Racing is a sport that plenty of people enjoy, and daring race car drivers are rewarded with fame and fortune and many other privileges that come with the title. However, it's not all rainbows and unicorns in the racing world, and while entertaining, it can be a very dangerous sport.
With the perks come the dangers of driving on a race track. Many drivers have lost limb and life on the track that they so love. While racing in itself can be quite risky, there are some race tracks that are particularly challenging. The twists and turns and ups and downs (literally) of these tracks have been the cause of quite a few accidents. So if you've always wondered about the 10 most dangerous race tracks in the Land of the Rising Sun, then look no further.
10 Hadashi Tengoku Circuit, Yamaguchi
Just an hour and a half away from Hiroshima, this fun and casual facility is open for free practice seven days a week.
The Hadashi Tengoku Circuit is a small, 650-meter track that is popular with drivers because of its elevation changes and challenging second-gear drift sections. It may be a small track, but it is surprisingly wide and makes for some epic trains and battles. Don't be fooled by its run-down appearance, this track still gets a lot of action and has seen its fair share of spills and crashes.
9 Bihoku Highland, Okayama
Located at Okayama Prefecture’s Niimi city, Bihoku Highland Circuit opened over six decades ago in 1958. The track is mainly used for drifting, grip and gymkhana races. But you can visit anytime, as they offer a wide range of motorsport activities here, from free practice, free driving, and rental services.
The track is usually split in two, with drifters ripping up the famous and somewhat dangerous high-speed sweeper at the end of the front straight. Drift competitions are held here too, and if you visit during a weekend, chances are you will see some action!
8 Meihan Sportsland, Nara
Meihan Sportsland is one of the better-known racing circuits of Japan. Its car-destroying pit walls are a must-see if you are a racing fan who happened to be visiting the Nara area.
Meihan is actually a relatively large facility, featuring four small tracks, plus a motocross and dedicated kart course. If you are looking for a more traditional Japanese drifting action, then this is the perfect place to go. On most weekends, you can also find jam sessions and events being held here, which keeps the track fairly busy. Also mostly a drifting circuit and relatively close to Osaka, this track is popular among Osaka drivers, both amateur and professional.
7 Suzuka International Racing Course, Mie
The second most popular race track in Japan and a favorite among F1 drivers, the Suzuka Circuit, is an absolutely massive structure that has been around since the 1960s. The track itself is about 5.8 kilometers long and spans 55 laps. Over the years, the circuit has undergone four major modifications, as the track proved to be a bit too challenging and has caused accidents and quite a few fatalities.
This figure-eight shaped race track is popular amongst both drivers and fans, as the circuit features not just the track but has a driving school, a hotel, spa, campgrounds, bowling alley, and an amusement park. Does it get any better than that? It does! During events, you would see numerous food trucks with a variety of mouth-watering food from different countries. The Suzuka Circuit is the complete racing experience any racing fan should experience at least once.
6 Mihama Circuit, Aichi
Built mainly for kart racing, this tight and technical race track spans only 1 kilometer but can be divided into two circuits. When the karts are not on the track, Mihama Circuit hosts grip and motorbike racing as well.
There is also a kart rental service and the track is fully lighted which ensures that nighttime racing is possible. While some tracks in Japan are old and worn out, Mihama is well-kept and boasts some pretty nice facilities.
5 Autoland Tsukude, Aichi
Following the small-scale technical circuit that is common in Japan, Autoland Tsukude may only be 800 meters long, but includes some very interesting and surprisingly fast corners and an elevation change of 8 meters!
The track is basically a big drift section and with a dozen or more cars, and it is really an exciting and dangerous track. If you plan to visit on a random day, make sure that you have your own food as food stands are only there during major events. No one wants an empty stomach on a racing course!
4 YZ Circuit, Gifu
YZ Circuit may be small and fairly basic, but it is quite popular among drifters, as it sports some serious panel-eating walls and a great layout for big drift trains and tight battles. Open since 1996, YZ is a casual place and is not very busy during weekdays. Visiting during weekends is your best bet as there is a high chance that some drifting practice may be happening.
The track is not designed for comfort, but for serious training and blood-pumping action. So if you plan on visiting, make sure to pack what you need and then some!
3 Owara Circuit, Toyama
Drift-friendly and with tight, slower speeds, Owara Circuit is a small venue with a large number of fans.
Though it may offer no real elevation changes or high-speed straights, the track is a maze of tight flowing corners that make up a bunch of very cool second and third gear drift sections perfect for some chaotic battles and trains. The event calendar is pretty filled up and you are pretty sure to stumble upon some action every weekend.
2 Sportsland Yamanashi, Yamanashi
Sportsland Yamanashi is a narrow, one-kilometer long track with some of the best drifting action in the world. While small, this track is notoriously known in the world of drifting thanks to its epic drift section that makes for some excellent tight battles and crazy manji action down the front straight and into the fast and unforgiving turn 1.
There are times when food might be available for purchase, but it would be wise to bring your own lunch should you plan to stay the whole day in the circuit.
1 Fuji International Speedway, Shizuoka
Fuji International Speedway is probably the most iconic race track in Japanese motorsport history. Built back in the sixties, it was bought by Toyota in 2000 who spent a huge amount of time and money doing major renovations that made the circuit the massive and modern structure it is today. The track itself has undergone some changes, including the banked "Daiichi" turn, after a couple of accidents that took the life of two drivers and injured several others.
Very accessible, you can reach this track via train, bus or taxi, and once you step inside, it is easy to feel the history and culture that permeates every corner of the place. The food and drink choices are among the best in Japan with food stands and cafes offering a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional dishes sure to cater to even the pickiest tastebuds. Over the years, Fuji International Speedway has hosted a number of famous races and racers, with a long list of records and championships won making it an institution and forever a part of Japanese history.