When is the F1 Japanese Grand Prix held?

The Japanese Grand Prix is held at Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture on the cherry blossom weekend — typically late March or early April. The race was moved from its traditional autumn slot to a spring date starting in 2024 (2024 and 2025 races were in early April; the 2026 GP took place March 27–29).

Which Japanese car museums require advance booking?

Nissan Heritage Collection, Subaru Visitor Center, Mazda Museum and Suzuki Plaza Museum all require advance reservation — and the Nissan, Subaru and Suzuki booking sites are Japanese-language only. Toyota Kaikan is walk-in (Mon–Sat). Honda Collection Hall is walk-in via Mobility Resort Motegi.

How do I visit the Daikoku Futo Parking Area car meets?

Daikoku PA is located on the Shuto Expressway in Yokohama and is accessed by driving in via the expressway. Taxis can drop you off but cannot pick you up. The best options are a rental car or a licensed JDM tour.

Can I still take a factory tour at Toyota Kaikan?

No — Toyota Motor Corporation plant tours at the Motomachi, Takaoka and Tsutsumi plants have been suspended since 2021, with no announced resumption date. Toyota Kaikan itself remains open as a museum showcasing current Toyota and Lexus models, concept vehicles, and exhibits across its themed zones. Toyota also offers an online virtual plant tour on its corporate site.

Can I drive the Fuji Subaru Line up to Mt. Fuji in summer?

Not in your own vehicle. During Mt. Fuji's official climbing season (typically early July through September 10), private cars are restricted from the Fuji Subaru Line and a shuttle bus runs from the Fuji-Hokuroku parking area to the 5th Station.

How long will Nissan's Oppama factory tour be available?

Nissan announced in July 2025 that vehicle production at the Oppama Plant in Yokosuka will end by March 2028. The 90-minute weekday factory tour is available until then, but it is Japanese-language only and requires booking approximately three months in advance.

Do I need an International Driving Permit to drive in Japan?

Yes. Visitors from countries that are parties to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and most of Europe) can drive in Japan for up to one year using an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued in their home country before departure. Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco, Slovenia and Taiwan use a different system — a certified Japanese translation of the home licence. IDPs cannot be issued inside Japan, so arrange this before you fly.

When is the best time to plan a Japan car trip?

Late March to early April overlaps with the F1 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka and cherry blossom season. Late May brings WRC Rally Japan to Aichi and Gifu. October and early November are ideal for tōge driving, with dry weather and autumn foliage. Golden Week (late April to early May) sees heavy crowds at roads, expressway rest areas and car museums. Winter (December–February) brings snow to mountain roads including the Fuji Subaru Line, Hakone and Irohazaka.

Is Rally Japan really in May 2026 instead of November?

Yes. The 2026 FIA World Rally Championship calendar repositions Rally Japan from its traditional November slot to May 28–31, 2026, swapping dates with Rally Italy. The WRC Promoter cited sporting reasons — the May slot breaks up a long sequence of gravel rallies and reduces the road-sweeping disadvantage for early championship leaders. The service park remains at Toyota Stadium in Toyota City, Aichi.

Japan Auto Trip 2026 · 23 Spots + 3 Routes

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🏭 TOYOTA KAIKAN 🏁 SUZUKA CIRCUIT 🏛️ TOYOTA AUTO MUSEUM 🌀 HAKONE TURNPIKE 🗻 IROHAZAKA — NIKKŌ 🏎️ HONDA COLLECTION HALL 🏍️ MOBILITY RESORT MOTEGI 🔧 LIBERTY WALK HQ 🚗 NISSAN GALLERY

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23DESTINATIONS

NAGOYA BASE → TOYOTA CITY → OWARIASAHI → NAGAKUTE → HAMAMATSU → SUZUKA

CHŪBU & KANSAI

SUZUKA

SUPER SUZUKA

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PREFS

NIGHTS

1–2

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TOYOTA KAIKAN

TOYOTA CITY, AICHI · ~50 MIN FROM NAGOYA

STOP 01

Museum at Toyota global HQ. Current models, concepts, and themed exhibits on manufacturing, mobility, and safety. Plant tours suspended since 2021.

