Adam’s Travel Report – 2024 Japanese Grand Prix

Adam Rosales tells us about his expertise attending the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix, and why he’s already planning his return to Suzuka Circuit this yr.

The Suzuka circuit is a type of on the present F1 calendar that everyone desires to go to. The epic championship battles between Senna and Prost we’ve all seen within the documentaries, the moist races, the loopy speeds of the primary sector and the legendary 130R.

Planning

The late-season timing proper earlier than america Grand Prix in Austin by no means actually labored for me, however final yr F1 shifted the race to the spring. This impressed some flight looking and I got here throughout a stable take care of Korean Air booked by way of Delta utilizing SkyMiles. The dates lined up completely for every week in Japan that included the Japanese Grand Prix. The flight deal was from Los Angeles to Tokyo on factors, so I booked a separate flight from my dwelling in Austin to Los Angeles. The whole spherical journey value was 72,000 Skymiles and $307 USD. As soon as booked, I used to be in a position to get myself a ticket for Grandstand B2 then begin planning the main points of how I used to be going to get to Suzuka. It may be a bit overwhelming whenever you first begin wanting, however the Japanese journey information on F1Destinations plus helpful data on the Suzuka Circuit web site made it pretty simple.

Nagoya

The closest main metropolis to Suzuka is Nagoya, which the third most populous metropolis in Japan. You’ll discover most different followers will likely be staying right here and it’s pretty simple to discover a resort or airbnb that’s strolling distance from a prepare station. You will get to Nagoya from Tokyo by prepare or airplane, each equally priced and journey time. I opted for flying to expertise some home J class flights, which was fairly a enjoyable expertise. A meal and lay flat seat on a 1 hour flight in a wide-body jet for $145? Why not expertise that? The spotlight was boarding solely quarter-hour earlier than departure. Japanese effectivity is unbelievable!

Nagoya has loads of good eating places and caters to vacationers fairly effectively. I hosted a meetup and we had about 30 folks at a bar referred to as Shooters that was actually enjoyable. A small group of us ended up hanging out all weekend, and we’ve met up at different races since then. None of us had been from Japan, which reveals that it’s pretty welcoming and straightforward to go to and discover.

Nagoya to Suzuka Circuit

Getting from Nagoya to the circuit will be the overwhelming a part of the planning course of. The closest prepare station, which is a few 20 minute stroll to the circuit, is Suzuka Circuit Inō Station but it surely will get very crowded and has much less trains than Shiroko Station. Shiroko is the simpler of the 2 because it’s served by common trains from Nagoya departing each 20-Half-hour. You’ll be able to reserve seats and purchase tickets on-line however the seat reservations do replenish. In the event you maintain checking, you’ll be able to typically discover a single seat or two change into out there on the final second, supplied you’re versatile. Seat reservations usually are not required however it might assist to relaxation through the busy weekend. From Shiroko station to the circuit, there are organized shuttle buses. It could get very crowded and you may wait as much as an hour at peak occasions. Arriving early is a good suggestion to streamline your journey.

Carry some money for this too, as you’ll have to pay for the shuttle bus whenever you arrive on the circuit (about 400 yen). Playing cards had been accepted, however the line was lengthy. On the finish of the day, there will be as much as a two hour wait at peak occasions to get the shuttle bus from the circuit to Shiroko station. It’s greatest to depart immediately or wait it out for some time. I used this route for Friday’s observe to determine the method and avoid wasting cash. It’s the most cost effective strategy to get to Suzuka Circuit. Some folks benefit from the hour-long stroll again to Shiroko and go for that as a substitute of ready within the line.

Categorical Buses

The circuit additionally organizes specific shuttle buses from an inventory of particular cities, reminiscent of Nagoya, Osaka and Kyoto. You’ll be able to e-book these on the Suzuka circuit website and costs differ however they’re sometimes about $50-70 USD return every day. I opted to e-book the specific bus from Nagoya station on Saturday and Sunday, which value $55 USD every day. The directions for the pickup location at Nagoya station had been a bit obscure however pretty simple to seek out. Give your self some additional time to seek out the situation for this, as you don’t wish to miss your scheduled departure. When you arrive, you merely verify in at a small desk that’s signposted and they’ll inform you which line to get in. As your departure time approaches, your group is escorted to a bus.

