Rebecca, Andy, Jazzy, Lauren, Jeremy, Monica, Stéphane and Jeff tell us about their trackside experience and the challenges of getting to and from Suzuka at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix.
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Rebecca & Andy from Malta
We’d always wanted to visit Japan. We’d heard about its friendly and hospitable people, great food and efficient public transport. The fact that it also hosts a Formula 1 race made it an easy decision to start looking for flights. As we both reside in Malta, the best flights to get to Japan are via Germany or Turkey. We opted to fly via Frankfurt with Lufthansa and ANA (All Nippon Airways). During our trip to Japan, we visited Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya (where we were based for the Japanese Grand Prix), and then Tokyo.
Our previous experiences at F1 races have been a mixed bag (Monza was a difficult experience, Hungary was exceptional). On previous trips, we have always used public transport. This time, we decided to purchase reserved coach transfers from Nagoya to Suzuka for all three days, and it was effortless. The bus service was well organised and efficient, with most trips to and from the circuit taking around 90 minutes. The only exception was the return trip after the race on Sunday, which took close to four hours.
Considering the distance from the track to Nagoya and the massive number of people leaving the circuit at the same time, the travel time was acceptable and the coach was comfortable. Return tickets on the coach cost us 8,000 Yen (about $55 USD) each per day. Whilst public transport will always be cheaper, we paid more for the assurance and security of having direct/reserved travel and it did not disappoint. Multiple pick-up times were offered in the morning, but the return time of 17:00 was constant. If you want to stay longer at the circuit for whatever reason, I would recommend other methods of travel for your return trip.
At the circuit, food and drink costs were much more affordable compared to other races we’ve attended. Beers were roughly £3 GBP ($4 USD). On race day, they sold out of canned beer, meaning you had to line up for longer for draught beer, but the service was fairly quick overall. Food prices were more than reasonable. There were not so many options for vegetarians or people with dietary restrictions, which is normal in Japan. At least you were able to take your own food and drink if you needed.
Merchandise was the standard pricing, costing around £50 GBP ($65 USD) for a hat and £80 ($100 USD) for a t-shirt. These prices were not controlled by the circuit. Stock levels were decent, however merchandise related to Yuki Tsunoda sold out quickly on Thursday and Friday!
We had seats in the Q2 grandstand (next to the chicane which ends a lap of Suzuka) and it was an excellent place to view the race. We were able to see the cars exiting 130R, taking the chicane and then heading down to the start/finish line. We also had a more distant view of the first turn and the S curves. We had a screen in front to follow the action, but it was quite small.
Overall, attending the Japanese Grand Prix was a great experience and totally worth the money – highly recommended.
Jazzy from Australia
We stayed in Nagoya and commuted from there. We found a hotel that was only 5 minute’s walk from Nagoya station. We purchased five-day Kintetsu rail passes to cover our return travels between Nagoya and Shiroko, and then paid to use the shuttle bus service from Shiroko station to and from the circuit.
We did this on Friday and Saturday and found it mostly great. We went early boarding the train before 7am in Nagoya and had no issues with lines by choosing this travel time. Our only bad experience was the 2hr wait in the freezing cold for the return bus from the circuit to Shiroko on Friday evening. We waited until the last bus thinking the line would die down but speaking to others it was ~2hr wait from the end of free practice.
I was also disappointed that the last bus to the circuit was at 6pm, when there was driver talks in GP square until 7:30pm that night. I would have liked to have been able to stay and still have a bus option back to Shiroko. If we stayed we would have been up for a 20min walk to Suzuka Ino Station and I never tested that station out nor is it covered under our Kintetsu rail passes.
Saturday evening the buses were a lot more frequent and we also brought warmer clothes. For race day we paid for the direct bus from Nagoya. It was well organised but overall I don’t think it was really worth it for the price point especially as the trains/buses seemed to improve. The travel time was no shorter as we spent a lot of time in traffic leaving after the race. Again we picked early times leaving from Nagoya and aimed for the last bus back.
