Formula 1 2024 (4/4/24 - 7/4/24)

[prime gyro]

I'm travelling around Japan in March and April next year, ending my trip in Nagoya to visit the Japanese Grand Prix. Will be staying in Nagoya and taking the train to Suzuka each day.
I've been to a number of GP's before, but this one has been on my bucket list as a much visit for a long time.
I'm mainly a fan of F1 itself and not of a specific driver.

Would be cool to meet up with other fans to hang out the GP or in Nagoya.

[trail wharf]

While i wont be going for 2024 (since A they moved the dates to spring and B, i spent a lot of money to go to f1 this fall) if you got any questions about the area and about nagoya im happy to oblige

[prime gyro]

Thanks, the most confusing part is the train, since there’s so many different stories. I need to catch the train back to Tokyo on Sunday evening after the race. My plan is now to buy round trip tickets from Nagoya Station to Suzuka Ino for each day and walk to the track. Leave right after the race and hope to beat most of the crowd.

[trail wharf]

Actually

theres 2 trains you can take

you can take Kinetsu or JR

While JR is closer, you have to walk the rest of the way from the station (i did this Saturday)

Plus if you have a JR Pass, or traveling from Nagoya, there is a suplement fee since Suzuka Station Ino is not on a JR line persay

so you have to pay like 300 yen each way from there

[prime gyro]

No JR pass. And I want to avoid any shuttles

[trail wharf]

Kinetsu (from Shiroko Station) is techincally a bit farther from the JR station, but they have a shuttle from the station to roughly north east of the circuit

Well either way i believe you still have to pay the fee, for the JR line from Nagoya since of what i said before

and it's cash only so bring yen

for the suplement fee

[prime gyro]

So you can just buy a return ticket at Nagoya all the way to Ino? Where do you pay the fee?

[trail wharf]

they'll have a booth at the station

It's not exactly a normal station

it really only gets used during race day events

you wont miss it thats for sure

[prime gyro]

I can’t believe for a country that has everything organised so neatly they have this confusing thing, needing to queue for a booth at the destination when it’s crowded for a meager 300 yen

Melbourne has all trams to the track for free during the weekend

[trail wharf]

onmce you get back to Nagoya, you hand that supplement fee ticket to a person waiting by the gates

i dont even want to begin the fun buracracy of Japan

so i'll end it there

But, it's not as bad as you think

[prime gyro]

So they have a station only used for that weekend, but it’s impossible to buy a full ticket at Nagoya station?

[trail wharf]

No you can buy a ticket from Nagoya Station

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4325.html

oh wait, the suplement fee is for JR Pass holders

[prime gyro]

Ah good

That was my interpretation as well. See it’s confusing 🙂

[trail wharf]

nah im kinda running off low sleep so

[prime gyro]

So I just buy the 3 return tickets on Friday for all days, so I don’t have to worry about it anymore

And book the last Shinkansen to Tokyo before hand

It leaves at 2200 if im correct

[trail wharf]

try asking in #transportation cause idk about buying tickets for future days

but at least for the Shinkansen, that you can reserve early

[prime gyro]

Can buy it in the morning as well, that’s fine

Thanks. Which tickets did you have? Can you walk around freely on Friday? Any pitwalk on Thursday?

[trail wharf]

I only did Saturday and Sunday (something came up on friday so i just took it easy and stayed in nagoya)

but iirc, friday you can sit anywhere except for grandstands

[prime gyro]

Did anyone get the voucher for the official program at Lawson ?

[copper wigeon]

official program?

[copper wigeon]

I bought the kinsetsu rail pass

[prime gyro]

Yeah the race program book

[copper wigeon]

is it a proper book or a glorified leaflet

for 2000 yen it better be decent lol

[prime gyro]

Should be a book. The one from Melbourne was similar priced

[copper wigeon]

@prime gyro where abouts are you sitting

[prime gyro]

West area (general admission)

[copper wigeon]

Max revenge tour? 👀

he is gonna win by 30 seconds

[prime gyro]

Let’s hope not. A bit of rain, a bit of crazyness hopefully. Last 7 gp’s I went to were won by Max

[amber fossil]

Hey everyone, i will be staying in Nagoya for F1 weekend and i will be sitting in Grand Stand C

I hope Ferrari can continue this run of form of great pitstops and conpetent strategy

[winter pulsar]

funnilly that

f1 planned to have sakura on the next weekend

you think it will bloom in time

[drifting stream]

I wish I could see the race but that’s too expensive and far 😦

[prime gyro]

GA tickets for the weekend were around 20k ¥

[drifting stream]

Oh right

Not as bad as I thought

Still expensive

But for what it is

Pretty cheap

[prime gyro]

One of the cheapest races to go to

[uneven lotus]

Does merch run out? Should I plan to buy all I want on Thurs? First time attending a GP

Papaya merch to be exact

[prime gyro]

I would never buy merch at the track, way too expensive

[worthy fulcrum]

anyone else traveling from osaka?

