Suzuka Mie Prefecture Japan
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Suzuka, in Mie Prefecture Japan is a small city with a roaring racing reputation as the City of Motorsports.
Suzuka’s population hovers around the 190,000 mark and many locals are involved in the city’s trademark automobile industry and the exciting world of Formula 1 (F1).
This small city in Mie Prefecture is the home of the Japanese Grand Prix. Local and international visitors rush to this city every year to watch the world’s best F1 drivers battle it out on Suzuka Circuit.
Visit Suzuka even if you’re not a car racing fan! There is so much to do in the area, especially for families. You can visit this famous F1 track any time of the year and enjoy all its attractions, not just Grand Prix time.
2025 Japanese Grand Prix
In 2025, the Japanese Grand Prix will be held at Suzuka Circuit Park from Thurs 3 April until Sunday 6 April. If you wish to attend, plan well in advance and book your accommodation early as it gets booked out quickly!
The Circuit also hosts many other exhilarating events such as the Super GT, Super Formula and Suzuka 8 throughout the year.
If you’re touring beautiful Mie Prefecture, don’t miss the exhilarating Suzuka Circuit Park. It is a super fun, family-friendly, car racing-themed amusement park surrounding Suzuka Circuit. It’s a roaring blast! Families will have a fantastic time, as there are activities for all ages.
Suzuka, Mie Prefecture location
Suzuka, is located in the north-east of Mie prefecture, in the Kansai region of Japan on the main island of Honshu.
This small, bustling city, surrounded by natural beauty is an exciting industrial hub.
Famous Ise Bay is located to the east and two national parks; Ise-no-umi Prefectural National Park and Suzuka Quasi National Park are close by.
Suzuka’s location is central and easily accessible, just one hour from Nagoya and two and a half hours from Osaka.
Geography and climate
Suzuka’s total area is 194.46 square kilometres (75.08 square miles).
The city of Suzuka borders Kameyama; Yokkaichi, the largest city in Mie; Tsu, home to the prefectural government and also Koka municipality in Shiga Prefecture.
The climate is humid subtropical, which explains why you’ll find palm trees along Ise Bay!
The average annual temperature is 15.6 degrees Celsius, with light winters and warm summers. Expect little to no snowfall in Suzuka.
Suzuka’s history
This area has a long history of prosperity due to its proximity to Nara and also the Grand Ise Shrine and its well-trodden pilgrimage route.
Originally, Oda Nobutaka’s third son, of the same name, controlled Suzuka. This was during Sengoku Period in the 16th century.
During the Edo period, from 1732 until the Meiji restoration in 1871, the area was under the control of the Kanbe Domain ruled by the Honda clan.
The Suzuka District was formed in 1889 when the town of Kanbe was established with the modern municipalities system. By 1942 Kanbe then merged with the villages of Shirako, Inau, Kawano, Lino, Ichinomiya, Mida, Tanagaki, Wakamatsu, Ko Shono, Makita, Takatsuse and Ishiyakushi to form the city of Suzuka. Then in 1954, the city expanded again.
Suzuka’s Industries
This city in Mie was a hub for engineering long before Suzuka Circuit was created. The two major factories in Suzuka belong to Sharp and Honda.
Suzuka is popular with Brazilians
This motorsport city has the fifth largest population of Brazilians in all of Japan with 4,084 Brazilians employed in factories in the city including Honda and Sharp.
As Suzuka is a dedicated motorsports city, you can find many motorsport-related businesses in the area.
Moriwaki Engineering is a local Suzuka-based company that manufactures specialty high-performance racing parts for motorcycles.
The founder Moriwaki Mamoru was a racer himself. However, he soon became known for modifying engines and making frames for the Kawasaki Z1. He developed the world-first aluminium frame for large-capacity motorcycles. This was the first independent firm allowed to use Honda engines.
West Racing Cars, another local business was founded in Suzuka in 1973 and has since created over 1400 racing cars supplying them to motorsports fans. Yes you can buy your own racing car here!
West Racing Cars employees machine each part of the racing car by hand and can create every component except the engine.
It is possible to tour the manufacturing facility by reservation.
Suzuka Circuit (International raceway)
This Circuit has been hailed as one of the best racing tracks of all time, despite being one of the oldest.
Soichiro Honda, the founder of Honda Motor Company created Suzuka Circuit in 1962 as a test track to create the safest cars possible.
Honda’s founder created the Circuit
Soichiro Honda believed, that ‘cars cannot improve without racing’. In 1936, he raced a turbocharged Ford and crashed, injuring his brother and severely damaging his left eye. That was his last ever race.
Suzuka Circuit is known as one of the fastest racing tracks of all time. The West Straight is 1.2 kilometres long where racers go full throttle.
The circuit is also a figure 8 design which is unusual in motor sports.
The Circuit is most famous as an F1 track, however, other races occur monthly including Super GT, Super Formula, the Suzuka 8 and more.
Circuit Challenger Course
Book a Circuit Challenger Course ticket in addition to Suzuka Circuit Park entry, to drive a part of the Circuit yourself in an electric vehicle (EV).
This experience is great fun and the whole family can join in. Kids from fifth grade and up can drive on their own, kids from third grade can drive with an adult in the car and kids from two years old can sit on a driver’s lap.
The car you drive isn’t super fast, so you can enjoy the track without any stress.
Drive the Circuit yourself!
You can drive part of the actual Suzuka Circuit in an EV! Book a Challenger Course Ticket in addition to your Suzuka Circuit Park (amusement park) ticket to enjoy a day of super racing fun for the whole family!
Suzuka Circuit Park
Suzuka Circuit Park is a huge amusement park covering 145 hectares! This is an amusement park with a twist, every ride is a race!
