What to See & Do in Japan – 2025 Japanese Grand Prix

Discover the fascinating Land of the Rising Sun at the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix 2025. The best things to see and do near Suzuka Circuit.

There is nothing particularly noteworthy to see or do in the industrial areas surrounding the Suzuka circuit. The town of Suzuka is pretty busy with F1 insiders on race weekend, but getting a room if you are not working at the race is more difficult. It’s much easier to find a place to stay in nearby Nagoya or a little further away in Osaka, where there is also much more going on. When planning your Japanese Grand Prix holiday, try and add at least a few days away from the track to explore the country; Japan offers a fascinating blend of natural beauty, ancient traditions and history contrasted with high-tech modern cities and a unique culture.

F1 Tokyo Fan Festival 2025

After successful activations coinciding with the last two editions of the Japanese race, the F1 Tokyo Fan Festival returns ahead of the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix. This year’s festival will take place at TOKYO BAY (Odaiba/Aomi) from Wednesday, April 2 to Sunday, April 6 (though it’s not open on Thursday, April 3). The event features a ‘garage where visitors can experience the thrill and excitement of F1 up close, official merchandise sales, interactive experiences, and a public viewing of the F1 Japanese Grand Prix.’ There will also be a ‘gourmet food zone offering dishes from F1 Grand Prix hosting countries around the world’ and ‘Twilight Music Zone’ with live music performances. Tickets go on sale from March 7. Details of appearances and music artists have not yet been announced, though several F1 drivers were in attendance last year. More information is here.

Things to Do in Nagoya

Most travel guides do not give Nagoya the attention it deserves. As the fourth most populated city in Japan, there are plenty of things to see and do in the city. Situated 65km from the Suzuka circuit, it’s the perfect base for your Grand Prix weekend. For more travel info on Nagoya, check Japan Guide and Nagoya Info.

Go Shopping: If you are planning to do some shopping while in Japan, the 400-year old Osu Shopping District in Nagoya (pictured above) is a great starting point. With more than 1,200 shops in the area and prices cheaper than Tokyo and Osaka, it’s a great place to spend a few hours. The easiest way to get there is to take the Nagoya subway and alight at the Osu Kannon Station.

Visit Nagoya Castle: Within the walls of Nagoya Castle lies a fantastic museum that displays armor from the Edo period, fusama-e (painting on sliding doors) and other creative works. It’s open from 09:00-16:30 and entry costs around US$5. You can also visit the Ninomaru Garden nearby. To get there by train, alight at the Shiyakusho Station on the Meijo Line or the Sengen-cho Station on the Tsurumai Line. By bus, alight at the Nagoyajo Seimon-Mae stop.

Try Hitsumabushi: The Aichi Prefecture is known for its unagi (freshwater eel), so it’s no wonder that Nagoya’s traditional meal – known as hitsumubushi – is a bowl of rice with slices of grilled eel. Some of the best hitsumubushi can be found at Atsuta Horaiken – it is about a 7-minute walk away from the Tenma-Cho Station on the Meijo Line. Expect to pay around $10-15 USD for a serving.

Things to Do in Osaka

Osaka is a ‘rough and tumble’ city that is often ignored by foreign visitors. While it may not have as much charming architecture as Tokyo or the natural beauty of other Japanese cities, there are some places you should see and things to do in Osaka, here’s our recommendations. (For more advice on things to do in Osaka, check Japan Guide and Osaka Info.)

Visit the Floating Garden Observatory: Take an elevator to the 39th Floor of the Umeda Sky Building to enjoy a panoramic birds-eye view of Osaka city. Suspended 167 meters from the ground, a floating garden observatory lies between the two towers of the Sky Building. It is open during the day, but many opt to enjoy the night-time view of the city. There’s a small fee of approximately US$6 to enter the floating garden.

Try the local cuisine: Known as tenka no daidokoro (Nation’s Kitchen), Osaka is a food lover’s paradise. Popular dishes include okonomiyaki, a cross between a pancake and an omelette, kitsune udon (a soupy thick noodle meal that is blanketed by fried sweet tofu), and hakozushi (sushi prepared in a bamboo box). Don’t leave without trying takoyaki (baby octopus dumplings), the best street food in Osaka

Osaka Aquarium: Pay a visit to the majestic whale sharks at Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, one of the world’s largest public aquariums. Situated in Tempozan Harbor Village, it is one of the more popular attractions in Osaka, up there with Universal Studios Japan. Allocate around two hours to walk about the aquarium, which was designed in a way that visitors can feel at home with the sea creatures.

Extended Holidays in Japan

There is no place quite like Japan – you need to use all your senses to truly experience the country. From the neon night scape of its cities to the serene sanctuary of its shrines and gardens, many travelers are mesmerized by this incredible country. Here’s a few of our ideas for other things to do in Japan.

Tokyo

Packed with neon-lit utopian structures, Tokyo is one of those cities that needs to be seen to be believed. It is a city that continually reinvents itself with outrageous concept cafes and the current pop culture craze, while preserving its shogun traditions such as sumo tournaments and Kabuki performances.

Kyoto

For a more subdued holiday, head to Kyoto (pictured above) – a soothing cure to Japan’s bustling capital. It is lined with ancient temples and shrines, tea ceremony masters, traditional ryokan inns and centuries-old lineage of craftsmen. While it prides itself on preserving Japanese traditions, Kyoto is just as modern as Japan with a flourishing technology industry and many universities.

Hokkaido

For those who love the outdoors, head over to Hokkaido to hike in the mountains. The best scenery can be found in the Daisetsuzan and Shiretoko National Parks.

Toyota Museum

Around 80km south-west of the Suzuka Circuit is the city of Toyota. Famed as the home of the namesake car manufacturer, the city is full of historical and architectural delights, as well as the Koran Valley; a definite must-see for the vibrant colours in the autumn months. If you’re interested in the Toyota company’s history, the Toyota Automobile Museum is a 25 minute drive from the centre of Nagoya.