With Japan due to open up the boarders to tourism in the not too distant future, race-fans will also be looking to the restarting of on track action in the Far East’s motorsport destination. And Japan has much more to offer than clichés like sushi, tea, calligraphy, and karate. The country is home to some of the most fast-and-furious race tracks too.
MotorsportWeek.com takes a look at seven of the best…
Tokachi International Speedway
Since this race circuit opened in 1993, it has fast become a fan favourite. The speedway provides two configurations for racing, the Clubman Course and the Grand Prix course. And although it is a relatively flat race track, it has seen many thrills and spectacles over the years as the Speedway has hosted many meetings including rounds of the Formula Nippon and Super GT series.
Tsukuba Circuit
Although Tsukuba Circuit is not as large as some of Japan’s other premier race circuits, it is certainly one of the country’s most popular. That is partially due to its proximity to Tokyo. With plans for a new casino to be built in the city soon (alongside online options like Casumo – カスモ), the Tsukuba Circuit is sure to become an even bigger hit with fans. The Tsukuba Circuit has 14 corners but it’s only 1.27 miles long. Despite the circuit only holding club events, it draws large crowds nevertheless. If you want to have a fun time at a course without the bustle and stresses of the big courses, check out Tsukuba Circuit sometime.
Autopolis
The thing that continues to make Autopolis an interesting track is that it is located in an upland area. That means the air is thinner, and unless the cars are turbo-charged, the engines struggle for power. When at Autopolis, one is reminded of the air at Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The international circuit was opened in 1990. Today, it hosts events for multiple series, including Super GT, Super Formula and Super Taikyu.
Twin Ring Motegi
As the name indicates, Twin Ring Motegi is the home of two race tracks. The road course is 2.98 miles long and is built in a straight-hairpin style. Compared to other Japanese circuits, it is exceptionally flat. The second track is the famous Motegi oval, and it is the only one of its kind in the country. The 1.54-mile-long track is egg-shaped, with Turns 3 and 4 being much tighter than the first two. The oval used to be an annual fixture on the IndyCar Series. But it is the road course that is the popular track here. It is home to Super GT, MotoGP, Super Formula, and many other series each year.
Sportsland SUGO
Sportsland SUGO is much more than a race circuit as in addition to the track, the facility includes a motocross and a trials course; it even has a go-kart track. Racing events held annually at Sportsland SUGO include Super GT, Super Formula, Motocross World Championships, and Super Taikyu. Before 2003, Sportsland SUGO even hosted a round of the Superbike World Championship and a D1 Grand Prix event.
Suzuka International Racing Course
Commonly known as Suzuka Circuit, the Suzuka International Racing Course is one of Japan’s most famous tracks. It is especially well-known for its distinctive figure-eight layout and is the home of the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix with its FIA Grade 1 license. Suzuka Circuit represents one of the oldest remaining tracks from the F1. Over the years, many memorable moments have occurred here, including numerous title showdowns like Hunt versus Lauda (1976) and Senna versus Prost (1989 & 1990). With a capacity of 155,000 and a fantastic range of hotels, restaurants, amusement parks, and motorsports events, a visit to Suzuka Circuit is not to be missed.
Fuji Speedway
Standing in the foothills of the awesome Mount Fuji Speedway course is, after Suzuka, the most popular and famous racecourse in Japan. Fuji Speedway has seen various renovations since it was established in 1963 and is world-renowned. Now, in its fifth configuration, the track is 2.835 miles long and has 16 corners and is best known for having one of the longest straights in motorsports at 0.917 miles. In addition to hosting a few F1 grands prix, major annual race events held at Fuji Speedway include the FIA World Endurance Championship, Super GT, Super Formula and Super Taikyu series’.
