disneyland-like extraordinary and fun experience.

I see! Although the cost is considerable, I felt the value is more than enough. I want to go again.

I plan to write a follow-up article about the differences between mid-engine and rear-engine Porsches that I experienced in this program.