Hotels for MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix 2026

Fans arrive early for track walks and paddock views, then pack the grandstands as the whine of the bikes echoes round the circuit. October brings cooler temperatures than the summer months, which tends to suit both riders and spectators sitting out in the open for hours at a stretch. Expect a mix of dedicated motorsport travellers and local families out for a big weekend on the calendar.

The Japanese Grand Prix at Mobility Resort Motegi is raced on Honda's own circuit, tucked into the forested hills of Tochigi Prefecture north of Tokyo. Honda built the track and opened it in 1997 as Twin Ring Motegi — a name that nodded to its unusual pairing of an oval and a road course — and it was rebranded Mobility Resort Motegi in 2022.

The 4.8-kilometre road circuit is defined by hard stop-and-go braking, a stern test of both machine and rider that has made it a permanent fixture of the Japanese calendar since 2004. For Japan's deeply committed motorcycle-racing public it is a pilgrimage, and the surrounding forests are just beginning to turn to their early autumn colours by race weekend.

The on-site Honda Collection Hall, a museum of the marque's racing and road history, is a genuine draw in its own right. Utsunomiya makes the most practical base, linked to central Tokyo by Shinkansen in around fifty minutes.

Mobility Resort Motegi, formerly Twin Ring Motegi, is Honda's own circuit in the forested hills of Tochigi Prefecture north of Tokyo, a challenging lap combining slow infield sections and high-speed stretches. October here brings spectacular autumn foliage. Utsunomiya, 30 kilometres south, is the nearest city with a solid range of hotels and fast Shinkansen links to Tokyo around 50 minutes away.

Book Utsunomiya early as the Japanese GP draws fans from across the country; the surrounding Tochigi countryside and the Honda Collection Hall at the circuit make the visit more than just the race.