The drive took about an hour. On Sunday, our driver stopped at a relaxation space for a break and I used to be in a position to get some snacks at a Lawson’s comfort retailer. The arrival location on the circuit is in an adjoining lot to the Shiroko shuttle buses. You just about observe the identical strolling path for about quarter-hour to enter or depart the circuit. There are folks available to direct you and the entire course of could be very simple and stress free. The organized buses had been positively not low cost however price it for the hassle-free expertise.

Trackside at Suzuka

Suzuka circuit operates as a theme park on most days so the format and facilities are fairly stable in comparison with different conventional circuits that are likely to have loads of momentary and amenities. Suzuka has loads of huge open, paved strolling paths to get round. There may be some elevation however nothing loopy like Spa or Flip 1 at COTA. There are meals stalls, eating places, merchandise shops in addition to pop up tents for meals distributors across the circuit grounds. When you enterprise away from the principle plaza space, you’ll discover some paths are gravel but it surely’s pretty clean to get round. The everlasting grandstands have some indoor bogs and food and drinks distributors beneath. The circuit presents some very distinctive merchandise, reminiscent of themed snacks, mannequin automobiles and a few Suzuka circuit branded gadgets like seat pads, umbrellas and toys that make unbelievable presents.

Grandstand B2

I used to be in a position to purchase myself a ticket for Grandstand B2 for €649 by way of P1 Journey. Grandstand B is on the skin of Flip 1. The decrease degree is B1 and the higher degree is B2. The views right here supply a unbelievable panorama. You’ll be able to see the automobiles from simply after the beginning line and up by way of the S Turns. Seeing the automobiles enter Flip 1 at pace is sort of the deal with and actually cool to see the variations in how every staff’s automobile can push by way of the lateral a great deal of the primary sector. B2 has a view that’s above the fences, in comparison with B1 that appears by way of the fence.

Grandstand B2 is a few 10-15 minute stroll from the principle grandstand space. There are a couple of meals distributors across the Flip 1 space. Beneath the grandstand there have been a few stands and another choices had been out there should you stored strolling previous the part and behind Grandstand C, which is additional in direction of the S turns. This path did get a bit crowded because it narrows a bit however was nonetheless simple to get by way of to see the automobiles taking the S turns throughout observe. You’ll additionally encounter a small memorial space on the Dunlop curve with pictures and presents left for Jules Bianchi, in addition to Daijiro Kato, who handed away right here through the 2003 MotoGP race.

Free Friday

I might encourage everybody to discover the circuit on Friday (when there’s free seating in nearly all of the grandstands) to see the automobiles on the varied factors all through the circuit. It’s doubtless price splitting half of the circuit for every observe session, I used to be stunned how a lot strolling there was at this circuit because it’s pretty unfold out. Seeing automobiles by way of 130R and the ultimate chicane usually are not too distant and positively definitely worth the journey. Individuals are pleasant, well mannered and really energetic. There have been a ton of Japanese followers who all appeared like superfans of the varied drivers on the grid. Just like the one I discovered with Mexican flags painted on his cheeks, a flag worn as a cape and Pink Bull merch.

Meals & Drink at Suzuka

Suzuka means that you can enter with your individual food and drinks. It doesn’t harm to pack a few of your individual in case the traces are lengthy between classes. I used to be in a position to enter with my very own beer as effectively however the cans of Heineken inside had been solely about 500 yen every ($3.30 USD). Stopping at a 7/11 or Lawson’s comfort retailer within the morning is a good suggestion to replenish for the day. I had some wagyu beef with potatoes close to Grandstand C for about 1800 yen ($12 USD) that tasted nice and was made to order. I might encourage others to be adventurous and take a look at a number of the meals across the circuit. There’s all kinds and it’s fairly fascinating with out the loopy overpricing that you could encounter at another circuits on the calendar. Bank cards (faucet to pay) are accepted all over the place but it surely doesn’t harm to have some money as a backup, in case of any potential difficulty along with your playing cards.

