Day Two of Touring in the Porsche GT3

The next morning, after breakfast, everyone quietly packed their gear and prepared for the tour. As each engine started, the exhaust notes echoed through the 1800-meter-high hot spring town.

The temperature, which was about -9°C before sunrise, had risen to around 3-4°C. Everyone warmed up their engines, cars, and tires at a relaxed pace. We stopped near the Chao Ontake parking lot for a group photo, swapped cars, and enjoyed ourselves.

Then, Wata-san set off on his grand tour and we said our goodbyes. His sapphire blue Boxster, with its vivid gear shifts, disappeared into the Kiso mountains.

From here, we aimed for Mount Ontake via Tamadaki Village, taking Prefectural Routes 20 and 256. Route 256 is a two-lane winding road along the river with light traffic, perfect for driving at one’s own pace. With tires and engine warmed up, the pace picked up.

I put the GT3 into Sport mode, enabled auto-blip, and revved the engine aggressively. Still, with 500 PS, there was hardly any need to use 2nd gear on these tight winding roads. I could easily cruise mostly in 3rd gear.

Approaching the entrance to Mount Ontake, we found the road closed due to a hill climb race for road bikes that day. It was disappointing, but there was no choice. Everyone made a U-turn and headed back.

Perhaps frustrated by not being able to climb Mount Ontake, everyone’s pace quickened. I pushed the GT3 hard from the rear, chasing the seven cars ahead as we sped through Kiso Road.

We enjoyed soft serve ice cream at the Kaida Kogen Ice Cream Factory, often mentioned on Wata-san’s blog. Since I had work the next day, I parted ways with everyone there. I thanked them and headed home, hoping to meet again next year.

When I think of real touring in the GT3, it’s mostly been in Kansai areas like Shikoku during break-in, Hachikita, Awaji, and Koya Ryujin. The last trip to Koya Ryujin was so crowded with tourists that I just drove slowly like a trolley train, leaving me with the impression that touring in the GT3 is tiring.

However, this time, extending my legs from Kansai to Hokuriku and Chubu, I realized that the GT3 is absolutely capable of touring. Of course, this is thanks to the many low-traffic, enjoyable roads, but the GT3 was truly fantastic in those conditions. It was so much fun that I didn’t notice the stiff suspension at all—only a pleasant fatigue remained.

Above all, driving with true car lovers and driving enthusiasts like Wata-san and the others on these roads was the best experience, and the pace was perfect.

I’m grateful for this wonderful encounter. Thank you so much to everyone who made this tour possible!