One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Although this saying can be applied to many hobbies, it’s particularly relevant when it comes to used car parts. A quick flick of eBay for a set of OEM DC2 Integra head lights reveals an average market price of $200 AUD per set but I remember the time a local owner of said part couldn’t even sell his mint-condition headlights for very little dollars. Being a kind person, I told him I’d grant him back his room space if he wanted it gone; he offered me the set of headlights for free.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that Up Garage is your typical auto parts shop from the exterior but upon entrance, the nature of the parts on hand are promptly identified. Up Garage specialises in buying and selling used car parts, particularly those with a performance flavor.

Modified car enthusiasts who visit The Land of the Rising Sun often stop by Up Garage in an attempt to snag a bargain. This is thanks to the abundance of chains conveniently located in all areas of the country. Japanese performance parts typically carry a premium outside of Japan due to middle-man taxes but also lack of supply; even when used performance parts hit the second-hand market in countries such as Australia, the prices for some of these items are almost on par with the equivalent brand new RRP in Japan.

After spending a day exploring the charming views of Kyoto, I discovered that there was an Up Garage on route home to my hotel in Osaka. A prompt consultation with Google Maps and I shortly found myself in the suburb of Amagaski. Although Up Garage Amagaski felt a tad smaller compared with online videos I had seen of prior outlets – the stock on hand was still impressive.

Despite not being completely accurate due to constant currency changes, removing the last two digits of a displayed price is quick way of converting Japanese Yen to a rough Australian Dollar figure. Just be aware that once you see the bargain prices (relative to prices found in Australia), you’ll want to wipe the shelves clean. This pair of BCNR33 GT-R alloys were listed for about~$346 AUD.

By far the most popular category Up Garage trades in are rims. Whether factory or aftermarket, cast or forged, cheap or expensive – Up Garage stocks them all. Even rare and discontinued sets – such as the Desmond Regamater Marquis Promada pictured below – casually sit on the shop floor without a wallet-emptying price.

Go-fast bits were plentiful, including walls of many branded cat-back exhausts.

A favourable trait about Japanese culture is that citizens tend to keep their household items in immaculate condition. Cars and used parts are no exception to the rule, so scoring mint condition items – such as an immculate set of S13 Silvia J’s headlights – are easily achievable.

The range of coilover suspension on hand was also impressive. Where else can you score BNR34 Skyline GT-R Ohlins coilovers for $812 AUD?

Speaking of BNR34 parts, casually lying nearby on top of a vending machine was a Bayside Blue front bumper.

Up Garage’s forte is in used components but they do sell new items too as some things you wouldn’t really buy second-hand; air-fresheners, car care products and globes to name a few.

Anyone who owns a used grey-import vehicle from Japan has probably found an aftermarket radio installed on their car. The amount of used in-car-entertainment gear lying around at Up Garage is testament that this area of car modification is still popular in Japan.

Outside of Japan, particularly in Australia, installing replica and non-genuine exterior parts such as copy-cat lips and body kits is unfortunately an industry-killing norm. Some of the causes for this is simply cost and availability. I wonder if the solution to this dilemma is to have shops like Up Garage in Australia.

The selection of factory as well as aftermarket steering wheels and seats was solid.

With quality OEM and aftermarket parts readily available to customers in all parts of Japan thanks to Up Garage and the likes, it’s not rocket science to understand why the Japanese aftermarket industry and modified car culture heavily thrives. The next time you’re embarking on a build, it may pay dividend to factor in plane tickets to Japan; the savings realised after a visit to Up Garage could may as well fund the trip.