MINI was recently in Japan for the debut of the Paul Smith MINI at the Japan Mobility Show. While they were there, they grabbed the keys to an F66 MINI Cooper JCW and headed into the mountains to tackle one of Japan’s most iconic driving roads: the Irohazaka.

If you have never driven it, Irohazaka is actually two separate one-way roads that climb and descend the mountains of Nikko. Each hairpin is named after a character in the old Japanese alphabet and the road stacks these corners one after another in a way that feels almost intentional for small, quick cars. There are steep climbs, tight switchbacks, narrow ledges, and sudden openings that look out across the Nikko valley. In autumn the entire route transforms, with fiery reds and oranges framing every bend. It is one of those rare roads that blends history, culture, and pure driving rhythm.

Put a MINI here and the place comes alive. Japan’s mountain roads reward cars with precision and personality. The F66 JCW feels built for it, with its compact footprint and quick reflexes letting you place the car exactly where you want on the narrow pavement. The updated chassis tuning brings a level of stability that inspires confidence when the road drops away on one side and a wall of forest rises on the other. There is a reason MINI ownership in Japan has always been strong. Roads like Irohazaka play directly to the brand’s strengths.

The run from Tokyo to the base of Nikko National Park is about 180 kilometers. As the climb begins, the temperature falls, the air gets crisp, and the road begins to wrap around the mountainside. It is one of the most rewarding places on earth to get to know a JCW.

Check out the full gallery below.

MINI Cooper JCW Gallery in Japan