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Why go?

Japan remains one of the most exotic destinations on the Formula One calendar. Tokyo is one of the most exciting and lively cities in the world, juxtaposed with rural Japan, which is a chaotic mix of total isolation and dense population. The mountains, particularly in the north of the country, are stunning but uninhabitable. The flatter areas of central and southern Japan have to house most of the country’s 127 million people and the bulk of its agriculture.

Fuji Speedway returned to the F1 calendar in 2007. Prior to that the track last staged a Grand Prix in 1977, since when it was bought by the Toyota Corporation and given a complete facelift. Track designer Hermann Tilke tried to maintain the spirit of the Speedway's original layout - specifically, its unique one-mile pit straight - while updating its safety features and facilities.

Fuji Speedway is located 100 kilometres from Tokyo, Japan’s capital city, and is overlooked by one of Japan's most famous landmarks, Mount Fuji. At 3,776 metres, Fuji is the highest peak in Japan and one of the country's most popular tourist attractions.

The Speedway is within easy reach of Japan's three largest cities – Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya - and the local prefecture of Shizuoka is regarded as the cradle of Japan's automobile industry. Sakichi Toyota and Soichiro Honda, the founders of Toyota Corporation and Honda Motor Corporation respectively, were born there and Toyota's global headquarters are just 30 minutes' drive from the Speedway.

"We are very excited to welcome Formula One to Fuji Speedway," says Hiroaki Kato, the track's President. "It was our dream since Toyota bought 93 percent of the Speedway in 2000. We tried to retain the characteristics of the old track layout and we think it provides an interesting challenge for the teams and drivers."

Did you know? Mount Fuji is a dormant volcano. It last erupted in 1708.

Transport

Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka airports are all within easy reach of Fuji Speedway. A new airport is being built just one-hour from the track, but that won’t become operational until 2009.

The approach to the Speedway can be made by road or rail, and to give you some idea of timings, both journeys take about two hours from Tokyo. If you’re coming by train, the stations closest to the Speedway are at Mishima, Shin-Fuji, Fuji Express Highland Station and Daiyuzan. From all of these stations, the race organisers lay on free shuttle buses to the track. For car users, there is off-site parking available, again with free shuttle buses laid on.
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Useful tips

Fuji Speedway lends itself to a general admission ticket. It's a relatively short lap (4.5 kilometres) and just under half of that distance is the pit straight. As a result, most of the lap is slow and twisty, making it possible to see a lot while walking only a short distance.

Much of the Fuji pit straight has grandstands running down the left-hand side. Prices vary depending on your seat position, with the most expensive seats being the ones that all the Formula One personnel - including the drivers - have to walk by en route to the paddock.

If travelling to the track by train, don’t be late to the station because the trains in Japan are the most prompt and efficient in the world.
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You can keep up to speed with all the action throughout the weekend by hiring a Kangaroo TV handset at the circuit, which offers access to several channels of live video, audio and data content.

Where to go?

As well as Mount Fuji itself, there are many lakes and hot springs in the prefecture of Shizuoka that make it one of Japan's most visited areas.

"When I was racing in Japan," says McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa, "I used to live near Fuji. It's a fantastic area, with lots to see and do. The friends that came to stay with us used to love the hot springs, which are located all over the place. I'm excited to go back there."

Then, of course, there’s Tokyo, one of the most vibrant (and expensive) cities in the world. There are restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets, and you could try visiting Shinjuku, the entertainment, shopping and business district, or the Imperial Palace, the Tsukiji Fish Market (the largest of its kind in the world) or the Tokyo Tower, which is a staggering 333 metres high.

Where to stay?

The majority of the F1 paddock are put up in one of the local towns of Gotemba, Lake Yamanakako, Sengokuhara and Numazu. These are all bustling places, with many different restaurants from all over the world. But if you prefer the sound and vibrancy of Tokyo, just 100 kilometres away, it's a commutable distance by train.
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Extended stay

"While you're in Japan," says De la Rosa, "you must pay Tokyo a visit. It's a brilliant city, with so much to see and do. There are some of the best restaurants in the world there. Other than that, I'd have to point you in the direction of the hot springs in and around Mount Fuji. They are great, and very cleansing."

A bit further away are the delights of Kyoto, the cultural centre of Japan. The city contains more than 1600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines, all of which miraculously survived the blanket bombing of the surrounding area in World War II.
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Enthusiasts only

For those of you who miss Suzuka (from 2009 the race will alternate between there and Fuji), you could pay the former Japanese Grand Prix hosts a visit. "The actual racing on a Sunday afternoon is better at Fuji," says former F1 star Tora Takagi, "thanks to the long pit straight. But Suzuka is one of the most challenging circuits in the world. It's a pleasure to drive there." And a pleasure to visit, with its adjoining theme park.

You could also visit Motegi, a track owned by Honda, east of Tokyo. The facility boasts a road course, an oval and a fascinating museum of all of Honda’s racing machinery throughout the years.