Monica & Stéphane from Canada
Bonjour! I’m Monica from Canada. We live about two hours from Montreal, where we have attended the Canadian Grand Prix many times. My husband, Stéphane, will be turning fifty in May, 2025. To celebrate, I suggested we travel to a race abroad. We chose Suzuka as Steph has loved the country since he was young, and we would also have the opportunity to see the beautiful sakura (cherry blossom) in full bloom.
We splurged and bought Champions Club hospitality via F1 Experiences. Food and drink are included. The suite is located above the pit lane on the pit straight, and also offers views of the final corner, first corner and the ‘S’ turns behind. F1 Experiences provided some wonderful events across the weekend, including some F1 celebrity appearances in the suite, a guided tour of the Formula 1 Paddock, and a grid walk on Saturday night with a trophy photo op.
For convenience (though it was expensive), we stayed at the hotel that F1 Experiences offered – Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel. It is next to the Nagoya JR station which has subways, bus options and trains. Unfortunately, there was no transportation offered by F1 Experiences from our hotel in Nagoya to the circuit. We booked coaches for the Friday and Sunday leaving from the Nagoya train station and planned to take the train on Saturday night as we had the photo/grid walk in the early evening.
Taking the train on Thursday and Saturday was more complicated than the coach but straight-forward enough. As we left early each morning and stayed later at the track in the evening than most other fans, the trains were busy but not chaotic. Suzuka Circuit Ino station did not have taxis available, but was a 2km walk to the circuit. We just followed the crowd. Thanks to plenty of advance planning (and lots of tips from the Japanese Grand Prix Facebook group), it was practically hassle-free to travel from Nagoya to the circuit and back each day.
Highlights of our trackside experience included meeting my favorite retired driver, Mark Webber, and my husband meeting and chatting with two F1 legends, Jock Clear and Jacques Villeneuve. We got photos and autographs from many F1 stars, met some amazing fellow F1 fans and enjoyed the Champions Club hospitality. We made some wonderful friends at this event. On the downside, we were provided lots of incorrect information by our ticket agent and also had some issues collecting our Champions Club tickets. F1 Experiences also failed to properly enforce their own rules around not being able to reserve tables or grandstand seats in the space.
We spent almost three weeks in Japan, a trip that our family and friends describe as the ‘trip of a lifetime.’ Aside from our weekend at Suzuka, other highlights included visiting Itsukushima Jinja (Shinto shrine) on Miyajima Island as well as Misen Yama, Hiroshima (and all it’s sad beauty), Kitayamazaki Cape, staying with a local family in Morioka and in Tokyo, the Nezu Shrine and the Tokyo Tower Diamond Tour.
Lauren from New Zealand
My First Japanese Grand Prix – A Wonderful Weekend at Suzuka.
The 2025 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka was my sixth Formula 1 race, but it was my first time experiencing Japan’s iconic circuit, and wow, what a special one it was. Having only been to street circuits before (Melbourne & Singapore), stepping into a purpose-built track with so much F1 history was genuinely next level. You can feel the legacy of greats like Senna and Prost in the air. This place is sacred ground for any motorsport fan.
I bought an A1 Grandstand ticket, which was definitely worth it. The view of the start line was epic, and I also had a clear shot of the pit exit. I got to see Lando and Max clash straight out of the pits right in front of me—seriously cool.
Accommodation-wise, I stayed at APA Hotel Nagoya Sakae. The hotel itself was clean and comfy, but the area… let’s just say it had character. Sakae turns into a red light district at night, and there were more than a few pimps hanging around outside the hotel. Add in car enthusiasts revving their engines at 3am like it’s Fast & Furious: Nagoya Drift, and yeah—it was an experience.
Getting to Suzuka each day was a bit of a mission. It took about an hour by train to Shiroko Station, then another 40+ minute wait for the 15-minute shuttle bus ride to the track. Luckily, I bought a Kintetsu Rail Pass in advance, which saved me a decent chunk of cash on the train rides. Highly recommend doing the same if you’re planning to go. Tickets for the shuttle bus cost 500 yen ($3.50 USD) each way.