🌐 SITE 📍 MAP

🏮

LIBERTY WALK HQ

OWARIASAHI, AICHI · MEITETSU SETO LINE

STOP 02

Widebody tuner HQ ~40 min train east of Nagoya. 50+ demo builds on display outside the showroom. Exterior visits welcome, photos OK. Cars rotate — every visit is different.

🌐 SITE 📍 MAP

🏛️

TOYOTA AUTO MUSEUM

NAGAKUTE, AICHI · LINIMO LINE

STOP 03

~140 global vehicles tracing ~130 years of automotive history across a multi-floor gallery — world cars, not just Toyota. Separate cultural annex with posters, mascots and miniatures. On-site café. Easy half-day.

🌐 SITE 📍 MAP

💛

SUZUKI PLAZA MUSEUM

HAMAMATSU, SHIZUOKA · ~1H15 FROM NAGOYA

STOP 04

Suzuki's company museum covering motorcycles, cars and marine engines across the brand's full history. Advance reservation required (JP-language site). Easy Shinkansen stop en route from Nagoya toward Tokyo.

🌐 SITE 📍 MAP

🏎️

SUZUKA CIRCUIT

SUZUKA, MIE · ~55 MIN FROM NAGOYA

STOP 05

Honda-owned figure-8 circuit that hosts the F1 Japan GP on the cherry-blossom weekend. Circuit tours and the on-site Motopia theme park run year-round. Traditional grand-finale stop of the SUPER SUZUKA tour.

🌐 SITE 📍 MAP

🌲

RALLY JAPAN

TOYOTA STADIUM, AICHI · WRC · LATE MAY

EVENT

FIA World Rally Championship round. Forest stages through the mountains; service park at Toyota Stadium. 2026 edition: May 28–31.

📍 MAP · TOYOTA STADIUM

COLLECTIONS · HERITAGE HALLS · WORLD-CLASS EXHIBITS

🏛️ CAR MUSEUMS

SITES

BRAND HQs

EN TOUR

1 / 5

MAZDA ONLY

BOOKING

3 / 5

JP SITES

🏎️HONDA COLLECTION HALLHONDA HQ

MOTEGI, TOCHIGI

~170 curated Honda cars, bikes and racing machines. Reopened March 2024 after full renovation.

🌐 SITE MAP

🌟NISSAN HERITAGE COLL.RESERVATION

ZAMA CITY, KANAGAWA

~450 Nissans preserved; reservation-only (JP-language site); ~90-min visit

🌐 SITE MAP

🚙SUBARU VISITOR CENTERMUSEUM

ŌTA CITY, GUNMA

Visitor center + Yajima plant tour; reservation (JP site) required, tour is JP-only

🌐 SITE MAP

🔵MAZDA MUSEUMMAZDA HQ

HIROSHIMA CITY

Hiroshima factory museum covering Mazda history. Booking required; English-language tours available.

🌐 SITE MAP

💛SUZUKI PLAZA MUSEUMSUZUKI HQ

HAMAMATSU, SHIZUOKA

Motorcycles, cars and marine engines from Suzuki's full history. Advance reservation required (JP site)

