Rainy Drive

Driving on elevated highways in Tokyo during the rainy season is a distinct experience—part cyberpunk film, part urban meditation. The rain doesn’t fall gently; it sheets down the windscreen, a constant barrage that the wipers fight in a rhythmic frenzy.

These roads often run surprisingly narrow for what you’d expect of a major city. Many have tight lanes with minimal shoulders, and the reflective surface makes them slippery—especially with Tokyo’s infamous sudden showers. Tyre grip becomes a guessing game. Aquaplaning isn’t rare. Locals tend to keep a steady, cautious pace, and for good reason. Some sections are banked on curves or slope dramatically as they dive into tunnels, requiring close attention to steering and throttle response.

From the driver’s seat, there’s an almost cinematic quality to it. You’re skimming the city, above the trains and crowds, surrounded by a forest of glowing signs and looming towers. Sound gets muted—just the thrum of tyres and the hiss of water under the wheels. Rain hammers the roof, merges with the hum of your engine. Elevated interchanges like the Daikoku or Shuto Expressway’s Yoyogi section give panoramic glimpses of the city, drenched and shimmering. It feels unreal, especially at night—an engineer’s dream of a future that somehow already exists.