Cayenne アウトドアイベント & ドライビング体験＠Snow Peak HEADQUARTERS Campfield

Porsche event at Snow Peak Headquarters Campfield in Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture

The other day, I left Tokyo early in the morning for a day trip to Niigata.

There was no traffic, the weather was great, and it was a perfect day for a drive.

After continuing our journey, we arrived at "Sanjo-Tsubame".

...I didn't know that.

I've always referred to Tsubame City and Sanjo City in Niigata Prefecture, famous for their metalwork, as "Tsubame-Sanjo" because the train station is also called "Tsubame-Sanjo." But I didn't realize the highway interchange was called "Sanjo-Tsubame."

When I looked up the mystery behind "Tsubame-Sanjo" and "Sanjo-Tsubame" out of curiosity, I learned that there were various historical reasons behind it.

So, after getting off at the Sanjo-Tsubame interchange, I drove on and stopped at a 7-Eleven in what I think is Sanjo City. Wow, it's huge!

This is a Seven-Eleven parking lot, but in Tokyo it's so big it feels like it could be the size of an elementary school playground.

After a pleasant drive through the wide-open skies of Sanjo City, we arrived here.

Snow Peak HEADQUARTERS Campfield is an outdoor experience facility located in Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture, at the headquarters of Snow Peak, a company famous for its outdoor goods. It includes a campsite and a directly managed store.

Wow, the weather was absolutely perfect, it was the best!

The location is also vast. Blue and green. Perfect.

This past weekend, Porsche Japan hosted the "PORSCHE Cayenne Outdoor Event & Driving Experience."

Originally, this event was held from Saturday to Sunday, where people could camp at this campsite or stay in accommodation sites called "Villas" or "Jubako." Those who stayed overnight seemed to enjoy themselves, having BBQs in the evening and starting the next morning with radio calisthenics.

Unfortunately, my family had a wine-drinking event scheduled for Saturday night, the night before the event, so we couldn't go the day before (alcohol takes priority, haha)... and ended up leaving Tokyo early Sunday morning to participate as a day trip.

We will arrive at the venue on Sunday morning, check in, and receive our participation tags.

As I started walking towards the campsite, I saw a bunch of Porsches.

The Taycan looks absolutely stunning with a tent loaded onto it at the campsite.

I was also shown the inside of the roof tent, and at first I was worried, thinking, "Is it really okay to put my weight on this tent on the roof?" But there was no need to worry; it was built to be comfortable enough to sleep in (of course).

Incidentally, when I asked if anyone had brought a roof tent on their Porsche to the event, I was told that unfortunately, no one had.

Well, I suppose there aren't many people who have roof tents installed, so it can't be helped.

Even so, when I spoke to people who actually camped using their own gear, I was surprised to hear that they had transported an incredible amount of outdoor equipment in a 911, making me think, "Wait, you brought all of that equipment with you??"

Two adults in a 911, plus all the camping gear they've got. Amazing!

It seems they regularly do camping and other activities, so their efficiency was impressive; all I could say was "as expected."

And there were other things on display at the campsite that day, including exhibits of past Cayenne models.

As the name of this event is "Cayenne Outdoor Event," the main Porsche featured is, of course, the Cayenne.

The Cayennes look absolutely perfect in spacious campsites and the great outdoors.

One of the events held that day was a digital stamp rally.

The event involves visiting scenic spots within the Snow Peak Headquarters facilities and in the surrounding Sanjo City area, and participants can receive prizes based on the number of stamps they collect.

Those who stayed overnight were probably able to visit all the locations, but those arriving in the morning for a day trip simply couldn't find enough time to visit everything and had to give up (because spending time on the stamp rally would mean not being able to participate in other events...).

Even so, just by collecting stamps within the facility, you could receive a pair of Porsche socks as a prize.

Wow, this might be the first time I've ever seen Porsche socks ^^

And I was glad that this stamp rally allowed me to visit various places within the facility.

For example, there's a spa located within the headquarters' campsite.

This building was designed by world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma, and I thought it was wonderful how the underside of the roof eaves was made of firewood.

Furthermore, this area served as the main site for the day, and various events were being held around here.

