A Sunday Morning Trip to Royu

One Sunday morning, since my mother-in-law was able to watch the kids, my husband and I took the GT3 and headed to the Royu Driveway. This time, after tweeting in advance that we’d be going to Royu, several people replied, “I’m going too!” so I was really looking forward to meeting everyone.

We arrived at the East Rokko Observatory on Royu Driveway around 8:30 a.m. But the parking lot was already full, and we barely managed to park our car at the edge.

Still, the sheer number of cars from early morning was amazing. Of course, no one was calling people to gather; it was a spontaneous meetup.

“What exactly is it about Royu that attracts so many car enthusiasts…?” Today, I want to share my thoughts on the charm of Royu on a Sunday morning. (I’ve touched on this before, but here’s a deeper look.)

The Charm of Royu Driveway on Sunday Mornings

① Gathering of Legendary Cars

Royu Driveway (East Rokko Observatory) is known as the “Mecca for car lovers in Kansai”, and true to its reputation, many rare cars that you hardly ever see in daily life gather here.

Among them, Porsches make up a relatively large portion. You can see everything from classic air-cooled Porsches to the latest models up close.

In the past, there were times when many Porsches that I’d only seen in museums, like the 356 and ’73 Carrera, were parked here.

And it’s not just Porsches—Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and other supercars are always present. Recently, there was a “McLaren Festival” with 3 to 4 McLarens parked together.

Besides those, you’ll also find Rolls-Royce, Alpina, and many other cars you rarely see in the city.

Since I only started getting interested in Porsche a few years ago, I understand a bit about Porsche models, but I’m mostly clueless about other cars… so I don’t always know which cars are rare or how impressive they are. But my husband and others around me always exclaim “Wow, amazing!” whenever they see a car.

Of course, many Japanese sports cars also show up. Recently, I saw a Subaru WRX STI, a Mazda Roadster, and even a Honda NSX parked there.

In short, the East Rokko Observatory on Royu Driveway is a place where all kinds of sports cars and legendary vehicles gather. Many people come just to enjoy seeing these cars.

② A Place for Cross-Generational Car Enthusiast Encounters and交流

Everyone I meet and talk to at Royu is gentlemanly and wonderful. It almost makes me wonder, “Are all car lovers just good people?” They’re friendly, warm, and fun to talk to.

When I first went to Royu Driveway, I was nervous standing next to my husband, but the people around me started conversations and showed kindness, making my Royu debut a fun experience. In fact, there are even couples who come together.

Some strike up conversations with owners of cars they used to own, others talk to owners of cars they admire and take photos—there are many ways people connect.

At Royu Driveway, you’ll find young enthusiasts like KUGATTI, whom I interviewed before, as well as veterans who have been coming for decades, and first-timers. It’s always a gathering of car lovers across generations.

Sometimes, I hear stories like, “We’ve been chatting for a long time but don’t even know what each other does for work,” which is quite funny.

In other words, through the shared love of cars, people connect and become friends. That’s one of the charms of Royu Driveway. But of course, nothing happens if you just wait—you have to take the initiative to start conversations.

I’m planning to be braver and talk to more people from now on.

Next page → If you get close, you might even get a ride along!?