Autopolis International Racing Course
Autopolis International Racing Course at a glance
- Location
- Hita, Ōita Prefecture
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 4.673 km (2.904 mi)
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Elevation change
- 164 ft
- Opened
- 1990
- Owner
- Kawasaki Motors
Track map and layout
Autopolis is Kyushu's only international-grade racing circuit, laid out across a mountainous upland site in Ōita Prefecture with dramatic elevation change of more than 50 metres between its highest and lowest points, and a start-finish straight sitting at roughly 820 metres altitude. That thin, high-altitude air has drawn occasional comparisons to Mexico City's Formula 1 venue. Designed by Yoshitoshi Sakurai, a former Honda F1 program figure, the 4.673 km circuit rewards cars set up for its combination of long straights, technical elevation changes and flowing corners, and remains a favourite among Japanese drivers for its scenic, demanding character.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Full circuit | 4.67 km | 4.673 km international configuration used for Super GT, Super Formula and Super Taikyu |
Events and race weekends
Autopolis hosts a Super GT round most seasons, alongside Super Formula, Super Taikyu endurance racing and All Japan Road Race Championship motorcycle events, making it Kyushu's main stage for national-level motorsport. The circuit's remote, mountainous setting gives race weekends here a distinct, road-trip feel compared to venues closer to Japan's major cities.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super GT Autopolis round | Super GT | varies | Kyushu's main Super GT weekend |
| Super Formula Autopolis round | Super Formula | varies | open-wheel round |
| Super Taikyu Autopolis round | Super Taikyu | varies | endurance racing round |
Getting there and parking
Autopolis sits in the Kyushu mountains with no rail line or regular scheduled bus service; self-driving is the practical way to reach it. Fukuoka is roughly two hours away by road, while Kumamoto and Ōita city are each about 90 minutes away; the nearer town of Hita is about 45 minutes from the circuit. Event shuttles from Hita run on some race weekends.
- Fukuoka Airport (FUK) · about 120 min drive
- Ōita Airport (OIT) · about 90 min drive
Parking
On-site parking is available for event days; specific pricing was not confirmed from official sources.
There is no rail access — plan on a rental car, and check for event-weekend shuttles running from Hita on major race weekends.
Hotels and camping near Autopolis International Racing Course
Hita, about 45 minutes from the circuit, is a traditional onsen (hot spring) town with ryokan and business hotels and the closest practical accommodation base for most visitors. Fukuoka offers far more hotel choice for those willing to make the roughly two-hour drive each way.
Where to look
Hita (closest base, onsen town with ryokan and business hotels, about 45 minutes from the circuit); Fukuoka (largest hotel supply, about two hours away).
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Autopolis runs its own circuit driving experience programmes for both two-wheel and four-wheel vehicles, including skills-improvement schools, letting visitors with the right licence drive laps of the full circuit outside race weekends.
Who runs days here
- Autopolis circuit driving experience (official)both
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Formula | 1:26.960 | Naoki Yamamoto | Dallara SF19 | 2020 |
Spectator guide
Autopolis's hillside setting gives spectators elevated, panoramic views across large sections of the circuit from natural vantage points, a distinct experience compared to flatter Japanese tracks. Grandstands are concentrated near the start-finish straight.
Seating
Grandstands cluster around the start-finish straight; much of the rest of the circuit can be viewed from general-admission hillside areas.
Weather
- Summer (Super GT/Super Taikyu season): warm and humid at lower elevations, but the circuit's altitude means cooler conditions than typical Kyushu summer weather
History of Autopolis International Racing Course
An extravagant vision in the Kyushu mountains
Autopolis opened in November 1990, built by real-estate developer Tomonori Tsurumaki at a reported cost of around ¥47 billion during Japan's bubble-economy years. Tsurumaki's ambitions extended well beyond racing: he intended the circuit to double as a cultural destination, famously buying a Picasso painting for over $51 million with plans to display it in an on-site gallery. The circuit itself was designed by Yoshitoshi Sakurai, who had previously led Honda's Formula 1 program in the 1960s, and was built to take full advantage of the site's dramatic mountain terrain and elevation change.
Financial troubles and a change of ownership
Japan's economic downturn through the 1990s hit Autopolis hard, and the circuit went through significant financial difficulty in the years after opening, reflecting the wider collapse of the bubble-era projects that had funded its construction. The venue nonetheless remained Kyushu's premier motorsport facility, continuing to host national-level racing even through its leaner years.
Kawasaki ownership and today's circuit
Kawasaki Motors took ownership of Autopolis in 2005, stabilising the circuit's operations and cementing its role as Kyushu's only international-grade racing course. Today Autopolis hosts Super GT, Super Formula, Super Taikyu and All Japan Road Race Championship rounds each year, alongside public circuit driving experience programmes, drawing visitors to its remote but scenic upland setting in Ōita Prefecture.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Autopolis?+
The full circuit is 4.673 km (2.904 miles) long, run clockwise, with more than 50 metres of elevation change across the lap.
Who owns Autopolis?+
Kawasaki Motors has owned Autopolis since 2005; the circuit was originally built by developer Tomonori Tsurumaki and opened in 1990.
How do you get to Autopolis?+
There is no rail line or regular bus service; most visitors drive, with Fukuoka about two hours away by road and the nearer onsen town of Hita about 45 minutes from the circuit. Event shuttles from Hita run on some race weekends.
What makes Autopolis distinctive as a circuit?+
Its mountain setting gives it more than 50 metres of elevation change and a start-finish straight at roughly 820 metres altitude, giving it thinner air than most circuits — a trait sometimes compared to Mexico City's F1 venue.
What events does Autopolis host?+
The circuit hosts Super GT, Super Formula, Super Taikyu endurance racing and All Japan Road Race Championship rounds most seasons.
Can the public drive Autopolis?+
Yes, the circuit runs its own circuit driving experience programmes and skills-improvement schools for both cars and motorcycles.
Other tracks nearby
- Mine Circuit · 112 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Okayama International Circuit · 360 km · road course
- Korea International Circuit · 455 km · road course
- Taebaek Speedway (MJ Taebaek Circuit) · 473 km · road course
- Suzuka Circuit · 548 km · road course
- Inje Speedium · 592 km · road course
Facts checked against 3 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.