There was also a talk show, and the one I listened to that day was a talk by racing driver Shinsei Sano.

In addition to his achievements in motorcycle racing, Mr. Sano is also a big fan of Porsches in the four-wheeled world, and he had his current 911 Dakar on display. However, this box placed on top of the Dakar...

Apparently, this is the actual box that was used when they competed in the Paris-Dakar Rally in 2003.

As you can see from this, Mr. Sano is an amazing person who has participated in the Paris-Dakar Rally and won the Asian Le Mans Championship.

You've had such diverse experiences, and every story you've told me is something I could never even begin to imagine.

The talk show was very interesting, and I was left wanting to hear more!

He also talked about his own encounter with the 911 Dakar, and it makes me think that each person's encounter with a Porsche is somehow connected by some kind of "fate" or "destiny."

And I think that people who have come across their Porsche through such a "connection" (not for the purpose of reselling or for showing off), have an even more enjoyable and fulfilling life with that Porsche.

Oh yes, and one interesting thing I heard was that Mr. Sano has a group called the "Anti-Gravity Friends Association," and he takes pictures of himself jumping everywhere.

Actually, my family also has a habit of flying whenever we go out into nature, so I was touched to find a little common ground in such an unexpected way (lol).

For example, this is a photo my husband and I took while playing around, but last year we also spent time flying around in the American desert as a family.

So, I was glad that I was able to talk to Mr. Sano that day and ask him to let me join the Anti-Gravity Friends Association (lol).

By the way, Mr. Sano's jumps were even more impressive, appearing as if he was "flying right above the river," so my family will also strive to improve our jumps.

Oh, I've strayed from the topic of Porsche, so let's get back on track.

Near the venue where the talk show and other events are being held, there are also interactive activities available. Since the timing is close to Halloween, there are workshops such as making lanterns out of mini pumpkins and taking instant photos while wearing Halloween costumes.

There were a few Porsche goods for sale... but almost everything (I think?) was on sale, so it was a great deal!

There was also a rest area called the "Cayenne Lounge," which featured displays of books and magazines about Porsche.

There were many items that I don't usually get to pick up and look at closely, so this was quite a pleasant surprise.

Because it was such a vast area and everyone was spending their time as they pleased, it wasn't crowded at all, so I was able to relax a bit at this rest stop and look through some books about Porsches.

This is a book about Sonderwunsch.

There was also a talk show featuring owners of the Cayenne S Transsyberia, which is limited to 285 units worldwide, and it was at this event that I encountered this "silver x silver Transsyberia" for the first time.

This is incredibly stylish. It was very beautiful. I didn't know there was a Cayenne S Trans-Siberia with this kind of color combination!

Experience off-road driving with the new Cayenne EV

This event was all about Cayenne being everywhere, but there's one main event that we shouldn't forget.

The main event was being held near the tents that could be seen in the distance.

Whew, just getting from one event venue to the next was quite a distance... but that was really enjoyable.

As we approached the tent we had seen in the distance, we realized that this was indeed the place where we could experience the main event of the day: the new Cayenne EV.

On this day, two Cayenne Electrics were prepared for test drives, and we were able to take these Cayenne EVs for a specially prepared course.

This is the entrance to the specially prepared course. Can you see the two red cones? ↓

Beyond those cones was a specially prepared course, and it was amazing. It seemed that a former golf course (a place that was already falling apart) had been remodeled into a course for experiencing off-road capabilities, and it was quite fun.

So, I switched the Cayenne EV's mode to "OFFROAD".

The test drive experience will include an instructor riding in the passenger seat.

We drove the car with the ride height raised to its maximum, and as you can see from the side, it's raised this high! Amazing!

Incidentally, it seems it can operate in water up to 550mm deep.

The off-road experience course had an open area along the way where pampas grass and other vegetation stretched out before us. It was incredibly beautiful, though photos can't fully capture it.

To be able to enjoy a place like this in a Cayenne EV is such a luxurious experience.

*The photo was taken with permission, after the vehicle was stopped with the parking brake engaged.

I initially drove the car myself, but since I was meeting a fellow Porsche enthusiast at the location that day, when he took a test drive, my husband and I rode in the back seat and got to experience it again.

