Only know USJ in the Kansai region? There's another hidden treasure amusement park you might not know about.

When it comes to amusement parks in the Kansai region, many people think of Universal Studios Osaka, which has been packed with tourists in recent years. If you want to avoid the crowds and experience something different, Suzuka Circuit Park is definitely your go-to choice.

Suzuka Circuit Park is an affiliated amusement park of the Suzuka Circuit, which hosts a variety of international and domestic racing events such as the F1 Japanese Grand Prix, the 8 Hours Endurance Road Race, and the Suzuka 10 Hours endurance race.

Suzuka Circuit is Japan’s first international racetrack, established in 1962. Today, the Suzuka Circuit welcomes around 2 million visitors annually, half of whom come specifically for the Suzuka Circuit Park amusement area, making it one of the top choices for many Japanese parents.

Suzuka Circuit Park is a“mobile theme park”, and its biggest difference from other amusement parks is its emphasis on“hands-on operation.”。

Many other amusement parks don’t offer this kind of experience—most rides simply seat you in a fixed position and let the machine do all the work.

In contrast, Suzuka Circuit Park’s over 30 attractions, including motorcycles and cars that kids can drive, require you to actually operate and drive them, rather than just sitting passively.

Among the 30+ attractions, the top recommendation is Circuit Challenger, where you can drive a go-kart on the real Suzuka International Racing Course that hosts F1 races.

Both adults and children can drive go-karts on the wide-open racetrack. Parents can let their kids drive on their own or take the wheel while the child watches and experiences alongside.

Children aged 11 and above can drive solo in the Circuit Challenger, while those aged 9–10 can drive when accompanied by someone aged 13 or older.

Before the actual drive, asafety and operation instruction videois shown to both parents and children. Once seated in the go-kart, staff will explain the controls again. The go-kart also offers operation instructions in Japanese, Chinese, and English. During the drive, guidance is given on how to better handle the kart based on the terrain.

After starting, you’ll drive onto the track at your own pace, experiencing the feeling of driving on a real circuit—accelerating, turning, overtaking—all operated by you. Details like slowing down for corners will be reflected in your final score.

After completing the course, you can insert your driving card into a scoring machine to see your results, which evaluate various aspects of your driving performance.

As this is a popular attraction, advance reservations are required. Those who wish to try it can book via the Suzuka Circuit official website.

Reservation website:

https://online.mobilityland.co.jp/cn/SelectProduct.aspx?CategoryID=149

As a racing-themed amusement park, the Racing Theater lets you experience various forms of motorsports. Right at the entrance, you’ll see a whole wall showcasing helmets worn by racing drivers.

Racing cars and legendary motorcycles that you usually only see on TV can be seen up close here.

For example, the racing car shown below is displayed on a steep incline, with an angle so sharp it almost replicates the real-life conditions of high-speed cornering.

There’s also a wind speed experience booth in the Racing Theater, where you can feel the high-speed winds you’d encounter while riding a motorcycle.

Many of the car and motorcycle attractions in the park include scoring systems, offering both learning opportunities and challenges for children. Kids can receive their own scorecards and certificates, which serve as great encouragement.

Although the attractions are designed for kids to operate on their own, the park takes safety very seriously. The park map not only shows the location of each attraction but also indicates the suitable age or height for participants.

For example,the Pala-Sailor aerial swing allows children aged 5 and above to ride alone, and kids aged 3 and above can join when accompanied by someone 13 or older. Since it’s designed for children, the swing doesn’t go too high.

 There are many types of motorcycle entertainment activities here, offering different riding techniques to experience.The Kid’s Bike is designed for children to learn how to ride motorcycles in a dedicated practice area.

The motorcycles used here are specially designed for easy operation by kids, and the surface is covered with soft material, allowing children to gradually learn how to ride while giving them a sense of“I can do it!”—a real feeling of achievement.

The Acro Bike is for more advanced motorcycle riding, intended for children aged 9 and above, or those aged 5 and up who have completed the Kid’s Bike course and obtained an A-level license at the amusement park. The Acro Bike challenges a three-dimensional off-road course, aiming to overcome obstacles such as barrier roads and single-plank bridges.

Other leisure facilities also feature clever designs. For example, the Bun Bun Bee may look like a simple ride, but there’s a camera hidden in the flower. Kids can adjust the height themselves, and when they reach the same height as the orange flower, it means “they’ve collected the nectar,” and three lights will light up.

At the same time, kids can pose for photos near the flowers, and after the ride, they can view their pictures in a small room at the exit. If they like them, they can purchase the photos.

Sometimes during weekends, you might catch various events hosted by the amusement park. It may seem like just staff and mascots singing and dancing to liven up the atmosphere, but in fact, these events also teach kids how to recognize various traffic signs. While having fun, children can also learn about traffic safety.

In addition to various amusement facilities, the park also has a variety of themed restaurants. When you’re tired or hungry, you can choose your favorite food. For example, the Bun Bun Pancake Shop is a bee-themed restaurant that specializes in desserts and also offers a rich selection of main dishes.

Whether it’s fried rice, shrimp tempura, desserts, or drinks, everything is exquisitely made and adorable. They are not only delicious and nutritious but also great for taking photos to share on social media.

Since Suzuka Circuit Park is practically a one-stop leisure resort, besides the amusement park, its accompanying hotel is also quite unique, especially the racing-themed rooms that are not to be missed.

The standard racing-themed room is called the Racing Room, which comes with four beds and can accommodate up to five people, making it perfect for families.

The Racing Room is a signature room at the Suzuka Circuit Hotel. In addition to the racing-track-inspired decor, the bedside features a design with racing lights and a dashboard.

There are tool-box-shaped cabinets and special seats modeled after real racing chairs, developed in collaboration with the German car seat brand RECARO. Every detail truly brings out the charm of racing.

The hotel also has its own hot spring. The hot spring water comes from natural springs within the Suzuka Circuit area. There is a spacious large bath as well as an open-air bath where you can enjoy views of the scenery in all seasons—it can definitely compete with other hot spring hotels.

Reservations for the hotel can be made directly on its official website or through Ctrip.

Reservation website

Ctrip:https://hotels.ctrip.com/international/suzuka50177/s9121831

Suzuka Circuit Official Website:https://www.suzukacircuit.jp/tw/experience/hotel/room/

The hotel’s restaurant, S-PLAZA, caters to a wide range of customers. The first floor has a buffet restaurant with affordable prices and over 60 dishes to choose from. The second floor offers high-end French teppanyaki cuisine, using premium Japanese Black beef and the freshest seafood from Ise Bay as ingredients. The open kitchen allows everyone to watch the chef cook live.