No Problem Even for First-Timers! "Recommended Enjoyment Plans"

Suzuka 8 Hours is packed with various content! Of course, the venue is also spacious.

So, if it's your first time, it's normal to have lots of questions like "Where should I go?" and "What should I enjoy?"

Here, three members of the "Motorcycle Girls Club," who know the Suzuka 8 Hours well, each produce their own "ideal way to spend the Suzuka 8 Hours" for everyone. If you find a plan that sounds interesting, be sure to use it as a reference for this year!

These three people came up with the recommended plan this time!

"If allowed, I want to watch the finals at the pool!"

"Natsumi Hirashima"
She has released many motorcycle-related videos on her YouTube channel "Hashire! Nacchan Channel [Natsumi Hirashima]". She became passionate about race watching at the Suzuka 8 Hours and now watching road races is part of her daily life! From past experience, she says, "Since you put catalogs and souvenirs in it, a slightly larger bag is essential for the 8 Hours."

"Because it's endurance, let's watch and enjoy from various spots!"

"Madoka Umemoto"
Her routine during race week is to always walk one lap around the circuit perimeter at a brisk pace. She approaches the main event with the goal of "making meaningful use of the time unique to endurance racing, unlike sprint races." Every year, regardless of the weather, she arrives on site touring on her beloved Honda CB400SF.

"Get excited at 8FES on Saturday night and want to go straight to sleep!"

"Koharu Kuroe"
A 19-year-old who watched the Suzuka 8 Hours for the first time in 2024. Originally, she became interested in race watching after being taken by her brother on a touring trip to her hometown Autopolis to watch the All Japan Road Race, and became captivated by road racing. Last year, she fully enjoyed everything from the spectator stands to the amusement park, and this year she is looking forward to the shaved ice in the amusement park area more than anyone else.

*The schedule and content are based on the 2024 Suzuka 8 Hours. Please note that the times and content may differ in 2025. Thank you for your understanding.

Natsumi Hirashima's Ideal Schedule: "A Plan to Fully Enjoy the Suzuka 8 Hours!"

■August 1 (Fri) Qualifying

• 12:00

  (Departing early morning from my home in Tokyo) Arrived at SUZUKA CIRCUIT. First, watch the official qualifying session.

• 13:00

  Enjoy gourmet food from team collaborations. Purchase merchandise.

• 13:50

  Pit Walk

• 14:40

  To the park. MOTO Fighter, Duel GP, and Soaking Wet Ride Time are a must!

• 16:00

  On the first day, leave the circuit early and head to the hotel! Enjoy gourmet food in Suzuka city

• 18:00

  Eat lots of chicken wings (80 yen) at "**" in Hirata Town to prepare for tomorrow
  
  *We will withhold this information as it may cause inconvenience to the store...

• 9:00 PM

  Check in to the hotel, go to bed

■August 2 (Sat) TOP10 Trial

• 8:30

  Arrived at SUZUKA CIRCUIT. Conquer the manufacturer booths behind the Grandstand.

• 11:30

  Have an early lunch and enjoy the collaborative gourmet dishes of the team and Riders.

• 12:10

  Pit Walk (Areas not visited on Fri)

• 13:10

  Resting in the shade while heading to the thrilling area on the inside of Turn 2

• 14:15

  Enjoy Free Practice in the Exciting Sensation Area!
  Decide where to watch the TOP10 trial
  *During this time, if you walk behind the pits, you might pass by the racers.

• 15:30

  TOPTO Trial
  * Seats near the speakers are recommended! (In the TOP10 Trial, the drivers choose their favorite theme songs and run while playing them. Sitting near the speakers makes it easier to hear the songs chosen by the drivers.)

• 17:00

  Taking a break. Probably going to sleep.

• 18:00

  View the Eve Festival from the Circuit Wheel (Ferris wheel).

• 19:30

  I want to go to the Night Pit Walk, but since tomorrow is the main event, I need to consider my stamina...

