Race Ready: Japan F1 Schedule and Travel Guide

Welcome to the Race Ready for the Japanese F1 Grand Prix, taking place in Suzuka, in the Kansai region of Japan, from 27-29 March 2026.

We’re here to ensure you have all the information available at your fingertips to enable you to get the most out of your live motorsport experience.

Not yet got your tickets for the 2026 race? Book them today via the button below!

Official Japan F1 tickets

Table of Contents

Official Japan F1 tickets

FRIDAY 27 MARCH

SATURDAY 28 MARCH

SUNDAY 29 MARCH

Getting to Suzuka on public transport

Emergencies

Good to Know

Customer Service

FAQs

Japanese F1 Grand Prix weekend schedule

The Japanese Grand Prix traditionally has the cheapest Grand Prix ticket on the Formula 1 calendar. But for fans from Europe or the Americas, the choice is between attending the race at Suzuka, or waking up in the early hours to watch it.

The schedule for the 2026 race can be seen below.

FRIDAY 27 MARCH

LOCAL TIME (GMT+9) | UK TIME (GMT+1) | SERIES | SESSION
09:00 | 00:00 | FERRARI CHALLENGE JAPAN | FIRST PRACTICE SESSION
11:30 | 02:30 | FORMULA 1 | FIRST PRACTICE SESSION
13:00 | 04:00 | PORSCHE CARRERA CUP JAPAN | PRACTICE SESSION
15:00 | 06:00 | FORMULA 1 | SECOND PRACTICE SESSION
16:30 | 07:30 | FERRARI CHALLENGE JAPAN | QUALIFYING

SATURDAY 28 MARCH

LOCAL TIME (GMT+9) | UK TIME (GMT+1) | SERIES | SESSION
09:55 | 00:55 | FERRARI CHALLENGE JAPAN | FIRST RACE
11:30 | 02:30 | FORMULA 1 | THIRD PRACTICE SESSION
13:00 | 04:00 | PORSCHE CARRERA CUP JAPAN | QUALIFYING
15:00 | 06:00 | FORMULA 1 | QUALIFYING

SUNDAY 29 MARCH

LOCAL TIME (GMT+9) | UK TIME (GMT+1) | SERIES | SESSION
09:40 | 00:40 | FERRARI CHALLENGE JAPAN | SECOND RACE
10:55 | 01:55 | PORSCHE CARRERA CUP JAPAN | RACE
14:00 | 05:00 | FORMULA 1 | GRAND PRIX

Support races at the Japanese F1 Grand Prix

The support races for the 2026 Japanese F1 Grand Prix include the Ferrari Challenge Japan and Porsche Carrera Cup Japan. There will be no Formula 2, Formula 3 or F1 Academy at Suzuka.

Suzuka Circuit Map

Use our handy track map to plan your trip as best you can. You can download the image or take a screenshot to have it to hand during the Grand Prix weekend.

Where is the best place to sit at the Japanese F1 Grand Prix?

It is essential to have your priorities in order when planning your trip to a Formula 1 Grand Prix. Use the map above to help you in your planning.

The Japanese Grand Prix is the cheapest Formula 1 race of the year to attend. However, Japan is a notoriously expensive country to visit, and this will be something to factor into the budget for international race goers

For many people, the best seats in the house at the Suzuka Circuit are the V1 and V2 Grandstands. This is the Main Grandstand from where you will get a good view of the start/finish, the pits and the podium. These seats will be to the higher end of the budget.

The Q1 and Q2 Grandstands are also good options at the top end of the pricing, and are among the most popular across the whole circuit. With views of the final turns (16, 17 and 18) and the famous Casino Triangle chicane, these are also among the very best seats in the house.

More budget friendly options are Sections 1, 2 and 3 in Grandstand D. Here you’ll get a view as the cars come out of turn 5 and burst into Dunlop Curve. Despite being the cheapest grandstand tickets on the calendar, these seats still provide great views of one of the most interesting sections of track.

For more detailed information on where to sit for the Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit, check out our Japanese Grand Prix Grandstand Guide.

Japan Grand Prix Grandstand Guide: where to watch the F1 race at Suzuka

Getting to Suzuka on public transport

Japan is known for its efficient infrastructure and specifically high-speed trains, so getting around the country can be easy… if not a little pricey. The Suzuka Circuit lies between the cities of Nagoya and Osaka, but most people stay in Nagoya. There are domestic flights to both cities from the major airport of Tokyo, where most intercontinental racegoers will fly into.

There are also trains between Tokyo and Nagoya which take around 2h45m.

The track is located in Inou, Suzuka City. This is the main industrial base of many large companies, such as Honda who own of the Suzuka Circuit.

Trains

The trains in Japan are notoriously efficient and quick. In terms of getting to the circuit, the best station to head for is Shiroko. This is not the closest station, but it is a direct train and linked to the track by shuttle buses, which are clearly signposted in English.

The train provider is Kintetsu and a ticket from Nagoya to Shiroko is around £11. You can buy a five-day pass for around £32, which is recommended for weekend ticket holders.

Another option is staying in Osaka, but the trains take longer and are more expensive. Osaka to Shiroko will cost about £40 return, and takes around 1h40m. Some trains you will also have to change for and you need to book at least one day in advance. The slower express train from Osaka costs just £12 but the journey takes around 2h30m.

For these reasons, Nagoya is the preferred city for racegoers to base themselves.

Taxi

In general, taxis in Japan are reliable, clean and inexpensive. Short journeys start from around £4.50. Be sure to have your address also written in Japanese somewhere so that you can show your driver.

Suzuka Circuit Track Stats

SUZUKA CIRCUIT | TRACK STATS
FIRST GRAND PRIX | 1987
LAP LENGTH | 5.807 km
LAP RECORD | 1:30.965 – Andrea Kimi Antonelli (2025)
LAPS | 53
RACE DISTANCE | 307.471 km
TURNS | 18

Where to stay at the Japanese F1 Grand Prix

Nagoya is the stand-out preference for F1 fans attending the race at Suzuka. As mentioned in the public transport section above, the wealth of accommodation options and relative proximity to the track make Nagoya the most convenient option.

Osaka could be useful in terms of flying into the airport from abroad, but you should then be prepared to undertake longer commutes to the track each day.

Here are three examples of hotels close in Nagoya, around an hour’s drive from the Suzuka Circuit,, ranging from budget to luxury options:

Nishitetsu Hotel Croom Nagoya (3-star, 60 minutes from Suzuka)

Nikko Style Nagoya (4-star, 60 minutes from Suzuka)

Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel (5-star, 65 minutes from Suzuka)

Important Information

Emergencies

110 is the number to call the police

119 is the number to call an ambulance or fire service

Good to Know

The local currency is the Japanese Yen (JPY – ¥). The exchange rate is around 1 GBP to 210 JPY. All goods and services are paid in the local currency.

The official language is Japanese.

Prohibited Items at the Suzuka Circuit

Customer Service

If you require assistance during the race weekend, feel free to contact our customer service team through the Motorsport Tickets Help Centre.

FAQs

If you have some more queries or would like more information, head over to our FAQs section.

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