At one point, the Cayenne EV is driven with one side of the car on a raised section of road, and we, the onlookers, were egging it on from the back seat, shouting, "Tilt it as far as you can!" (laughs). The instructor who was riding along with us at the time said that this was "the steepest tilt of the entire test drive."

That angle is 22 degrees.

The Cayenne EV has a passenger side that is raised and tilted at a 22° angle, which feels like 22°.°But it felt like it was tilting so much that I thought it might tip over to the right... However, according to the instructor's explanation, the catalog value for this Cayenne EV is "40°It can withstand a tilt of up to [this amount].

But even so, 40°These are merely catalog specifications.

The largest catch of the day was 22°But I had a thrilling experience and was able to appreciate just how amazing the new Cayenne is.

After test driving the Cayenne EV, I even received a commemorative gift.

I've written a brief overview, but unfortunately, I only enjoyed a day trip from morning until a little into the afternoon, and I wasn't able to participate in all the talk shows and events. So, this is just a report of what I personally experienced.

I think there were many other things we could have enjoyed, and I'm sure the evening BBQ was fun too.

And because the weather was absolutely perfect this weekend, they were able to see a sky full of stars at night. How nice! Absolutely wonderful.

The event was mainly about the Cayenne, but after seeing a little frog at the campsite, I was reminded of the 911, so it's time to leave the campsite and head home.

I personally had a great time at the camping event that day, as I was able to talk with people I met for the first time and with people I hadn't seen in a long time.

And one more thing, it was a fun day because I was able to meet up with some fellow Porsche enthusiasts who were waiting for me at the event.

As the Cayenne event drew to a close, I left the campsite with that person and headed to our final destination for this day trip.

Our final destination is... Hangzhou Hotel!

This is the famous Tsubame-style ramen with pork back fat. Mmm, it's the best.

I had previously visited this place in Niigata, and someone involved with Porsche recommended it to me. I had tried it before, and since I was going to Niigata again this time, I wanted to eat it again.

A Miami Blue Speedster and a Speed Yellow GT3 were parked side-by-side in the Hangzhou Hotel parking lot.

The ramen and the giant dumplings were both delicious ^^

This is where I said goodbye to my Speedster, but I'm truly happy to know that there are people in Niigata with whom I can drive Porsches together and even eat ramen.

The connections that Porsche has helped me make are immeasurable. I am truly grateful.

...And so, we set off on our way home, but because we left in the evening, the roads heading towards Tokyo were quite congested.

Along the way, the traffic jam kept getting longer and longer, and the car navigation system showed an estimated arrival time of "21:00" at home.

Oh no, it was a Sunday and I was getting anxious because I wanted to see VIVANT which starts at 9 PM! But then, miraculously, the traffic jam cleared up, and my husband, who was driving at the end, did his best (?), so our estimated arrival time was "8:31 PM".

In fact, I managed to get home a little after 8:30 PM, did the bare minimum (like washing my hands, haha), and was able to sit in front of the TV right at 9 PM.

Oh, that was an unnecessary detail, wasn't it? (laughs)

After finishing watching VIVANT while drinking alcohol at home, I was like, "Wait, was I in Niigata just a moment ago?" It felt like I had just naturally gone to Niigata, had fun, eaten, and come back.

The weather was so beautiful, the sky was truly blue and the grass was green – it was the perfect setting for the Cayenne event, and it was truly refreshing.

This was the first time Porsche held an outdoor experience event at Snow Peak Headquarters Campfield, and I hope that this will help more people learn about events like this and that it will be held again next year.

The natural surroundings were truly wonderful, and it was a pleasure to ride in the Cayenne in this spacious environment. I also felt that it fostered deeper connections between people.

Thank you so much to Porsche Japan, Snow Peak, everyone involved, and all the participants for giving us such a wonderful experience!

Reference site:Snow Peak HEADQUARTERS Camp Field

Rika (911supercars.com)

I'm Rika, the author of this article. Since I got my hands on a Porsche 911, I've been completely hooked on Porsches and I can't stop loving them, so I started this blog. My favorite cars are the 911 Carrera (2/991), 911 Carrera Cabriolet & 911 Carrera T (1/992), GT3 (1/997) and 718 Cayman GT4 RS.