• 23:00

  Return to the hotel, soak in the bathtub, and sleep peacefully

■August 3 (Sun) Final

• 8:00

  Arrival at Suzuka Circuit

• 8:30

  Watch the warm-up run (a run before the race for machine checks and course confirmation) and check the condition of your favorite drivers and teams

• 9:30

  Join the Pit Walk or wander around the paddock to enjoy the unique festival atmosphere of the 8-hour endurance race. It's also fun to check out the teams' hospi (each team's base set up behind the pits)!

• 11:15

  Move to the Grandstand seating area and get ready to watch the start scene.

• 11:30

  Finally, the start! Probably will cry.

• 12:30

  Watch the race for one hour for now.
  Afterwards, heading towards the pool, we took out lunch from the catering car.

• 13:00

  Cool off in the Adventure River (lazy pool) while watching the final race on a large monitor.

• 14:30

  To the 8FES Venue!

• 15:30

  Explore the booths at GP Square

• 16:00

  Nap

• 16:30

  Return to the Grandstand to watch. Cheer on the Rider's final sprint!

• 19:30

  Goal. Surely moved by the fireworks…
  Afterwards, join the course walk and take lots of photos

• 9:00 PM

  Return to Tokyo by last train

Madoka Umemoto's Ideal Schedule: "A Plan to Fully Enjoy the Race!"

■August 1 (Fri) Qualifying

• 8:00

  Arrive at SUZUKA CIRCUIT. Get the "official program" and desired goods while heading from the Main Gate toward GP Square.
  From there, walk slowly to the L Area (a viewing spot in the West Area) while watching the free practice, and check out places where you want to eat or rest along the way!

• 10:30

  Return to GP Square, check out the booths, and when the timing is right and it's not crowded, ride the 'GP Racers'!

• 11:45

  Move from Turn 1 side toward the D seats area.

• 12:00

  While eating lunch bought at a nearby shop during the break, watched the first qualifying session from Seat D.

• 1:30 PM

  Return from the reverse bank tunnel toward the park area, and if available, enjoy the Honda RACING Gallery and Circuit Wheel (Ferris wheel), or explore the booths at GP Square.

• 15:30

  Move to Seat A and watch the second qualifying round from Seat A.

• 17:00

  Return to GP Square for a light meal.

• 6:30 PM

  Return to Seat A and watch the night practice for 30 minutes.

• 7:00 PM

  Move to the R seats and watch the remaining night practice.

• 19:30

  Move to the hotel and rest early.

■August 2 (Sat) TOP10 Trial

• 9:00

  Arrived at Suzuka Circuit.
  First, get Suzuka 8 Hours limited souvenirs and the goods you want.
  Then, if you have time, enjoy a morning at Bun Bun Pancake Shop.

• 10:00

  To GP Square.
  At each booth, a Rider talk show is held every year during this time slot, so if you want to hear the Rider's real voice!

• 11:30

  Watch the trial performance in the 8FES! area. If the time is different this year, check out the NANKAI Village booth and come back.

• 12:10

  Participate in the Pit Walk. This time seems to be when the Riders are most relaxed, so the fan service might be better?

• 13:10

  Enjoy gourmet food collaborations between motorcycle manufacturers and the 8-hour endurance race, or take a stroll through NANKAI Village.

• 14:15

  Move to Seat A and watch the Free Practice (practice run). Here, don't go too far and rest your body while watching the circuit vision.

• 3:00 PM

  Move from Seat A to Seat R. While you're at it, buy gelato at 'GRAN VIEW' near Seat R!

• 15:30

  Watch the TOP10 Trial from the R seats.

• 17:00

  After the TOP10 Trial, explore GP Square, 8FES!, and NANKAI Village.

• 18:00

  Participate in the eve festival. After it ends, head to the hotel early to prepare for the final race.

■August 3 (Sun) Final

• 8:00

  Arrived at Suzuka Circuit.

• 8:30

  Watch the warm-up run (a run for machine checks and course confirmation before the final) from the R seats.

• 9:15

  Move to WATER PARK AQUA ADVENTURE (pool). Refresh yourself by getting wet. Afterwards, stroll around the shops.