[copper wigeon]

travelling from tokyo to nagoya on the shinkansen on the 4th

[prime gyro]

I’m going to Nagoya in the 3rd from Kyoto, one day earlier than planned in case I do want to go for the pitwalk in the morning

[uneven lotus]

Just arrived in Nagoya! Also doing the pitwalk tomorrow morning

[prime gyro]

Which train are you taking tomorrow morning?

[uneven lotus]

Kintetsu, I got the 5-day pass and the limited express tickets

[prime gyro]

Ah okay

[uneven lotus]

I considered JR to Ino but there's 🌧️ on the forecast and I don't wanna walk in those conditions

[prime gyro]

Yeah I want to take that line but it doesn’t go that early

There is JR kansai line at 6.11

[uneven lotus]

Too early! I don't think it's gonna be a stampede yet tomorrow so I aimed to be in Shiroko by 830

[prime gyro]

A really? Other tracks you have to be at the pitwalk 3 hours before

You don’t think it will be crowded?

[uneven lotus]

Oh idk actually, it's my 1st time...

[prime gyro]

Oh haha

My experience is to be always super early for the pitwalk because it’s crazy

They consider queuing for a train for 2 hours normal here, so

Like up your game, get more trains running

[uneven lotus]

It says gates open at 9 though, and only for those with special JR tickets.

[prime gyro]

Special JR tickets? I thought it opens at 9.15 for everyone with a 3 day ticket

[uneven lotus]

There are special JR tickets, they get in at 9

[prime gyro]

Ah 15 minutes priority

[brave oriole]

Anyone in grandstand I?

[prime gyro]

Ended up taking the 6.11 train from Nagoya

[amber fossil]

Im in Nagoya rn, will probably head to the circuit around 1

[copper wigeon]

I'm on the 9:20, it's busy but not too bad

[grim hare]

If you aren’t at the track today, beautiful blossoms in Tsuruma Park

https://maps.app.goo.gl/VMarbmH7KXLHkQTs9?g_st=ic

[copper wigeon]

might have a look thanks

[prime gyro]

Blossoms at the track as well

[brave oriole]

Summary of the best way to get to the track from Nagoya for people that went today? Should I get tickets ahead?

[copper wigeon]

kinsetsu rail pass go to hiratacho and walk to the track and you won't be in a single queue

get the 1 bus to Noda if you want to be super lazy/half your walking time

[prime gyro]

Shiroko is the station for kinetsu right?

[prime gyro]

I went to ino and walked, but getting back the lines were huge. Had the first train and still waited 45 minutes. So for tomorrow i booked a limited express ticket from kinetsu to Nagoya at 18.00. It’s and hour walking from the track

[amber fossil]

On Thursday i went taking the kintetsu express to shiroko station from Nagoya Station. Since it is assigned seats i had to pay 920 yen on top of my rail pass. From shiroko I took the bus to Suzuka.

[amber fossil]

From hiratacho to Suzuka is only 30min walk might try that today

[brave oriole]

I did very little research. I'm going to take the train to Suzuka Ino and walk. Whether I have a connection or whether there is an express to that station direct from Nagoya, I'm not sure. I'm planning for just follow the crowds and Yolo. I'll probably go early around 8:15a.

[amber fossil]

Yeah, my research is my Thursday experience 😅😅

Ill be in grandstand C probably head out around 12.

[prime gyro]

8.15 is not early lol. I’m on the 6.48 of that line. Crowded AF, but at least there’s no transfer.

[brave oriole]

What's the reasoning for going that early? Serious question. Is there something I'm missing? Quali is at like 1p, right?

[grim hare]

Assuming you did a JR train to Ino - did you have to do a fare adjustment at Ino?

[soft siren]

Camping a good spot to take pics

Prob

[brave oriole]

Ah so for general admission folks it makes sense. Grandstand people it shouldn't matter, right?

[soft siren]

Not sure but then again he has experience going into these kinds of events

[prime gyro]

Ferrari challenge starts at 9 am. I just arrived at my spot at spoon, so right on time. Other than that, beating the big crowds, I wake up at 5am because of the excitement and am not gonna hang in the hotel when I can be at the track.

Securing a good spot for photos is also a reason, but even with grandstand tickets I like to arrive early at the track

I don’t get people coming in 5 minutes before qualifying or the race but please feel free to enjoy the weekend however you want.

[prime gyro]

No I just bought the 1000¥ basic fare ticket from the machine at Nagoya

[prime gyro]

If I count correctly this is my 19th F1 GP, 2nd of the year. But I’m a bit crazy and enjoy hanging out at the track the whole day 😄

Oh it’s warmer than expected, ditch the sweater and bring sunscreen!

