The surroundings are so improbably perfect it almost feels staged by a world-class director with an unlimited budget and impeccable taste. The weather conditions are perfect, cherry blossom leaves delicately float in the springtime breeze and place themselves on the dazzling paintwork of a priceless classic, this could only be one Concorso d’Eleganza. Japan has firmly become one of the go-to destinations for those looking to experience the very best of motoring, with exquisite driving roads, historical backdrops and a unique taste in cars and collecting that sees some of the rarest machines brought to public attention. After the success of 2025, the UNESCO World Heritage grandeur of Yakushiji Temple in Nara will welcome participants and spectators once again this year, marking an experience that doesn’t just justify a trip to Japan, it becomes the sole purpose of the trip.
We get it, the idea of having your prized classic or supercar at the event is the stuff of dreams, but logistically it can prove tricky, and we are delighted to present a Classic Driver Package in collaboration with Concorso d’Eleganza Japan, opening the doors for overseas participants to feel just as involved in the event as the locals.
The Concourso d’Elegance will run from Friday 10 April to Monday 13 April 2026, where the experience begins in Nara with a calm pre-event day while the cars go through inspection and you ease in with dinner at Kikusuiro, the much-loved Nara institution founded in 1891, where kaiseki cuisine and serene gardens set an immediately elegant, distinctly Japanese tone. During the event, you’ll be based at the JW Marriott Hotel Nara, and by Saturday the concours is in full swing. A standout line-up of classic automobiles is reviewed by distinguished international judges, with each car considered not just for originality and design, but for its artistic and historical importance too. As the light turns golden, Nara delivers the showstopper; a Nighttime Special Celebration at Yakushiji Temple during “Magic Hour,” complete with a runway-style car presentation against an ancient backdrop, followed by an exclusive gala dinner for entrants. Sunday starts before dawn with a second Yakushiji “Magic Hour” moment at sunrise, then the showfield opens for close viewing before the awards are announced, class winners are named, and Best of Show is crowned.
The story continues with the seven-day Tour d’Eleganza Japan starting Monday 13 April, an adventure-filled drive from Kyoto to Tokyo that includes visits to Takayama’s Spring Festival, a hot-spring stay near UNESCO-listed Shirakawa-go, a Japanese Alps run to Nagano capped by a rare nighttime shrine ritual, routes through Mt. Fuji and Hakone, coastal roads with a ferry crossing and an exclusive circuit programme at The Magarigawa Club. Finally, a night drive into Tokyo, and a final farewell dinner at Suigian before departures the next day.
We’ve been lucky enough to follow along from its inception, and partner with this glorious event which has seen meteoric growth in popularity in recent years, bringing together the very best of Japan and the vast and varied car scene that the country is so famous for. The beauty of the surroundings only adds to the priceless array of collector car royalty that will undoubtably participate, making it an event not to be missed. A very limited number of our Classic Driver Package spaces are still available, where we encourage you to book in as soon as possible to avoid disappointment! Find out more about the event here.
