Starting to plan a trip to attend the 2016 Suzuka GP. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to stay? Also want to site see around Japan. What do you suggest to see and do? I would like to spend time in Tokyo and Hiroshima. Any suggestions would be great! Brian
Stay in Yokkaichi town centre – it's where the teams stay and a quick, easy train ride (15 minutes) to the circuit. Plenty of good restaurants, including a five-storey place specialising in crab dishes only! From Yokkaichi station, you can also take a bullet train (two hours with a change in Nagoya) to Kyoto, the famed city of Zen temples. With a good guide to the sites and taking taxis, you can visit half a dozen of the best temples in a day trip. Tokyo and Hiroshima are quite a bit further away and less inspiring in my book.
Thanks for the info Peter. I'll be flying in from Hawaii and Tokyo is an easy direct flight. I've never been to Japan so looking to experience some of the culture. Any hotel suggestions for Yokkaichi? Kyoto sounds interesting. I'll look into that. I want to visit Hiroshima for the historical aspect. I'm kind of a WWII history buff. Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated. I want to make the most of this trip.
As part of your time in Tokyo, try going to Mt Fuji on the weekend if the weather is good (the fall weather can be gorgeous or typhoon conditions). You can enjoy the fall colours, hike in the national park for views of the mountain, or hang out around Lake Yamanakako. There are places to stay in Gotemba. If you have time for more than a day trip to Kyoto, give it 2-3 days. You could also visit Nara, the first capital of Japan (Kyoto was next, then Tokyo), where you can really see the transition from Chinese to Japanese culture, religion, and architecture. I think you can get a Japan Rail tourist pass for the Shinkansen (bullet train) which is a great way to travel between the major cities. Driving can be a pain (driving on the left, remember) with awful traffic in the urban areas.
Peter, Thanks for all of the great info. Definitely a help in planning the trip. Have you been to Suzuka? Any suggestions on where to sit for the race?
I've been to Suzuka several times, but always working the race, so ironically my spectating experience there is limited. I can say it's worth watching some of practice or qualifying at the 130R turn, which is an Eau Rouge-level bravery test. Otherwise, the circuit website has photos of the view from each grandstand on its ticket order page. I would also choose a stand with a 'super screen' opposite.
Tickets are purchased for the main grandstand. The hotels are filling up already. Many aren't even taking reservations yet. Any suggestions?
