There are certain cities in Asia that just writing them, hearing them, mentioning them, evokes mystery, exoticness and excitement. Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore all fit the bill, others such as Mandalay, Samarkand and Shanghai likewise find a spot. However, when in Japan, there’s only one place to start and that’s in the place that evokes the most: Tokyo. The Japanese capital city that has 26 other cities within it, from Hachioji and Machida to Taito and Chuo, it’s impossible to see it all in a lifetime, let alone a visit but you will almost certainly start your Japanese adventure in the largest capital city in the world.
Two hours south from MotoGP’s home of Motegi, Tokyo has something for all. Let’s start with the obvious place and that’s Shinjuku. Bright lights bring the night to life as the skyscrapers tower above the old town of Golden Gai. All the thrills of modern commercial life in one half, the 200-odd independently owned micro-bars in the other and a whole host of nightlife in between. East Shinjuku houses neon-lit towers, full of upscale hotels, bars, clubs and karaoke rooms – for those who like panoramic views and heights, check out the Tokyo Metropolitan Building’s observation deck. The beating heart and destination number one for most in Tokyo, it’s a must visit.
However, there’s a lot more to Tokyo; Ginza is the big, modern area in the south and it’s fair to say that if you like shopping, you’ll LOVE Ginza. High end brands with shops spreading north of 15 floors and having everything you could possibly wish to spend a lot of money on, it’s quite the sight. Then, you’ve got Asakusa, home of the Nakamise Shopping Street and the Senso-ji temple that sits at the very top. A Buddhist temple and the oldest temple of any kind in Tokyo, it’s postcard Tokyo and even Japan.
From there, cross over the giant but largely free of boats Sumida River and indulge in the Asahi Group’s Headquarters where you can take in a magnificent view of the city from the top. No trip is complete with a visit to the iconic Shibuya crossing in the district of the same name, whilst for those into the Bohemian scene, Shimokitazawa has all the vinyls, live music and vintage stores you can hope for.
So, leaving Tokyo, where next – head south and you’ll arrive to other great Japanese cities such as manufacturing hub Nagoya, street-food mad Osaka, imperial and Kyoto and imposing Mount Fuji. Go north and you’ll be in the vicinity to maximise the Japanese GP with sprawling yet old town Mito or the birthplace of gyozas, Utsunomiya, also famous for its rather splendid Oya Temple.
Lying between both, Motegi. A regular MotoGP stop since 1999, the scenic rural town of just over 10,000 people is our home in Japan but is also famous for Shiroyama Park. Built on the site of Motegi Castle, it’s famous for double cherry blossoms (known as yaezakura) and in autumn, over 500,000 red spider lilies bloom to create quite the botanical spectacle. For foodies, Michi-No-Eki is a must visit complex. At the track itself, the Honda Collection Hall is a dream for all motorsport fans with bikes and cars aplenty dating back throughout the history of the company.
How to get to Motegi from Tokyo? Driving is the easiest and once you get off the expressway, the Hillclimb-style route up through the mountains brings you the best scenery. Public transport is an option but takes significantly longer and involves multiple changes but you do arrive to the town of Motegi. For Utsunomiya or Mito, transport is far more frequent from the capital but you’ll still ideally need wheels to get up to the track. Find full information here!
Japan is one we all look forward to and you should too; Motegi’s special atmosphere is the perfect calm away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo but both have a place in the same trip.