[prime gyro]

To answer your question, assuming no crowds at the station if you go really late, then yes you can arrive late if you only want to see qualification

The good thing about GA is you can nap in the grass

[brave oriole]

Thanks. I'm on my way there now on the 8:37a train to Suzuka Ino. My seat is at the hairpin.

They stuffed people into this train literally lol.

[brave oriole]

Which machines sell them? I stood in line because I didn't know which to buy.

[prime gyro]

JR Shinkansen machines that are build into the wall , the free standing ones don’t sell them. Choose English, search station, Suzuka ino, done!

[brave oriole]

I also stupidly did not buy return lol.

[brave oriole]

Got it. Maybe I was on the wrong one because I couldn't find it.

[prime gyro]

You could buy a reserved ticket on kintetsu from Shiroko, if you don’t want to queue at ino for a ticket and then for a train

You can do it online, I’ve got a ticket for 18.07 and will walk to Shiroko right after qualifying

Ino was too busy yesterday for me

[prime gyro]

Yeah could be, I did some research when I arrived at Nagoya station on Wednesday. Went through all the machines lol

[copper wigeon]

can even get the 1 bus and save half that walk

[amber fossil]

I just buy the ticket at the station so you should be good. Although I do have the kintetsu pass so thats why.

[brave oriole]

I just got to Suzuka Ino and there is a well markedike to buy a return. Long but moving fast

[brave oriole]

If anyone wants to grab food at some point at the track, let's meet up.

[dapper panther]

View from pit exit

[worthy fulcrum]

anyone else GA?

[prime gyro]

Yes I’m at spoon now and 130R for Q

[worthy fulcrum]

any tips? ill be there tomorrow

[brave oriole]

Hairpin. Very decent view

[prime gyro]

What you’re looking for? Most spots look decent enough. It’s more about how far you would like to walk

[worthy fulcrum]

hm thanks, was just looking for any general advice

[dapper panther]

Bring snacks. Lines for food get crazy long. Also possible rain so be prepared for that. A seat cushion would also be advisable.

Also have coins for vending machine drinks.

[worthy fulcrum]

for ga, should i go buy a towel to sit on?

[dapper panther]

Towel might not have enough padding g but it’s better than nothing

Oh also ear plugs

[worthy fulcrum]

hmm ok ill check out a daiso later

[worthy fulcrum]

good call

[brave oriole]

Agree about the seat cushion even not GA lol

[brave oriole]

At least today they're not bad. Other than the main grandstands, the lines are surprisingly short. None over by me at I.

But this is just practice.

Everywhere in Austin sucked

[dapper panther]

Yeah gonna be worse tomorrow.

If ya go in the middle of the race there should be no lines.

But right before start it will be be busiest.

[brave oriole]

Anyone but the Grand Prix merch t-shirt? (not a team shirt)

Think they're "regular" American sizes or Japanese sizes?

[worthy fulcrum]

are the merch lines long?

[brave oriole]

Not today when I got here.

[prime gyro]

Towel is nice, on the grass you can actually lean back and lay down a bit. Which is nice. Some spots have benches. I wouldn’t say a cushion is necessary, you can drag everything to the track but you do a lot of walking

[brave oriole]

@prime gyro I'm over by you. Where are you exactly? I'll stop by.

[brave oriole]

Oh I thought you were at spoon

Which section is that

[prime gyro]

I was, this is the GA part of G, coming out of the bridge

It’s right next to 130R

I’m checking it out for Q

[brave oriole]

Ahh. Maybe I'll catch up with you tomorrow.

[amber fossil]

Almost there - to the track

[prime gyro]

I think I take this spot tomorrow as well, can see the screen and close to the gate out of the track

[brave oriole]

That's not far from me so I'll come find you so you don't need to lose your spot tomorrow.

I'll probably come around 9a tomorrow probably.

[prime gyro]

They do the German beach towel thing here

[winter pulsar]

rawe ceek

pls take pictures of funny japanese crowd

[oblique pecan]

Looks awesome, I wish to go to a Japanese gp one year

[winter pulsar]

take picures of food in there as well

[prime gyro]

lol, food looks okay 700-1000 ¥ for noodles etc

I have Batman on my camera

And a lion

[worthy fulcrum]

thats GA?

[amber fossil]

Thanks for the tip!!! Definitely a lot quieter going to the track. Definitely better to go earlier than i did tho 😅😅

[brave oriole]

Exiting is awful.

[soft siren]

Exiting any big event is awful in general

[brave oriole]

The bridge to the T1 exit was really bad. I hauled ass to get out but that was a dead stop of people going in both directions without guidance.

[prime gyro]

Im in the train already. Walked to Shiroko in an hour

No lines, could just hop in

[prime gyro]

Where are your seats?

[brave oriole]

Yeah that's probably better.

