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

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

So, it’s natural for first-timers to be full of questions like, "Where should I go?" and "What should I enjoy?"

That’s why three members of the “Motorcycle Girls Club,” who know the Suzuka 8 Hours well, have each produced 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 this year!

These are the three people who came up with the recommended plans this time!

"If allowed, I’d like to watch the finals from the pool!"

Natsumi Hirashima
She regularly posts many motorcycle-related videos on her YouTube channel "Hashire! Nacchan-neru [Natsumi Hirashima]". She discovered her passion for 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 a must for the 8 Hours."

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

‘Madoka Umemoto’
During race week, it’s her routine to always take a brisk walk around the circuit perimeter at least once. She approaches the main event with the goal of making meaningful use of the unique time that endurance racing offers, unlike sprint races. Every year, regardless of the weather, she arrives on site touring on her beloved Honda CB400SF.

“I want to get hyped up at 8FES on Saturday night and then just go straight to sleep!”

“Koharu Kuroe”
A 19-year-old who watched the Suzuka 8 Hours for the first time in 2024. She originally became interested in race watching after being taken by her older brother to see the All Japan Road Race at her hometown Autopolis during a touring trip, and has since become captivated by road racing. Last year, she fully enjoyed everything from the spectator stands to the amusement park, and this year she’s 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 details may differ in 2025. Thank you for your understanding.

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

■August 1 (Fri) Qualifying

• 12:00 p.m.

  (Depart early morning from home in Tokyo) Arrive at SUZUKA CIRCUIT. First, watch the official qualifying session.

• 1:00 PM

  Enjoy team collaboration gourmet food. Purchase merchandise.

• 1:50 p.m.

  Pit Walk

• 2:40 PM

  To the park. Don’t miss MOTO Fighter, Duel GP, and the soaking wet ride time!

• 4:00 p.m.

  Leave the circuit early on the first day and head to the hotel! Enjoy the gourmet food of Suzuka city

• 6:00 p.m.

  Eat lots of chicken wings (80 yen) at “**” in Hiratacho to prepare for tomorrow
  
  *The name is withheld to avoid causing trouble for the shop…

• 9:00 p.m.

  Check in at the hotel and go to bed

■August 2 (Sat) TOP 10 Trial

• 8:30

  Suzuka Circuit arrival. Conquer the manufacturer booths behind the Grandstand.

• 11:30

  Have an early lunch and enjoy the team and Rider collaboration gourmet dishes.

• 12:10 p.m.

  Pit Walk (places you couldn’t visit on Friday)

• 1:10 p.m.

  Rest in the shade while heading to the intense-sensation area on the inside of Turn 2

• 2:15 p.m.

  Enjoy the Free Practice in the intense-sensation area!
  Decide where to watch the TOP 10 Trial
  *At this time, you might pass by riders while walking behind the pits?

• 3:30 p.m.

  TOP10 Trial
  * Seats near the speakers are recommended! (In the TOP10 Trial, riders choose their favorite theme songs and ride while the music plays. Sitting near the speakers makes it easier to hear the songs they picked.)

• 5:00 PM

  Take a break for a while. Probably going to sleep.

• 6:00 p.m.

  Watch the eve festival from the Circuit Wheel (Ferris wheel).

• 7:30 p.m.

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

• 11:00 p.m.

  Return to the hotel, soak in the bathtub, and get a good rest.

■August 3 (Sun) Race Day

• 8:00

  Arrive at SUZUKA CIRCUIT

• 8:30

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

• 9:30

  Join the Pit Walk or wander around the paddock to enjoy the unique festival atmosphere of the Suzuka 8 Hours. It’s also fun to check out the team hospis (each team’s base set up behind the pits)!

• 11:15 a.m.

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

• 11:30

  Finally, the start! I’ll probably cry.

• 12:30

  Watch the race for about an hour.
  Then head to the pool while picking up lunch from a catering truck.

• 1:00 PM

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

• 2:30 PM

  Head to the 8FES venue!

• 3:30 p.m.

  Explore the booths at GP Square

• 4:00 p.m.

  Nap

• 4:30 p.m.

  Return to the Grandstand to watch the race. Cheer on the riders’ final sprint!

• 7:30 p.m.

  Finish. Surely moved by the fireworks…
  Then join the course walk and take lots of photos 

• 9:00 p.m.

  Arrive at Kintetsu Shiroko Station by 9:00 p.m. and take the last Shinkansen (departing from Nagoya) back to Tokyo

Madoka Umemoto’s Ideal Schedule: “Plan to Fully Enjoy the Race!”

■August 1 (Fri) Qualifying

• 8:00

  Arrive at SUZUKA CIRCUIT. Get the "Official Program" and any desired goods while heading from the Main Gate toward GP Square.
  From there, slowly walk 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 to check out the booths, and when the timing is right and it’s not crowded, ride the 'GP Racers'!

• 11:45 a.m.

  Move from the 1st corner side toward the D seats area.

• 12:00 p.m.

  Watch the first qualifying session from Seat D while eating lunch bought from a nearby shop during the break.

• 1:30 PM

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

• 3:30 p.m.

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

• 5:00 PM

  Return to GP Square for a light snack.

• 6:30 p.m.

  Return to Seat A and watch 30 minutes of night practice.

• 7:00 p.m.

