Suzuka has a new slot on the calendar for 2024. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of attending the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix race weekend at Suzuka on April 5-7.
The 2024 Japanese Grand Prix will be Formula 1’s 34th visit to the Suzuka circuit since the track first joined the calendar in 1987. It’s one of the sport’s most revered and best loved circuits among drivers and fans alike.
The Japanese Grand Prix returned to the calendar after a two-year absence in 2022. At the time of the race in 2022, Japan had not fully re-opened to international visitors since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. The 2023 Japanese Grand Prix, therefore, was the first opportunity for many international fans to experience F1 at Suzuka in four years.
In 2024, Suzuka moves to a much earlier slot on the Formula 1 calendar, taking place in early April. Although trackside temperatures will likely be cooler for fans attending the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix, there should be less chance of heavy downpours which have become regular at Suzuka races in recent years.
Not yet secured tickets for the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix? A limited number of race weekend tickets remain available in our ticket shop, including 3-day tickets for the West Open Area at just over €120.
Read on for tips and advice to get the most out of your visit to the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix!
What to see and do away from the circuit
The Suzuka track itself is located in an industrial area, so there’s not a lot to see or do away from the circuit or its neighbouring theme park. However, further afield in Nagoya or Osaka there are plenty of cultural delights to explore.
Nagoya is the country’s fourth most-populated city, and there are many hidden gems to be found. We recommend taking some time out to explore the best places to visit on your Japanese Grand Prix trip. We’ve rounded up some ideas for where to go in Off-Track Activities.
A special F1 Fan Festival is taking place in Tokyo in the days leading up to the race weekend, which will feature appearances from a number of F1 stars, including current drivers Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez, Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda. You can find more information about the event – which will run from April 2-3 – on the official Suzuka website.
Heading to Suzuka for the first time? All the essential travel information you need is in Travel Basics.
How to Get to Suzuka for the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix
Thanks to the meticulous and careful nature of Japanese culture, your trip to the Suzuka circuit is likely to be hassle-free and public transport will be highly dependable. If you’re using public transport, train is the best way of getting to the track. Ensuring you board the correct train can be a daunting task but staff at the train station will be able to help you if you are unsure.
Taxis are also a safe and affordable way of making your way to and from the track and can be particularly helpful when public transport stops running late at night. Read more about using trains and various other forms of transport to get around during your trip to the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix here.
High Attendance Expected at Suzuka
With a weekend attendance of 222,000, the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix was Suzuka’s best-attended F1 weekend since 2006. With it being the first Suzuka race open to international visitors since 2019, demand for tickets in 2023 was exceptionally high. The weekend attendance figure increased by 20,000 on the previous season, while the race day attendance was 101,000 – up 11,000 on the 2022 figure.
Tickets sold fast once again for the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix and the attendance level is expected to be similar in 2024, despite this year’s race taking place just six months after the 2023 event.
Suzuka’s record attendance figure is 361,000. That 3-day total was recorded in 2006 – the year before Fuji Speedway replaced Suzuka as host of the Japanese Grand Prix, when local manufacturer Honda last won a Grand Prix.
How Much Will a Trip to the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix Cost?
The Japanese Grand Prix is one of the cheapest races to attend on the current Formula 1 calendar. Suzuka had the cheapest 3-day General Admission tickets and cheapest 3-day grandstand seats of any of the planned 23 races on the 2023 Formula 1 calendar – but races in Hungary and China rank cheaper than the Japanese Grand Prix in 2024.
Japanese Grand Prix tickets are also relatively cheap for local fans, costing just 4.56% of the average monthly wage – the cheapest of any race last year.
We estimate that the average fan will spend around $1,240 USD on a trip to the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix, including grandstand seats, a 3-night stay in a Nagoya hotel plus daily spending money. Check out our Budget Planner for the lowdown on what you can expect to spend on a trip to the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix.
Trackside at Suzuka
Suzuka is universally one of the drivers’ favourite circuits thanks to its fast flowing esses and fearsome bends such as 130R. Suzuka became one of the sport’s legendary tracks almost immediately, having hosted five dramatic title deciders in its first five races.
No fewer than 21 Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships have been decided at this track in total, including Max Verstappen’s second title win in 2022 and Red Bull’s latest Constructors’ Championship victory at the track last year.
There is a friendly atmosphere at the Japanese Grand Prix, and the passionate fans will be out in force to support Visa Cash App RB driver Yuki Tsunoda, who competes in his home event for the third time. Support will also be strong for the Red Bull team, who are powered by Honda-built engines. The manufacturer opened a factory in the area back in 1960 and subsequently built the Suzuka track for testing purposes.
Don’t forget to make the most of your experience by taking advantage of ‘Free Friday’. This allows you to sit in almost any grandstand for the on-track action on Friday! There isn’t much in the way of shops or ATMs at the circuit or the nearby train stations so be sure to have cash with you, plus an array of clothing options. It pays to be prepared for all kinds of weather at Suzuka, from blazing sunshine to rain and even typhoons!
Though Suzuka doesn’t benefit from additional Formula 2 and Formula 3 action seen at European events, there are still two support categories over the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix weekend, in the form of Ferrari Challenge Japan and the Porsche Carrera Cup Japan. You can find all the vital information about watching the Grand Prix, including session times, on our updated Trackside page.
Typhoon No. 19 (Hagibis) is forecast to approach the south of Japan this weekend. Be prepared for its effect.
Hi! Do you know which grandstands Free Friday applies to? I have V2 grandstand seats and would hope I don’t need to share them :)
Free Friday applies to all grandstands except for V2!
hi, is it allow to bring camera to the track??
Yes you can take camera, even with quite a long lens. Suzuka has special tickets even for amateur photographers (these are sold out, of course). More info about attending here: https://www.suzukacircuit.jp/en/info/rulesandmanners/
I have two small children (3 & 6 years old)…do you know of any guides or do you have advice on what essentials to bring with us (we’re staying in Nagoya). Thinking of food, clothes, etc. I understand there’s probably going to be rain, so ponchos or something?
Another question…we will be landing on Thursday so our kids will be extremely jet lagged. We are considering bringing a wagon to cart the kids around (thinking of all the walking traveling to the race, as well as during the day). I feel like it’s going to be too much of a nuisance, but also understand that our kids will probably be falling asleep at various times somewhat out of our control. We are trying to figure out the best way to keep them as comfortable as possible. Thank you!!
Hi Priti, I think you need to plan like you are going on a hike or something! Check the weather forecast carefully. Be ready if there is even a small chance of rain or high winds etc. And I think the small wagon is a good idea, though I’m not sure where you are sitting. You may not need it if you are in V1/V2 grandstand, which is right next to the entrance gate and the fanzone/theme park.
Can small backpacks be allowed in ?
Yes, should be fine. Please check this page for the list of prohibited items: https://www.suzukacircuit.jp/eng/f1/caution/