That said, Suzuka isn’t the most accessible Grand Prix out there. There’s a lot of walking, stairs, and standing involved. Unfortunately, I was in so much pain by the end of Friday that I had to skip Saturday altogether just to recover. If you’ve got physical limitations, this might not be the best GP for you.
Despite the ups and downs, it was an unforgettable weekend. There’s something magical about Suzuka—something raw and real that you don’t get at a city race. Would I go again? 100%. But next time, I’ll be picking a hotel closer to the track.
Jeff from Australia
I have used your Japanese Grand Prix Facebook group to help plan my own journey to Suzuka for the past two years, so I figured it was time to give some feedback. Last year I traveled with my three sons and this year with friends. Having learnt the process for travelling to and from Nagoya using the JR trains last year, my experience this year was a lot less stressful.
This year, I went to the track on Thursday to experience the pit lane walk and track walk. I also wanted to check out the merchandise in the fan zone and maybe pick up some cool race-themed items before they sell out.
I purchased all my JR return tickets on Wednesday evening and took trains throughout the weekend from Nagoya to Suzuka Ino station without any issue. I kept it flexible on race day and chose the best option for the return journey. In both years, this was a leisurely (but quite long) walk to Shiroko station (skipping the shuttle bus), followed by the train to Nagoya.
Last year, I sat in grandstand D3. The view of the ‘S’ curves was great, but it was a long walk to and from the grandstand. This year, I went for the more expensive Q2 grandstand (see views from Q2 below). Using the same first corner gate, access for Q2 was a lot easier, and the seating was more comfortable (individual plastic seats, as opposed to concrete bleachers). The grandstand also had its own toilet block, which meant we didn’t have to so long at peak times.
Food and drink at Suzuka is both amazing and cheap! Merchandise was a little disappointing this year, with not so many unique Suzuka items to buy, and high prices. Once again, I made the most of ‘Free Friday,’ when you can sit in different grandstands, and ventured to the hairpin and Spoon Curve.
Unfortunately, the support categories at Suzuka (Ferrari Challenge Japan & Porsche Carrera Cup Japan) were once again underwhelming. Tickets for my home race in Melbourne are a lot more expensive (and it’s one of the reasons why I visit Japan), but they feel like good value because of the busy and competitive support schedule. Hopefully the organizers can improve the support programme in the future.
Jeremy from the USA
I lived in Japan as an exchange student back in the early 90s. I remember watching the Japanese Grand Prix on TV back then, but didn’t attend the race at Suzuka in person until this year. I noticed a lot of fans had issues working out the trains and shuttle buses to Suzuka, so I thought I would share my experience and give some advice for fans considering attending the race next year.
First, you need to decide on your chosen form of transport to get to and from Suzuka; bus, car, or train are the main options. Direct buses are available from major station to the track, including Nagoya, but these are not the cheapest or fastest option. If you decide to drive, you will need to purchase parking tickets in advance. These sell out quickly, and you also need to take into account how congested the roads will be near the circuit on race weekend. There are numerous parking lots, but roads are often single lane, one way, or reserved exclusively for shuttle buses.
If you decide to take the Kintetsu train from Nagoya, Osaka or Kyoto, you have a choice of limited express trains (which require a reservation) and express trains (which do not require a reservation). Express trains are more frequent, but you may be forced to stand in a crowded carriage for the entire journey. The limited express trains are less frequent, but you’ll be able to relax with a reserved seat.
The 5-day Kintetsu pass is recommended, as it covers all trains (local, express, limited express) to and from Shiroko station on race weekend. It’s possible to reserve seats up to 30 days in advance (and these do sell out on race weekend). Remember, seat reservations need to be paid separately to the 5-day Kintetsu pass.
After getting off at Shiroko station, you take a shuttle bus to the track. Tickets cost 500 yen each way and you need to be ready for long delays to get on the shuttle bus at peak times, especially at the circuit. To be sure you will get a particular limited express train, you should allow at least two hours to get from the circuit to Shiroko station. This includes walking from your seats to P7, where the shuttle buses depart from (see map location). We were in grandstand Q2 (final corner), which offers the shortest walk back to the buses (about 15 minutes). The walk can be much longer from other parts of the track.
