Tokachi International Speedway
Location
Sarabetsu, Hokkaido, Japan
Current Local Time
Track Info
Tokachi International Speedway - Sarabetsu, Hokkaido, Japan
Long permanent circuit in rural Hokkaido - clockwise - wide, mostly flat and famous for endurance racing and its kilometre-long straight
When was the track built?
Construction began in 1992 near the farming village of Sarabetsu in eastern Hokkaido. The location provided something difficult to find near Japan's larger cities: enough open land for a genuinely long circuit without severe noise restrictions.
The track was completed before winter, with the grandstands, garages and other facilities finished after the snow cleared. Tokachi officially opened on 5 May 1993 and became Hokkaido's first international-standard permanent circuit.
When was its first race?
The grand opening took place on 5 May 1993, but major championship competition followed quickly. In June the circuit held a 400 km N1 touring-car endurance race, effectively testing Tokachi's suitability for much longer events.
That test led to the first Tokachi 24 Hours in 1994. The race became the circuit's signature event and continued until 2008, attracting production-based touring cars, GT machinery and experimental technology.
What's the circuit like?
- Long and mostly flat: At more than 5 km, Tokachi gives drivers plenty of time to build rhythm, but there are few major hills or crests to use as reference points.
- Huge main straight: The start-finish straight measures approximately 1,010 metres. Powerful cars can reach serious speeds before braking for Turn 1.
- Wide, square corners: The track is around 13.5 to 15 metres wide and uses many right-angle bends. Accurate braking and strong acceleration out of slower corners are especially important.
The shorter Clubman layout removes much of the eastern half of the Grand Prix course and is now frequently used for local racing and track events.
Lap records and benchmarks
- Formula Nippon race: 1:41.100 - Michael Krumm, Reynard 95D, 1996 - Grand Prix course.
- Formula Nippon qualifying: 1:39.625 - Toranosuke Takagi, Reynard 96D, 1996 - Grand Prix course.
- Group A Touring Cars: 2:08.042 - Nissan Skyline GT-R benchmark, 1993 - Grand Prix course.
- JGTC GT500: 1:15.517 - Érik Comas, Nissan Fairlady Z, 2004 - Clubman course.
- Formula 3: 1:15.920 - Masami Kageyama, TOM'S 033F, 1994 - Clubman course.
Tokachi has several circuit configurations, so Grand Prix and Clubman lap times cannot be compared directly. Qualifying laps are also normally quicker than official race records.
Why is the Tokachi 24 Hours famous?
The Tokachi 24 Hours ran from 1994 to 2008 and became one of Japan's most important endurance races. Its remote location, large paddock and limited noise concerns made overnight racing much easier than at many other Japanese circuits.
Its most historic result came in 2007 when the Toyota Supra HV-R completed 616 laps and won overall. Toyota describes it as the first hybrid-powered vehicle to win a motor race, making Tokachi an important step in the development of hybrid endurance technology.
Why go?
Tokachi feels very different from Japan's urban circuits. Farmland, forests and wide Hokkaido skies surround the track, giving it an open European-style atmosphere. Current events include club racing, endurance races, motorcycles, time trials and track days.
Winter adds another unusual attraction. During the coldest months the circuit operates packed-snow and ice driving courses, turning Hokkaido's climate into part of the motorsport experience.
Where's the best place to watch?
- Main grandstand: Best for race starts, pit activity and watching cars reach maximum speed along the kilometre-long straight.
- Turn 1: Where event access allows, this is one of the best places for overtaking as competitors brake hard after the circuit's longest acceleration zone.
- Final corner: A good exit is essential for carrying speed onto the main straight, making it useful for comparing different driving styles.
Tokachi uses different layouts depending on the event, so spectator areas and the best viewing positions can change. Check the event map when you arrive.
Transportation & Parking
Getting to Tokachi International Speedway (Hokkaido)
Tokachi International Speedway is in rural Hokkaido, south of Obihiro. Driving or hiring a car is the easiest option; Tokachi-Obihiro Airport is particularly convenient, at around 20 minutes from the circuit.
Best way to get there
For most visitors, driving is the easiest way to reach Tokachi International Speedway. The circuit sits in the open countryside of the Tokachi region, so having a car makes both the journey to the track and your return much simpler.
Visitors flying into Hokkaido can use Tokachi-Obihiro Airport, which is much closer to the circuit than central Obihiro. Hiring a car at the airport is particularly convenient if you are attending more than one day.
Tip: Save the circuit location before travelling. Rural Hokkaido has long distances between towns, so navigation is useful even when the roads are quiet.
Driving & parking
- From Obihiro: allow around 50 minutes for the approximately 40 km journey south to the circuit.
- From Tokachi-Obihiro Airport: the circuit is roughly 15 km away and can normally be reached in around 20 minutes.
- From Sapporo: expect approximately 220 km and around 2½ hours of driving in good conditions.
- Expressway access: Sarabetsu IC on the Obihiro-Hiroo Expressway is around 16 minutes from the circuit.
- Parking: parking is available at the venue. Follow signs and event staff when approaching the circuit.
Hokkaido journey times can increase considerably during poor weather, so leave extra time outside the summer months.
Train & public transport
There is no railway station beside Tokachi International Speedway. If you are travelling across Hokkaido by train, Obihiro Station is the most useful main transport hub.
- Obihiro Station: continue to the circuit by rental car, taxi or another pre-arranged road transfer.
- Station → circuit: allow roughly 50–60 minutes by road.
