Gomanen Challenge: HARD mode
Fukuoka to Sapporo - 10 days
3500 km, 85 hours driving time
Grab a mate, and pack your car full of snacks and put your patience levels to the test: HARD mode is a road trip on steroids. Form life-long bonds with your team-mates as you tackle almost 3,500km of Japanese back roads over eight days and accommodation in picturesque locations.
Will your 50,000 yen kei car last the distance? No guarantees. Will there be time for sight-seeing stops? Probably not. Will you get in an argument with your co-driver? Almost certainly. Will it be the trip of a lifetime? Absolutely.
Make no mistake, HARD mode puts the challenge in Gomanen Challenge, and it is not for the faint-hearted, but you will see parts of Japan that very few visitors get to see, as well as experiencing legendary Japanese hospitality at a local community level. Teams will need to rely on one another to make it to the finish line, and anyone who receives a HARD mode medal has surely earnt it.
$4,500 AUD + GST per person (teams of two)
Inclusions: Basic hotel accommodation (9 nights), car hire, ferry fares and toll fees, dinner (10 nights).
Exclusions: Breakfast, lunches, fuel, flights to and from Japan
*you will be provided with an estimated breakdown of what to expect.
© Gomanen Challenge 2025
© Gomenen Challenge 2025
Gomanen Challenge: EASY mode
Sapporo to Fukuoka - 8 days
2500 km, 55 hours driving time
If ‘roughing it’ isn’t your vibe and you’d prefer shorter days with more stops for photo opps and Family Mart fried chicken, EASY mode is the adventure you’ve been craving.
With eight days of shorter drives and ample opportunities for sightseeing, you’ll have more time to explore charming small towns, indulge in local cuisine, and enjoy the beautiful landscapes of Japan from the windows of a 50,000 yen kei car.
Stay in quality accommodation and have a great time with your fellow entrants getting hopelessly lost on rural Japanese backroads! EASY mode is perfect for those who believe the journey is just as important as the destination.
$5,800 AUD + GST per person (teams of two)
Inclusions: Quality accommodation (7 nights), car hire, ferry fares and toll fees, breakfast and dinner (8 days/nights).
Exclusions: Lunches, fuel, flights to and from Japan
*you will be provided with an estimated breakdown of what to expect.
Gomanen DENSETSU
Fukuoka to Fukuoka - 21 days
6,000km, 140 hours driving time
What happens when you add Hard Mode and Easy Mode together? You end up with the Gomanen DENSETSU. This is a version of the event that isn’t supposed to exist, but has been added purely at the request of some borderline-insane entrants.
Densetsu means ‘legend’ in Japanese, and if you’re crazy enough to attempt it, your name will be whispered in hushed tones all around the world for years to come. Ten days of HARD mode, three days relaxing and recovering in Sapporo, then eight days of EASY mode, returning to Fukuoka via different roads. At the end, you will receive a unique trophy to commemorate your densetsu status. Take the month off from reality and experience a truly once-in-a-lifetime drive.
$9,000 AUD + GST per person (teams of two)
Inclusions: HARD MODE: Basic hotel accommodation (9 nights), car hire, ferry fares and toll fees, dinner (10 nights). 3 Nights accommodation in Sapporo between events EASY MODE: Quality accommodation (7 nights), car hire, ferry fares and toll fees, breakfast and dinner (8 days/nights).
Exclusions: HARD MODE: Breakfast, lunches, fuel. EASY MODE: Lunches, fuel and flights to and from Japan
*you will be provided with an estimated breakdown of what to expect.
© Gomanen Challenge 2025
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