Trackside Group at Suzuka

This was my second journey to Japan and one of many issues that stands out to me is how calm and respectful persons are in crowds. The circuit group could be very effectively accomplished. Traces could be a bit sluggish throughout peak occasions for issues like meals or the shuttles however they continue to be effectively organized. There are some shuttles from the principle grandstand space to the west space that may assist with a number of the strolling. Apart from merch and presents, some retailers across the circuit additionally supply some primary gadgets like batteries or sunscreen. Circuit employees are plentiful and useful all through the occasion and there’s signposting in each Japanese and English.

The occasion wasn’t as “Japanese” as I believed it might be and was fairly welcoming to foreigners. The employees would attempt to perceive my damaged phrases or google translate messages and would genuinely attempt to assist after I would order meals or ask for instructions. I really feel like Suzuka is likely one of the most organized circuits on the calendar. One other instance of the native followers being orderly and respectful was on the Fan Discussion board stage, the place everybody sat quietly on the bottom with their legs crossed like faculty kids. It looks as if that is accomplished so the folks behind or round them can see and listen to the folks on stage talking. I want extra teams of followers had been like this!

Visiting Japan

Japan is a particular place to go to. It simply feels totally different. It’s positively a bit western within the main cities however there are nonetheless some traditions inside the on a regular basis tradition which can be laborious to explain. A majority of the folks put loads of effort into their jobs. For instance, if anyone must verify your ticket for a prepare, they might gesture their hand throughout all the main points as they learn it to confirm you’re the place you’re imagined to be, adopted by a gracious however respectful “arigato” and a smile to see you in your method.

Tokyo is a enjoyable metropolis to discover and getting round is pretty simple. If in case you have an iPhone, you’ll be able to add a Suica card for transit. It’s simple to high up the cardboard and use it it by way of Apple Pay to board any prepare within the Tokyo area or pay for issues at a 7/11. It’s a quite common and handy type of cost. There was a pause on promoting bodily vacationer playing cards within the final couple of years however I imagine they’re coming again in 2025. Presently, you’re solely in a position to get a bodily card at Narita airport. The digital model is far simpler to acquire and handle although.

There may be all kinds of meals and issues to do all through Japan however with restricted time, it’s simple to make the most of a single day or two to discover Tokyo. Harajuku for buying, Shibuya crossing for pictures, Shinjuku for some sights and meals. I ended up going to a Yusha Kobo Keyboard Specialty Store in Akihabara and shopping for all of the components to construct myself a mechanical keyboard. The espresso at Glitch Espresso & Roasters is a cool expertise should you’re into espresso. There may be simply a lot to expertise and see that it’s simple to seek out issues to do, nevertheless a lot time you might have earlier than or after race weekend.

Remaining Ideas

Whereas exploring Suzuka circuit throughout Friday observe, I used to be in a position to mirror on how fortunate I used to be to be sitting beneath a brightly bloomed sakura tree on the iconic S Turns, watching the automobiles navigate these turns at pace. The chums I remodeled the weekend on the meetup actually helped solidify the constructive expertise of touring to the opposite facet of the world alone for a race weekend. Having one thing in widespread with a bunch of web strangers will be fairly enjoyable and result in some nice recollections. After three days on the circuit and a few drained legs, I noticed I had an enormous smile leaving the circuit whereas all of the employees had been waving and saying a cheerful goodbye to everyone on the exit. I couldn’t wait to revisit, so I’ve booked the identical Airbnb and will likely be on the Japanese Grand Prix once more this yr! The Japanese Grand Prix is my new favourite race to journey to and I can’t wait to expertise it once more.