The F1 Japanese Grand Prix was held in 2025 for the second time in the spring. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and just before the event, Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda announced his transfer to one of the top teams, Red Bull Racing. The total attendance over the three days for the F1 Japanese Grand Prix 2025 was 266,000, the highest since 2006. The attendance for the race on Sunday, April 6th was 115,000, 13,000 more than the previous year.
After the race, many of the spectators going home left the circuit and headed for Suzuka Circuit Ino Station on the Ise Railway, because a smartphone search showed this as the nearest station.
Suzuka Circuit Ino Station is an unmanned "stop" with a total passenger count of around 90 people per day, with no station building or automatic ticket gates. People who had just finished watching the race at Suzuka Circuit flocked there, which caused the station to become incredibly crowded. The congestion continued unabated, and Ise Railway made an urgent appeal via X to avoid using the station.

Ise Railway is a third-sector, community-based railway located between the JR Kansai Main Line and the JR Kisei Main Line, and JR's trains also run on the line. JR Central also operates extra trains during the F1 Japanese Grand Prix, but there is naturally a limit to the number of trains that can be operated at this time.

The circuit's extra shuttle bus stop heading to Kintetsu Shiroko Station also experienced heavy congestion in 2025. Waiting times sometimes exceeded two hours. While the number of people traveling to the circuit will vary, after the qualifying and the race, tens of thousands of people will be moving at once, thus making the circuit's extra shuttle bus stop inevitably crowded.

Also, in 2025, long lines formed at Shiroko Station on Fridays, when there were fewer buses than on Saturdays and Sundays. Perhaps due to the effect of Tsunoda's presence, many fans came to watch the free practice sessions.

The Mie Kotsu company operates a network of many bus routes within Mie Prefecture and beyond, including one that runs between Shiroko Station and Suzuka Circuit. Every year, during the F1 Japanese Grand Prix, the company operates numerous extra shuttle buses that go directly to the Circuit. The company's efforts to deploy its bus routes, with express buses, and even tourist buses, has led to comments on social media talking about Mie Kotsu's serious approach in 2025.
The local government has also cooperated, closing off the shopping district in front of Shiroko Station to set up a temporary shuttle bus stop and restricting traffic on some roads around the circuit.

However, the shortage of bus drivers is now a nationwide problem, with a projected shortfall of 36,000 drivers expected by fiscal 2030 (according to the Nihon Bus Association). Mie Kotsu bus routes feature a driver recruitment message on their destination displays while the buses are out of service.

Both the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), which governs motor racing events, and Formula One Management (FOM), which runs the Formula One World Championship, are actively working toward carbon neutrality. This includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with the movement of people and goods. To cooperate with the change in race dates to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated by traveling around the world, Honda Mobilityland has moved the F1 Japanese Grand Prix from autumn to April. Suzuka Circuit is also working to promote the use of public transportation to reduce CO2 emissions.

Suzuka City has a population of approximately 180,000, and more than 110,000 people gather at the circuit when the F1 Japanese Grand Prix is held. Because the city does not have extensive public transportation systems of trains, buses, subways, and trams that big cities have, and even if local governments work together to implement measures, there is a limit to how much congestion can be alleviated.

To ensure that your F1 Japanese Grand Prix experience will be a happy one and not a painful one, we will introduce recommended routes in order to help you avoid crowds as much as possible and make your travel as comfortable as possible.

• Our top recommendation is using the reserved direct bus. You are guaranteed a seat without having to wait in line, and you can get to the circuit without having to change buses/trains.
• The standard option is to take the extra shuttle bus from Kintetsu Shiroko Station. You can also walk from the station. But if you choose to walk, starting from Hiratacho Station is the better option.
• Using Suzuka Circuit Ino Station is best if you can secure a ticket for the extra limited express train. It is best to avoid return trips on Saturday and Sunday without having a ticket in advance.

Access from Nagoya and Tokyo directions

Advantages

Our top recommendation is the reserved direct bus. You can always get a seat. You don't need to change buses/trains, and you don't have to wait in line. The bus will take you directly to the circuit even if you fall asleep!

Disadvantages

Since the boarding time is set, your activities are restricted. If the schedule is delayed due to weather or other reasons, you may not be able to watch the qualifying sessions or race until the end. Also, the fare is more expensive than other forms of transportation. Furthermore, since it's a bus, there's a chance it might get caught in traffic.

In 2026, this bus service will depart from and return to Nagoya Station, Tsu Station, Kameyama Station, Gifu Station, Gifu-Hashima Station, Kasato Station, Toyotashi Station, and Higashi-Okazaki Station. Reservations are required, and details such as schedules and fares are available on the Suzuka Circuit website and elsewhere.

Advantages

Take the train from Kintetsu Nagoya Station to Shiroko Station. The Kintetsu Line has many trains, and when the F1 Japanese Grand Prix is held (in 2025, departing from Nagoya from Friday, April 4th to Sunday, April 6th), extra "Limited Express" and extra express trains will also be running. All "Limited Express" trains are comfortable with reserved reclining seats. In addition, there are express and local trains with all-non-reserved-seats. Additionally, the transfer to the extra shuttle bus departing from Shiroko Station is easy to find and inexpensive. From Shiroko Station to Suzuka Circuit is about 6 kilometers. If your amount of luggage, the weather, and your physical condition are alright, walking is also an option.
The shuttle bus back to Shiroko Station will inevitably be crowded after the qualifying sessions or the race end, but the circuit is adjacent to the Park that houses the Honda RACING Gallery and various attractions. So, if you have time, you can head to the bus stop after the busy hours have passed and avoid the stress of having to stand and wait in lines.

