Heading to Chirihama Nagisa Driveway

Lately, my husband has been going on tours almost every week. (Just recently, I wrote an article saying his touring enthusiasm wasn’t as strong as before, haha.) Often, for these long-distance tours, he stays overnight, heading out with a huge load of camera gear and other equipment, like some kind of film crew.

And just the other day, he drove on Japan’s only sandy beach where you can actually drive a car—the Chirihama Nagisa Driveway. I had been there once before when I was driving a Mercedes-Benz SLK (I went along too), but hadn’t been back since. My husband said,

I’ve been to this spot in almost all my previous cars, but for some reason never with a Porsche. I’ve always wanted to go with a 911 and take photos, but it’s a bit far for a day trip…

He’d been waiting for the right time.

Mercedes-Benz SLK

To Chirihama Nagisa Driveway in the 911 GT3

Then recently, coordinating with a long-distance tour plan, my husband took the GT3 to Chirihama Nagisa Driveway and said, “This time I took plenty of photos!” He sent me some of them.

When I said, “Wow! These are really great shots!” he replied,

Thanks! I really put a lot of effort into taking them. I got so close to the water’s edge that the waves actually reached the tires, and I panicked thinking the car might sink into the sand. I immediately looked for a nearby car wash and cleaned it off.

(laughs)

I asked him, “I’ve heard many people avoid taking sports cars to places like this. Does that not bother you?”

Of course, I hesitated a bit. The car’s low ride height and cup tires with almost no tread made me nervous. Plus, it had just rained, so the sand was soft. Even small bumps in the sand risked scraping the bumper, and a rough throttle could easily get you stuck.
That said, opportunities to come here are rare, and as long as you wash the car right away, it’s fine, so I went for it.
But if anyone else tries this in a GT3, I’d advise being very careful with the throttle, and if your car doesn’t have front lift, I’d definitely say don’t do it.

Makes sense.

Right now, I’m taking care of three kids, including a two-month-old baby, and with more online meetings for work, it’s hard to get around. But once I have a bit more freedom, I want to explore many places.

Just a little more patience—hang in there!