Illegal Drifting Damages Heritage Site Parking Lot

Oct 15, 2025 | News On Japan

UTSUNOMIYA, Oct 15, 2025 (News On Japan) - A parking lot at a popular tourist site in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, was left scarred with deep tire marks after a late-night drifting stunt, with surveillance footage capturing a car spinning at high speed in the rain and narrowly avoiding a person standing in its path.

The incident took place at the Oya History Museum, a former quarry registered as a Japan Heritage site, where the facility’s free parking lot is open to the public to ease visitor costs. According to museum director Yasutoshi Okubo, the reckless drifting, which lasted about 15 minutes, caused severe damage that will require resurfacing the pavement at a cost estimated between 2 million and 3 million yen. He added that the site has seen repeated cases of drifting and littering due to its secluded location, and warned that continued vandalism could force the museum to install fences or introduce paid parking. Police, who were consulted after the incident, are increasing patrols around the area to prevent further dangerous behavior.

Source: FNN

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