🌐 SITE MAP

PURPOSE-BUILT RACETRACKS · MOTORSPORT VENUES

🏁 RACE CIRCUITS

TRACKS

NATIONAL

SERIES

F1·MotoGP

WEC·GT

F1 HOST

SUZUKA

MAR–OCT

🏎️SUZUKA CIRCUITF1 JAPAN

SUZUKA CITY, MIE

Honda-owned figure-8 circuit; hosts the F1 Japan GP annually

🌐 SITE MAP

🏍️MOBILITY RESORT MOTEGIMotoGP

MOTEGI, TOCHIGI

Honda-built road course; 170-vehicle Collection Hall on site; MotoGP host

🌐 SITE MAP

🌋FUJI SPEEDWAYWEC / GT

OYAMA, SHIZUOKA

Toyota-owned track at Mt. Fuji's base; hosts WEC and Super GT

🌐 SITE MAP

🏁OKAYAMA CIRCUITSUPER GT

MIMASAKA, OKAYAMA

Compact 3.7km road course; hosts Super Formula and Super GT

🌐 SITE MAP

🌋AUTOPOLIS CIRCUITKYUSHU

HITA, ŌITA, KYŪSHŪ

Mountain circuit in Kyushu; hosts Super GT and Super Formula rounds

🌐 SITE MAP

TUNER SHOPS · DRIFT HOMES · NIGHT MEETS · FACTORIES

⚙️ JDM CULTURE

SITES

ICONIC

NIGHT

DAIKOKU

MEETS

DRIFT

EBISU

D1GP

🌀D1GP — EBISU CIRCUITDRIFT ORIGIN

NIHONMATSU, FUKUSHIMA

Seven-track + two-skidpad complex; home of Japan's D1GP South course

🌐 SITE MAP

🌃DAIKOKU FUTO PAICONIC VENUE

YOKOHAMA, KANAGAWA

Iconic highway rest stop famous for spontaneous nightly car meets. Expressway-only access.

🌐 SITE MAP

🔥OPPAMA PLANT — NISSANGT-R BIRTHPLACE

YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA

90-min factory tour (weekdays, JP-only). Vehicle production ends March 2028.

🌐 SITE MAP

LEGENDARY MOUNTAIN PASSES · DRIVING ROUTES

🏔️ TŌGE ROADS

ROUTES

LEGENDARY

TRANSPORT

RENTAL

CAR ONLY

AS SEEN IN

INITIAL D

MANGA · ANIME

🏔️HAKONE TURNPIKEAS SEEN IN: INITIAL D

HAKONE, KANAGAWA

15km mountain road; popular sports car driving route

🌐 SITE MAP

🌀IROHAZAKA — NIKKŌAS SEEN IN: INITIAL D

NIKKŌ CITY, TOCHIGI

48 hairpins climbing to Lake Chūzenji. Public road

🌐 SITE MAP

🗻FUJI SUBARU LINESCENIC DRIVE

FUJIYOSHIDA, YAMANASHI

Mountain road ascending Mt. Fuji's north face to 5th station. No private cars Jul–early Sep

🌐 SITE MAP

FLAGSHIP BRAND EXPERIENCES · WALK-IN · ENGLISH-FRIENDLY

🚗 SHOWROOMS

VENUES

FLAGSHIP

ACCESS

WALK-IN

+ EXTERIOR DISPLAY

LOCATION

KANTŌ

TOKYO + YOKOHAMA

🔵NISSAN GALLERYGLOBAL HQ

YOKOHAMA, KANAGAWA

Walk-in showroom at Nissan's Yokohama global headquarters

🌐 SITE MAP

👑CENTURY STUDIO — AOYAMATOYOTA CENTURY

AOYAMA, TOKYO

Toyota's Century brand studio; opened Feb 2026 as a window-only exterior display

🌐 SITE MAP

⭐SUBARU STAR SQUARESUBARU HQ

EBISU, TOKYO

Subaru HQ showroom with current models and goods

🌐 SITE MAP

NEARBY AIRPORT · FLIGHT PLANNING

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✈️HANEDA

HND · TOKYO

20–30 min to Kantō auto zone (Aoyama, Ebisu, Yokohama Minatomirai, Zama, Daikoku Futō). ~100 min to Nagoya via Tōkaidō Shinkansen. Closest international gateway to Hakone, Fuji Speedway, and Fuji Subaru Line.

MAP

✈️CENTRAIR

NGO · NAGOYA

Central Nagoya is within ~1 hour of Toyota Kaikan, Liberty Walk HQ, Toyota Auto Museum, Suzuki Plaza, and Suzuka Circuit.

MAP

✈️NARITA

NRT · CHIBA

~60 min to central Tokyo via Narita Express or Keisei Skyliner. Primary international long-haul hub, serving all 3 routes.

MAP

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by JAPAN.GG· japan.gg/auto

Japan Auto Trip Guide 2026: F1 Suzuka, JDM, Tōge & Car Museums

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