Sportsland SUGO
Sportsland SUGO at a glance
- Location
- Murata, Shibata District, Miyagi Prefecture
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 3.704 km (2.302 mi)
- Turns
- 12
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1975
- Owner
- Yamaha Motor Company
- Capacity
- 50,000
- Address
- 字外沼
- Website
- sportsland-sugo.co.jp/en
Track map and layout
Sportsland SUGO is a hilly, undulating road course carved into the terrain of Miyagi Prefecture, with a 704.5-metre longest straight and a mix of elevation changes that make it a demanding, driver-focused track. The International Car Circuit runs 3.704 km with 12 turns, while a separate 3.737 km, 15-turn motorcycle configuration shares much of the same footprint. Beyond the main circuit, the sprawling 2.1 million square metre complex also includes a motocross course, karting facilities and off-road areas, making it one of Japan's largest multi-discipline motorsport venues.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| International Car Circuit | 3.70 km | 3.704 km, 12-turn configuration used for Super GT and Super Formula |
| Motorcycle Circuit | 3.74 km | 3.737 km, 15-turn configuration used for the All Japan Road Race Championship |
Events and race weekends
Sportsland SUGO hosts rounds of Japan's top domestic series, including Super Formula and Super GT, typically in the warmer months, alongside the All Japan Road Race Championship on the motorcycle configuration. The circuit previously hosted World Superbike Championship rounds between 1988 and 2003, and its motocross course and off-road facilities also stage national motocross and off-road events separate from the tarmac calendar.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Formula SUGO round | Super Formula | August | car circuit round |
| Super GT SUGO round | Super GT | September | car circuit round |
| All Japan Road Race Championship SUGO round | JRRC / All Japan Road Race | April | motorcycle circuit round |
Getting there and parking
Sportsland SUGO is roughly 35 minutes by road from JR Sendai Station and about 10 minutes from the Murata Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway, making it easiest to reach by rental car or taxi rather than public transport, since there is no direct train or scheduled shuttle bus service to the circuit.
- Sendai Airport (SDJ) · about 40 min drive
Parking
On-site parking is available for event days; specific pricing was not confirmed from official sources.
There is no confirmed public transport or shuttle bus link to the circuit — plan on a rental car or taxi from Sendai.
Hotels and camping near Sportsland SUGO
Most visitors base themselves in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture's largest city, about 35 minutes away by road with the widest choice of hotels and rail/air connections. Smaller towns closer to the circuit, such as Murata itself, have limited accommodation.
Where to look
Sendai (main hotel base, about 35 minutes by road); Murata (closer to the circuit but with limited accommodation options).
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Sportsland SUGO offers bookable track day and karting sessions through the circuit directly, letting drivers and riders run laps of the facility outside of race weekends; specific public open-pit-lane programmes require advance registration through the venue.
Who runs days here
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Formula (car circuit) | 1:06.350 | Nick Cassidy | Dallara SF19 | 2020 |
| Superbike (motorcycle circuit) | 1:25.465 | Ryo Mizuno | Ducati Panigale V4 R | 2026 |
Spectator guide
SUGO's hillside setting gives spectators elevated views over multiple corners from several vantage points around the circuit, a contrast to flatter Japanese tracks. Grandstands cluster near the start-finish straight for Super GT and Super Formula weekends.
Seating
Grandstands are positioned along the main straight and start-finish area; the circuit's natural terrain provides additional hillside viewing spots.
Weather
- August-September (Super Formula/Super GT): warm summer conditions, daytime highs typically around 27-30°C
History of Sportsland SUGO
Yamaha builds a circuit in the Miyagi hills
Sportsland SUGO opened in May 1975, built by Yamaha Motor Company on a large, hilly site in Murata, Miyagi Prefecture, in Japan's Tohoku region. Its undulating, natural terrain gave it a distinct character from the flatter circuits further south and helped it establish a reputation among drivers as a technically demanding, elevation-rich track.
International racing years
SUGO's profile grew internationally when it hosted rounds of the World Superbike Championship from 1988 to 2003, bringing top-level motorcycle racing to Japan's northeast on a regular basis for over a decade. The circuit also became a fixture for Japan's domestic single-seater and GT championships, hosting Super Formula and Super GT rounds that remain on the calendar today.
A multi-discipline motorsport complex today
Beyond the tarmac circuits, Sportsland SUGO has grown into one of Japan's largest motorsport complexes, spanning roughly 2.1 million square metres and including a motocross course, karting track and off-road facilities alongside the 3.704 km car circuit and 3.737 km motorcycle circuit. It remains one of the few Japanese venues to combine major national car and motorcycle road racing with off-road disciplines on a single site, and continues to host Super Formula, Super GT and the All Japan Road Race Championship each year.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Sportsland SUGO?+
The International Car Circuit is 3.704 km (2.302 miles) with 12 turns; a separate motorcycle configuration runs 3.737 km with 15 turns.
Who owns Sportsland SUGO?+
The circuit is owned by Yamaha Motor Company and has operated since it opened in May 1975.
How do you get to Sportsland SUGO?+
There is no direct train or shuttle bus service; most visitors drive, taking the Tohoku Expressway to the Murata Interchange (about 10 minutes from the circuit) or driving roughly 35 minutes from JR Sendai Station.
What events are held at Sportsland SUGO?+
The circuit hosts Super Formula and Super GT rounds on its car circuit, the All Japan Road Race Championship on its motorcycle circuit, and previously hosted World Superbike Championship rounds from 1988 to 2003.
Does Sportsland SUGO have a motocross course?+
Yes, the roughly 2.1 million square metre complex includes a dedicated motocross course and off-road facilities alongside its two tarmac circuits.
Can the public drive Sportsland SUGO?+
Yes, the circuit offers bookable track day and karting sessions outside of race weekends, though advance registration through the venue is required.
Other tracks nearby
- Sendai Hi-Land Raceway · 22 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Mobility Resort Motegi (formerly Twin Ring Motegi) · 182 km · road course & oval
- Tsukuba Circuit · 229 km · road course
- Fuji Speedway · 345 km · road course
- Suzuka Circuit · 523 km · road course
- Tokachi International Speedway · 546 km · road course
Facts checked against 3 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.