Japan is a country with much to discover. For those lucky enough to live, work, or visit, even for a short time, it has a number of beautiful landscapes and incredible sights to see and enjoy.
From cultural treasures to towering historical fortresses, it would be difficult to experience all of Japan’s wonderful places in a single trip, but there are a few destinations that definitely should not be missed.
Among these are four of the country’s exhilarating racetracks. With a long history of horse sports, Japan has a multibillion-dollar racing industry, with the country’s largest on-track events drawing audiences in their thousands.
To accommodate these ardent supporters of the sport, its racecourses have some of the finest facilities and most exhilarating trackside action in the world, making them an ideal place to visit for those in search of excitement and adrenaline-fueled thrills.
Tokyo
From vast and opulent whiskey libraries to neon-lit skyscrapers and historic temples, Tokyo is a city with much to keep you entertained, including its magnificent racecourse. Constructed in 1933, it’s widely considered to be one of the finest horseracing venues in the world. Located in Fuchū city, Tokyo is the country’s premier track and underwent a series of dramatic renovations in 2007, which improved its facilities even further.
Home to some of the biggest events in Japanese horseracing, including the Japan Cup, Japanese Derby, Japanese Oaks, and Victoria Mile, it can accommodate over 200,000 spectators, making the atmosphere on race days something that cannot be replicated anywhere else.
Nakayama
While it’s not quite as large as Tokyo, Nakayama still has capacity for over 165,000 people. In existence since 1920, it hosts its events on alternate days to Tokyo, meaning there’s always something special in the calendar for fans to enjoy. Boasting a number of Grade One races, including the Grand Prix, Japanese 2000 Guineas, and Sprinters Stakes, it’s a great place to gain an appreciation for the magnificence and grandeur of this ancient sport.
For those who enjoy a flutter, Nakayama also attracts a lot of interest from bettors, with popular sports betting sites offering odds on all of the on-track action. This allows you to not only observe the races, but add an extra element of excitement to the day’s already enthralling events.
Kyoto
Though not quite on a scale with Tokyo and Nakayama, which are the first and second-largest racecourses in the world by capacity, Kyoto can still attract up to 120,000 spectators come race day. Built in 1924, it's the premier course in Western Japan, meaning that those who find themselves in this area will want to pay it a visit.
Hosting a number of Grade One events, including the Japanese St. Leger and Queen Elizabeth II Cup, it attracts attendees from across the globe, providing some truly exhilarating on-track action.
Hanshin
Built at its present location in 1949, Hanshin is also located in Western Japan. Considered to be one of the most exciting racecourses in the world, it offers plenty of Grade One activity, including the Japanese 1000 Guineas and Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes. Catering for a crowd of almost 140,000, it’s handily located just half an hour from Osaka.
For history buffs, the site itself also has an interesting provenance, having formerly served as a combat plane production facility during World War II.
These impressive racing sites considered, if you’re lucky enough to live in or be visiting Japan, it could be quite the treat to experience a few fun-filled few hours at a race day.