It’s roaring fun for everyone including families with small children and of course race enthusiasts!
You will find racing-themed rollercoasters, go-karts, mini motorbikes and more. In the summer-time, it also includes a huge water park.
Suzuka Circuit Park is divided into eight different sections: Aqua Adventure (Summer only); Chirara’s Hello Garden (for smaller kids); Kochira’s Putti Town (small children driving rides); Pipira’s Moto Field (two-wheeler rides for small kids); Batto’s Adventure Village (more driving rides); Circuit Challenger (Drive an EV on Suzuka Circuit); Puto’s Mobipark (Drive large vehicles on a track); and the GP Field (race real go-karts, ferris wheel, Racing Theatre and the Circuit Wheel).
Rides for young children at Suzuka Circuit Park
The rides at Suzuka Circuit Park cater for all ages, from toddlers up. It’s so perfectly planned for a fun day for everyone in the family.
The best places for small children are Chirara’s Hello Garden, Kochira’s Putti Town and Pipira’s Moto Field.
Rides for older kids and adults
There are also plenty of rides for older kids and adults who feel the need for speed!
Ride real mini-motorcross bikes at Acro Bike and Moto Fighter, or drive a real go-kart at Kart Attacker. Kart Attacker does require an advanced registration so mark your calendars two weeks prior to your arrival date to book this one in.
If you prefer some thrill-seeking without the pressure of being a driver, try out the GP Racers, a motorbike rollercoaster, or the Dual GP Battle Coaster where you can practice your drifting in a controlled and safe environment!
If you are a Formula 1 fan, book in for the Circuit Challanger! Drive an electronic vehicle around the actual Suzuka Circuit track where the real F1 vehicles race. This one must be booked in advance also.
Where to eat at Suzuka Circuit Park
This park has so many fast food options as well as a few restaurants. When we visited, we were also lucky as there were no crowds and no lining up!
You can choose from crepes, hamburgers, ice creams, hot dogs with interesting fillings, Chinese food, pancakes, pasta, pizzas and more! Come to the park hungry!
Where to buy tickets for Suzuka Circuit Park
Buy tickets to the park in English directly from Klook or from the Suzuka Circuit Park website.
If you plan on visiting Suzuka Circuit Park as part of a trip to Nagoya, also consider Klook’s Nagoya Pass. This pass includes a variety of amazing attractions in Nagoya such as Legoland, The Nagoya Public Aquarium, the Izu Teddy Bear Museum and many more!
How to get to Suzuka, Mie
By public transport: Nagoya is the closest, large city to Suzuka, Mie Prefecture Japan.
- From Nagoya: 1 hour and 20 minutes via bus or train to Suzuka Circuit Park
- From Osaka: 2 hours 40 minutes via train or bus, so it’s recommended to spend a night or two in Mie Prefecture to make the most of it.
- From Tokyo: 3 hours and 6 minutes using the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen and then transferring to a local train or bus.
By driving: You can drive to Suzuka from Nagoya in around 1 hour and 10 minutes. If visiting the Suzuka Circuit Park, there is a very large car park right at the park.
Where to stay in Suzuka
Suzuka is a bustling industrial city, with many low-cost and comfortable business hotels. Or you can splurge and stay direct at the Circuit with their on-site accommodation.
In my experience in Japan, business hotels provide a clean room, private bathroom, sometimes parking and usually a perfectly filling breakfast too.
Consider accommodation at:
- APA Suzuka-Chuou – This hotel is just 2.6 kilometres from Suzuka Circuit park and walking distance to a large AEON Mall. The hotel offers triple rooms for small families and you can opt in for a yummy breakfast.
- Hotel Route Inn Suzuka – This hotel is also close to Suzuka Circuit Park, however, their rooms only fit two adults and a child if sharing a bed.
Suzuka Circuit Park accommodation
If you want to stay right on top of the action, you can stay at the Circuit Park itself.
Suzuka Circuit Park offers two types of accommodation: Suzuka Circuit Park Hotel or Suzuka Circuit Park camping.
Of course in true Japanese style, the camping option provides you with everything you could need for a camping trip. You don’t even need to bring your own tent!
Other attractions in Mie Prefecture
Mie Prefecture has a whole range of interesting sights, and should be considered for a trip all of its own.
Other attractions in Mie:
- Mikimoto Pearl Island in Toba – if you are interested in the history of pearl diving in Japan, visit this island and watch the incredible Ama ladies dive for pearls.
- Ise Shrine – This Shinto Shrine is dedicated to Amaterasu, the solar goddess. It’s one of the Shinto’s most important sites.
- Meo Toiwa (married couple rocks) – These sacred rocks represent husband and wife and are connected by a shimenawa rope.
- Matsusaka Beef – If you are a wagyu lover, try the famous Matsusaka Beef. With a high fat-to-meat ratio, the beef melts in our mouth.
- Shima Spain Village – A Spanish-themed amusement park with rides, shows, restaurants and shops
- Ninja Samurai Kingdom Ise – This Edo period townscape is centered around a life-sized replica of Azuchi Caste. You can dress in cosplay, watch performances and enjoy life as a samurai or ninja!
- Nabana no Sato – These incredible illuminations are a must-see in the area from late October to early June.
Round up of Suzuka Mie Prefecture Japan
Suzuka, in Mie Prefecture is famous for hosting the Japanese Grand Prix, however it’s also a fun family-friendly travel destination.
This lively, car-racing focused city boasts the only racing-themed amusement park I’ve ever come across! That alone is a reason to visit Suzuka!
Suzuka is within an hour of Nagoya and is surrounded by natural beauty and interesting things to see and experience. Stop into Suzuka in Mie Prefecture, Japan for a one-of-a-kind, off-the-beaten-path family trip.