Disadvantages

At the end of a qualifying session or the race, many people move around at the same time, so shuttle buses to Shiroko Station are inevitably crowded. Your bus may also get caught in traffic on the roads around the circuit. Also, the circuit is large, so if you are walking there, you need to consider the distance to your seat.

Advantages

Take the train from Kintetsu Nagoya Station to Ise-Wakamatsu Station, then change trains to go to Hiratacho Station. From there, it's about 3.7 km to Suzuka Circuit. So, it's a shorter distance than from Shiroko Station to the circuit, and there are convenience stores and some eateries along the way, so you can take a break and have a meal.

Disadvantages

The "Limited Express" trains do not stop at the transfer station, Ise-Wakamatsu. Also, on the return journey, if you are heading towards Nagoya, you will be boarding a train that many F1 spectators get on at Shiroko Station, so you should be prepared for it to be crowded.

Advantages

During the F1 Japanese Grand Prix, Central Japan Raceway (JR Central) runs direct, non-stop extra "Limited Express" trains named the "Suzuka Grand Prix Express" from Nagoya to Suzuka Circuit Ino Station. This allows you to travel from Nagoya to the circuit comfortably without having to change trains. It's about a 20-minute walk from the station to the circuit, making for a fast and comfortable journey. Additionally, during the F1 Japanese Grand Prix, extra trains will be running, and some regular trains will make special stops at Suzuka Circuit Ino Station.

Disadvantages

All seats on the extra limited express trains are reserved and though reservations can be made online, tickets often sell out immediately for Saturday and Sunday when the qualifying and the race are held. Credit cards and prepaid IC cards like Suica, Pasmo, and Icoca cannot be used on the Ise Railway line. When the F1 Japanese Grand Prix is held, extra ticket gates will be set up, so you can adjust your fare at Suzuka Circuit Ino Station, but you must be prepared to wait in very long lines. Furthermore, for the return journey, this is an option to avoid if you have not secured a ticket, because the station will be crowded with many people after qualifying sessions or the race.

Access from Osaka and Kyoto directions

Advantages

Here too, our top recommendation is the reservation-based direct bus service. With this you are guaranteed a seat, there's no need to transfer, and no waiting in line. It goes directly to the circuit, so even first-time visitors to Suzuka Circuit can use it with assurance.

Disadvantages

Since the boarding time is set, the amount of time can enjoy at the circuit may be restricted. The fare is also more expensive than the other means of transportation. The traveling time is longer than direct buses departing from and returning to the Nagoya area and there is a possibility of getting caught in traffic.

In 2026, buses will depart from and return to Kyoto Station, Shin-Osaka Station, Tsu Station, Kameyama Station, Gifu Station, Gifu-Hashima Station, Kasato Station, JR Namba Station, Tsuge Station, the Kintetsu Nara Station, and the Hankyu Omiya Station. Details such as schedules and fares are available on the Suzuka Circuit website and elsewhere.

Advantages

Take the Kintetsu Line from Osaka Namba Station to Shiroko Station. Just like with access from the Nagoya and Tokyo directions, the Kintetsu Line has many trains, and the "Limited Express" trains have all-reserved reclining seats for a comfortable journey. There are also express and local trains, if you can't get on a "Limited Express" train. As mentioned above, there are extra shuttle buses that depart from Shiroko Station, and the same applies to walking.

Disadvantages

It takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes to get from Osaka to Shiroko on a Kintetsu "Limited Express" train, and the traveling time is even longer if you take an express or local train. The shuttle bus may also get caught in traffic on the roads around the circuit. On the return to Shiroko Station, it will inevitably be crowded after qualifying sessions or the race end. (However, there are amusement facilities such as the Park on the circuit grounds, so if you have time, you can head to the bus stop after the busy times have passed and avoid the stress of having to stand and wait.)

Advantages

Take the Kintetsu Line from Osaka Namba Station to Tsu Station, then transfer to the Ise Railway Line at Tsu Station and head to Suzuka Circuit Ino Station. The Kintetsu Line has many trains, and all "Limited Express" trains stop at Tsu Station. Of course, there are also regular express and local trains. The circuit is within walking distance from Suzuka Circuit Ino Station.

Disadvantages

The journey from Osaka-Namba Station to Tsu Station takes about an hour and a half even on a "Limited Express" train, and even longer on an express train. JR Central runs extra trains on the Ise Railway Line during the F1 Japanese Grand Prix, but it does not operate many trains, and each train has a small number of cars. The return journey is particularly crowded, although not as crowded as the Nagoya route, and long lines also form. Credit cards and prepaid IC cards cannot be used. When the F1 Japanese Grand Prix is held, extra ticket gates will be set up, so you can adjust your fare at Suzuka Circuit Ino Station, but you must be prepared to wait in very long lines.