Suzuka Circuit Park: An Amusement Park that is Fun for the Whole Family
As a huge motor sports fan, I was super excited to visit Suzuka Circuit with my family. This legendary Japanese racetrack is host to the F1 Japanese Grand Prix every October as well as many other international motor sport events. Did you know that next door to the circuit there is a kid-friendly amusement park that is fun for the whole family?
Written by John Asano
-Table of Contents-
・GP Field・Circuit Challenger
・Lunch
・Puto’s Mobi Park
・Batto’s Adventure Village
・Other Attractions
・Other Places of Interest Near Suzuka Circuit Park
・Wrap Up
・Information
・How to Get There
Suzuka Circuit Park
Suzuka Circuit Park is an amusement park with a wide variety of family-friendly facilities located at Suzuka Circuit, where the F1 Japanese Grand Prix is held. The rides are very hands-on, ranging from go-karts to rollercoasters. There are small rides for toddlers to enjoy as well as faster rides for the thrill seekers out there.
The entrance to the park
Kochira’s Putti Town
We started the day at Kochira’s Putti Town which is near the entrance to the park. This area has lots of rides that small children can enjoy. First up for us was Putti Grand Prix, an attraction that allows visitors to drive a racing car around a mini version of the Suzuka Circuit racing course in a time attack against other racers. The two-seater racing car has a speed up button on the driver’s steering wheel allowing you to pass other cars on the track. The goal is to set the fastest lap time. At the end of the race, drivers receive a graded driving license depending on their time.
The Putti Grand Prix ride
Steering our way to success at Putti Grand Prix
Close by is the Tic Tac Train ride, an attraction that allows you to become a train driver, controlling the speed of the train to try and keep it on schedule. Just like a real train, the goal is to arrive at the train station on time. The target time is 3 minutes 10 seconds, and if you reach the goal on time, you receive a special driver’s license. Controlling a train was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I truly respect train drivers more after this attraction.
About to depart the train station at Tic Tac Train
Another fun attraction in this area is the Run-run Balloon, a hot-air balloon monorail that exhilaratingly flies visitors over the amusement park. Besides providing an amazing view of the park from above, there is a fun game at the end of the course, where you use the observation camera to drop a ball at the target below.
Putti Grand Prix with the Run-run Balloon ride
GP Field
After enjoying the smaller rides, we headed to the GP Field area for the Duel GP rollercoaster. This is a car-like rollercoaster that you can control yourself while competing with the rollercoaster next to you. It was a lot of fun to battle with another person and come out on top. There is a lot of skill involved in controlling the rollercoaster, and if you steer incorrectly, it spins around, costing you time in your duel. We received a cool card at the end of our battle declaring us as the winner.
Battling our way to victory at the Duel GP
A look at the Duel GP rollercoaster cars
The Circuit Wheel Ferris Wheel gives you a full view of Suzuka Circuit from the sky, including fantastic views of Ise Bay, the Suzuka Mountains and the Suzuka Circuit Racing Course.
The Circuit Wheel from the GP Field area
Circuit Challenger
Next, was our favorite attraction of the day and one of the most popular, the circuit challenger. This two-seater electric go-kart allows visitors to drive on part of the actual Suzuka Circuit racing track where the F1 Japanese Grand Prix is held. As a massive F1 fan, this was a big thrill for me.
Briefing before the race starts
The setting for this unique attraction is that you are a test driver developing a race car. During the race, you are challenged to perform various maneuvers via instructions. Your performance is recorded on a data card you put into the car. These include such things as turning the steering wheel to check the handling of the car, stopping on the starting grid, and starting the race at the correct time, and changing gears correctly at various sections of the track.
The EV go-kart is easy and fun to drive
Tearing down the circuit in our EV car
After the once-in-a-life-time ride is complete, you receive the data via a computer printout from the data station near the exit of the ride. This will let you know your score in each category, giving you an evaluation of your performance.
Lunch
Feeling a little hungry, we stopped for some lunch at the Bun Bun Pancake shop. This family-friendly restaurant specializes in pancakes with a variety of dishes that kids will love. We tried the Hamburg steak and omurice (Japanese omelet rice) set, which really hit the spot, refueling us for the afternoon.
Fuel for the day
Puto’s Mobi Park
After lunch, we went to Puto’s Mobi Park area for the Acro X Evolution ride. This area focuses on the three mobility elements of power, speed, and energy. Acro X Evolution is an off-road attraction, where visitors ride an off-road vehicle over bumpy roads and water. Your score depends on how well you can follow the instructions from the narrator over the various sections of the course.
About to enter Puto’s Mobi Park