  Move to Seat R and watch the remainder of the night practice.

• 7:30 p.m.

  Move to the hotel and rest early.

■August 2 (Sat) TOP 10 Trial

• 9:00

  Arrive at SUZUKA CIRCUIT.
  First, get Suzuka 8 Hours limited souvenirs and desired goods. 
  If you have time afterward, enjoy breakfast at Bun Bun Pancake Shop.

• 10:00

  To GP Square.
  At each booth, rider talk shows are held every year during this time, so if you want to hear the riders’ real voices!

• 11:30

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

• 12:10 p.m.

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

• 1:10 p.m.

  Enjoy collaboration gourmet food from motorcycle manufacturers and the Suzuka 8 Hours, or stroll around NANKAI Village.

• 2:15 p.m.

  Move to the A Stand and watch the free practice sessions. Stay nearby without going too far, and rest while watching the circuit vision screen.

• 3:00 p.m.

  Move from the A Stand to the R Stand. While there, buy gelato at "GRAN VIEW" near the R Stand!

• 3:30 p.m.

  Watch the TOP 10 Trial from the R seats.

• 5:00 PM

  After the TOP10 Trial ends, take a stroll around GP Square, 8FES!, and NANKAI Village.

• 6:00 p.m.

  Attend the eve festival. After it ends, head to the hotel early to prepare for the final.

■August 3 (Sun) Race Day

• 8:00

  Arrive at SUZUKA CIRCUIT.

• 8:30

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

• 9:15 a.m.

  Move to WATER PARK AQUA ADVENTURE (pool). Refresh yourself by splashing water. Afterwards, stroll leisurely around the shops.

• 10:30

  Move to the R seats and watch the start procedure (a series of steps including the pre-race ceremony and race preparations).

• 11:30

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

• 12:00 p.m.

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

• 12:30

  Watch the race while enjoying the gourmet food near Seat I that you scoped out on Friday.

• 1:00 PM

  Shoot the race at 200R. Then, head toward the L area while enjoying the sound of the machines from the walkway close to the course♪

• 2:00 p.m.

  Watch from the L area.

• 2:30 PM

  Watch while slowly heading back to GP Square.

• 3:30 p.m.

  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.

• 4:45 p.m.

  Go around the 1st corner side and move to the D seats.

• 5:00 PM

  Watch from Seat D.

• 6:00 p.m.

  Watch the race while walking behind the E seats, then pass through the Spoon Curve tunnel to the R seats.

• 6:30 p.m.

  Watch the final hour from the R seats until the finish!

• 7:30 p.m.

  If the Circuit Wheel behind the R seats is available, enjoy the post-race fireworks from there.
  When the course is opened, join the course walk.
  After it’s over, head home while soaking in the lingering atmosphere…

Koharu Kuroe’s Ideal Schedule: "Enjoy Summer to the Fullest! A Plan for Free and Easy Fun!"

■August 1 (Fri) Qualifying

• 10:00

  Arrive at SUZUKA CIRCUIT.

• 10:30

  Take a leisurely walk around the park to familiarize yourself with the area. Purchase your favorite merchandise and the official program.

• 12:00 p.m.

  Enjoy a leisurely lunch at a restaurant inside the park.

• 1:30 PM

  Participate in the Pit Walk.

• 3:00 p.m.

  Enjoy summer at WATER PARK AQUA ADVENTURE (pool)!

• 5:30 p.m.

  Take a break at a restaurant inside the park.

• 6:00 p.m.

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

• 7:00 p.m.

  Light dinner with food inside the venue.

• 8:30 p.m.

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

■August 2 (Sat) TOP 10 Trial

• 7:00

  Wake up and have breakfast.

• 8:00

  Arrive at SUZUKA CIRCUIT.
  Move to GP Square.

• 9:00

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

• 12:00 p.m.

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

• 1:00 PM

  Lunch. Eat "Suzukara" and other "Suzuka cuisine."

• 2:00 p.m.

  Play in the park. If there’s time, I want to ride the GP Racers.

• 3:30 p.m.

  Watch the TOP 10 Trial.

• 5:00 PM

  Head to the paddock. Take a walk around the area and take some photos.

• 6:00 p.m.

  Head to the 8FES! area. Hopefully there’s a live show… Enjoy various foods as well.

• 7:30 p.m.

  Heading to the hotel before the Sunday event without watching the entire pre-race festival… Take a shower, rest early, and prepare for tomorrow!

■August 3 (Sun) Race Day

• 7:30

  Wake up. It would be nice to have a place with a buffet breakfast... if not, convenience store food will do.

• 9:00

  Arrive at SUZUKA CIRCUIT.

• 9:30

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

• 10:00

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

• 11:00 a.m.

  Get ready to watch the start at the viewing spot.

• 11:30

  Race start! Cheering starts too! Keep cheering until around early afternoon.

• 1:00 PM

  Get lunch at a food stall. Eat slowly and enjoy.

• 3:00 p.m.

  Continue watching from various free seating areas, changing locations as you go.

• 5:00 PM

  Cheer hard for your favorite team as the second half approaches!

• 7:15 p.m.

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

• 7:30 p.m.

  Finally the finish! I want to watch the fireworks and award ceremony through to the end.

• 9:00 p.m.

  Avoid the crowded times and head home.