• 10:30

  Move to the R seats and watch the start procedure (a series of steps such as the ceremony before the final race starts and race preparations).

• 11:30

  Watch the start of the Suzuka 8 Hours live from the R seats!

• 12:00

  After watching for 30 minutes, move to Seat I at the Hairpin. Of course, watch while moving!

• 12:30

  Watching the race while enjoying gourmet food near Seat I, which we scouted on Friday.

• 13:00

  Filming the race at 200R. Then, while heading to the L area, enjoy the sound of the machines from the passage close to the course♪

• 14:00

  Watch from L Area.

• 14:30

  Watch the race while slowly heading back to GP Square.

• 15:30

  If there is a final race commentary talk show at the GP Square booth, watch it while taking a break.
  Then move to WATER PARK AQUA ADVENTURE to cool off with a splash.

• 16:45

  Move around the first corner side and proceed to Seat D.

• 17:00

  Watching from Seat D.

• 18:00

  Watch the race while walking behind Section E seats, then pass through the reverse bank tunnel to Section R seats.

• 6:30 PM

  1 hour left, watch the finish from the R seats!

• 19:30

  If the Circuit Wheel behind the R seats is available, enjoy the fireworks after the race from there.
  Join the course walk once the course is open.
  After it's over, head home while soaking in the afterglow...

Koharu Kuroe's Ideal Schedule: 'Enjoy Summer to the Fullest! A Plan for Free Enjoyment!'

■August 1 (Fri) Qualifying

• 10:00

  Arrived at Suzuka Circuit.

• 10:30

  Move around the park slowly while scouting. Purchase your favorite goods and official programs.

• 12:00

  Lunch at the restaurant inside Yukkuri Park.

• 1:30 PM

  Participate in the Pit Walk.

• 3:00 PM

  Enjoy summer at WATER PARK AQUA ADVENTURE (pool)!

• 17:30

  Take a break at the park restaurant.

• 18:00

  Visit the booths in GP Square and the 8FES area.

• 7:00 PM

  Light dinner at the on-site food stalls.

• 20:30

  Move to the hotel and get a good night's rest to prepare for Saturday.

■August 2 (Sat) TOP10 Trial

• 7:00

  Wake up and have breakfast.

• 8:00

  Arrived at Suzuka Circuit.
  Move to GP Square.

• 9:00

  GP Square, 8FES! Visit various booths that you couldn't get to on Friday, such as the area and more.

• 12:00

  Participate in the Pit Walk. Visit the areas you couldn't get to during Friday's Pit Walk.

• 13:00

  Lunch. Eat "Suzuka meals" such as "Suzukara."

• 14:00

  Play in the park. If I have time, I want to ride the GP Racers.

• 15:30

  Watch the TOP10 Trial.

• 17:00

  To the paddock. Taking a walk around various areas and taking photos.

• 18:00

  To the 8FES! area. Hope there's a live show... Enjoy various foods too.

• 19:30

  In preparation for Sunday, don't watch the entire eve festival and head to the hotel... Take a shower, rest early, and get ready for tomorrow!

■August 3 (Sun) Final

• 7:30

  Wake up. It's nice to have a buffet breakfast... if not, convenience store food will do.

• 9:00

  Arrived at Suzuka Circuit.

• 9:30

  Take a walk around the venue, then move to find a spot to watch the start.

• 10:00

  While moving around, check if you forgot to buy any goods. Also, secure drinks for the final race.

• 11:00

  Get ready to watch the start from the viewing area.

• 11:30

  Race start! Cheering starts too! Cheering continues until around early afternoon.

• 13:00

  Get lunch at a food stall. Eat leisurely.

• 3:00 PM

  Watch the race from various free seating areas, moving to different spots as you continue to watch.

• 17:00

  Cheer hard for your favorite team in the second half of the season!

• 19:15

  Enjoy the excitement right before the finish line to the fullest!

• 19:30

  Finally the goal! I want to see the fireworks and award ceremony.

• 9:00 PM

  I will avoid busy times and go home.