- Major events: temporary buses may operate from Obihiro Station Bus Terminal for some large events.
- Check before travelling: do not assume an event bus will operate unless it is specifically announced for your race weekend.
Tokachi-Obihiro Airport
- Airport → circuit: around 20 minutes by car, making this the easiest airport for visiting the track.
- Rental cars: hiring a car is useful because the circuit and many other attractions in the Tokachi region are spread across a large rural area.
- Airport → Obihiro: airport buses also run to Obihiro Station if you are staying in the city before travelling to the circuit.
- Staying in Obihiro: the city offers more accommodation, restaurants and other facilities than the immediate circuit area.
Taxi & private transfers
- From the airport: a taxi or pre-arranged transfer is practical because the journey to the circuit is relatively short.
- From Obihiro: taxis are possible, but the roughly 40 km journey makes hiring a car more convenient for repeated trips.
- Return journey: arrange your pickup beforehand if you are not driving, especially after smaller events.
Event-day tips
- Check the weather: conditions in Hokkaido can change quickly and temperatures may be much cooler than elsewhere in Japan.
- Fuel up: the circuit is in a rural area, so refuel before arriving rather than waiting until you are close to the venue.
- Bring layers: even pleasant days can become cool or windy around the open circuit.
- Check for event buses: spectators travelling without a car should look for temporary transport announcements before major meetings.
- Allow extra time: parking and entrance arrangements may change for large race weekends.
Accessibility
If you require accessible parking, step-free spectator access or assistance at Tokachi International Speedway, contact the circuit or event organiser before travelling. Access arrangements may vary depending on the event and which areas of the venue are open.
Travel times, temporary bus services, parking arrangements and circuit entrances can change. Check the official Tokachi International Speedway event information and current road conditions shortly before travelling.
Nearby Activities
Things to do around Tokachi International Speedway (Hokkaido, Japan)
Tokachi International Speedway sits among the huge farms and open landscapes of eastern Hokkaido, south of Obihiro. Whether you’re visiting for car racing, motorcycles or a track day, the surrounding Tokachi region offers unusual horse racing, gardens, hot springs and some of Hokkaido’s best local food.
Family-friendly highlights nearby
- Banei Tokachi: Obihiro Racecourse hosts a form of horse racing found nowhere else in the world. Huge draft horses pull heavy sleds over two hills on a 200 m course, making the action easy to understand even if you know nothing about horse racing.
- Manabe Garden: Wander through a large garden filled with conifers, seasonal flowers and forest-style paths. Keep an eye out for Hokkaido’s native Ezo squirrels.
- Kofuku Station: This preserved former railway station became famous as the “Station of Happiness”. Visitors leave messages, buy souvenir tickets and explore old railway vehicles.
Culture & rainy-day stops
- Hokkaido Obihiro Museum of Art: Located in Midorigaoka Park, the museum focuses on artists with connections to Hokkaido and the Tokachi region.
- Obihiro Centennial City Museum: Learn how farming, horses, settlement and Ainu culture shaped the Tokachi Plain and modern Obihiro.
- Tokachimura: Beside Obihiro Racecourse, this small complex combines a horse museum, local produce, souvenirs and places to eat.
Eat & drink like a local
- Butadon: Obihiro’s signature dish is a bowl of rice covered with thick slices of grilled pork and a sweet-savoury soy-based glaze. It is simple, filling and perfect after a day at the circuit.
- Tokachi dairy: The surrounding farmland produces excellent milk, butter, cheese and ice cream, so cafés and roadside stops are worth investigating.
- Obihiro: Stay in the city for the widest choice of restaurants, izakaya and cafés using vegetables, meat and dairy products from the Tokachi region.
Get outdoors around Tokachi
- Rokka no Mori: Close to the southern Tokachi area, this forest garden mixes streams, seasonal wildflowers and small art galleries beneath the Hidaka Mountains.
- Tokachigawa Onsen: Relax in the region’s unusual moor hot springs, whose naturally dark water contains organic material derived from ancient plants.
- Tokachi Plain: Driving between the circuit and Obihiro is part of the experience, with huge fields, straight roads and distant mountain views giving the area a scale rarely found elsewhere in Japan.
Easy trips if you’re extending your stay
- Tokachi Millennium Forest: Explore award-winning gardens and broad grassy landscapes at the foot of the Hidaka Mountains. Allow a few hours if you want to walk beyond the main garden areas.
- Lake Shikaribetsu: Head north for Hokkaido’s highest natural lake, surrounded by forest and mountains. Canoeing is popular in warmer months, while winter completely changes the landscape.
- Naitai Highland Ranch: Drive across a vast public ranch to Naitai Terrace for panoramic views over the Tokachi Plain and grazing cattle.
Good to know on event weekends
- Check the layout: Many events use the shorter Clubman course rather than the full 5.09 km Grand Prix circuit, so the racing and best viewing areas can change.
- Bring an extra layer: Conditions around the circuit can cool quickly, and official guidance recommends carrying warmer clothing even during summer.
- Driving is easiest: Public transport around rural Tokachi is limited. The circuit is around 20 minutes from Tokachi-Obihiro Airport and roughly 40 minutes from Obihiro by car.
- Plan around the season: Most conventional circuit activity takes place during Hokkaido’s warmer months, while winter brings snow and very different driving conditions.
Race schedules, circuit layouts, attraction opening seasons, hot-spring access and weather conditions can change - check current information before you travel.