Motegi and Tochigi event weekends: what to do between sessions
Mobility Resort Motegi sits in rural Tochigi. Utsunomiya, the gyoza capital, is the base; Nikko and its shrines are an hour away.
Events we cover in Motegi and Tochigi
Arriving
Fly into Tokyo (Haneda or Narita), then take the Tohoku shinkansen to Utsunomiya in 50 minutes.
Where to stay
| Budget | Where | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Utsunomiya station hotels | Business hotels with the circuit shuttle nearby. |
| Mid-range | Mito | Plum gardens city with shuttles. |
| Splurge | Hotel Twin Ring at the circuit | On-site hotel; book far ahead. |
Three hotels we would book
- Budget: Toyoko Inn Utsunomiya Eki Higashi-guchi
- Mid-range: Hotel Higashinihon Utsunomiya
- Splurge: Hotel Twin Ring Motegi
Tours
Where to eat
With kids
- Edo Wonderland in Nikko.
Rainy-day backups
- Oya History Museum.
Free things to do
- Kinugawa river walks.
Getting around
- Race-day shuttles run from Utsunomiya and Mito stations; book seats early.
- A Suica or PASMO card (or Apple Pay) works on trains, buses and convenience stores.
- Shinkansen tickets can be booked on smartEX; reserved seats sell out on holidays.