[brave oriole]

I

[prime gyro]

Why did you take turn 1 exit?

[brave oriole]

I wasn't far from you in G. I was weaving through people. Took an hour to get to Ino. Now waiting an hour or more for a train.

[brave oriole]

That's how I got it. Donno.

[prime gyro]

I took chicane exit it’s 5 minutes from your grandstand

No one there

[brave oriole]

I know better now.

[prime gyro]

I was at Ino in 20 minutes 😄

But needed another 40 for Shiroko

[brave oriole]

I am sweating and almost 1h on the dot. I walked around people in the road.

Normal pace 1.75h probably

[prime gyro]

I’m sweating as well, feeling sorry for the nice lady next to me

[brave oriole]

Haha

[prime gyro]

So from Shiroko you don’t even need the limited express ticket, there’s local and express trains as well

You can just use the IC card

I had a limited express ticket for 18.10 but couldn’t change it because it was sold out

[brave oriole]

Valuable lesson though. Glad I learned on quali day.

[prime gyro]

So tomorrow on your way in, walk past the track and then at the intersection with the pedestrian bridge go left. Walk down cross the road to the right and go up to Chicane gate

[prime gyro]

That’s what I love about this discord, learned so much

[brave oriole]

On the train at Ino now. Not a terrible wait honestly.

30m

[copper wigeon]

how to get a train seat

[brave oriole]

Transferred onto a local train so won't be back for a hour probably lol.

[prime gyro]

Apparently I didn’t smell that bad because she gave me her V-2 grandstand tickets on the main straight 😄

[brave oriole]

Only $1k tickets. Too bad.

[prime gyro]

Yeah she could only go today, was invited by Ferrari

[brave oriole]

Nice.

[prime gyro]

That’s what happens when you talk to strangers on the train

[worthy fulcrum]

wtf

that's awesome

[worthy fulcrum]

[prime gyro]

Race day!!! On my way in a very crowded train, platform was full as well at Nagoya

[worthy fulcrum]

ino line doesnt take ic right?

[prime gyro]

You can but you have to queue at Ino to pay extra. Better to buy the base fare ticket from the JR/Shinkansen machine at Nagoya

[worthy fulcrum]

hmm maybe too late

[brave oriole]

Aren't you coming from Osaka? When do you want to take the Ino station?

[worthy fulcrum]

osaka - tsu - ino

was my route

[prime gyro]

Ah sorry I didn’t know, it will all resolve itself though, just a bit of waiting

Anyone know where the bus to Shiroko leaves from?

[copper wigeon]

walking from hiratacho

have had a seat the whole way and stood in exactly 2 minutes of queue

[prime gyro]

Damn hiratacho is the hidden tip

[copper wigeon]

you can tell it works because it's 90% japanese people going there

[prime gyro]

Haha yeah, always follow the locals

[copper wigeon]

lots of people bringing their nice ferraris

no exaggeration walking fairly normally I have probably skipped at least 1000 people probably more

[worthy fulcrum]

i think i went the wrong way for ga

[brave oriole]

I don't think there is a right or wrong way.

I go right though after turn 1

From Ino

[worthy fulcrum]

heh went left

i see people just camped out in random places, maybe they know something?

[brave oriole]

That's how GA is. Just find a place that looks promisitans post up.

There are huge open areas near spoon but there are nooks and crannies all along the track.

[worthy fulcrum]

i shouldn't have been lazy in skipping sunscreen for my arms

[brave oriole]

Haha yeah today is a sunscreen day. I didn't wear any yesterday when it was much cloudier and I got burned.

[glossy dune]

Max is gonna win mark my words

[brave oriole]

Well that's a pretty safe bet considering he has won like 15 of the last 20.

[worthy fulcrum]

very bold statement

looks like a good spot

[soft siren]

Look at those guys with their 600mm

There is that one dude with a 200mm. poor guy

[glossy dune]

You know its somewhat true

Lmao

[prime gyro]

It’s hot!

Nice view though

[soft siren]

It's definitely hot

25c where I am

[worthy fulcrum]

welp

[winter pulsar]

best fucking race of the season already

[winter pulsar]

how was it lads

[edgy gulch]

RIP danny ricc

[brave oriole]

Made to Ino 30m faster via chicane exit. Big brain stuff.

Will make the second train.

[brave oriole]

Already Nagoya bound.

[glossy dune]

Lmfao

[worthy fulcrum]

zoomin

[glossy dune]

Guess it dident work

[amber fossil]

Theres no bus to hiratacho, but a 30min walk with not that many people on the way back is a huge win

[prime gyro]

Great!

Arrived at Tokyo at 19.20. Flying back to AMS tomorrow 😢

Last item on this list was this ice cream from konbini

[proven mortar]

is ams short for amsterdam?

[soft siren]

Ya

[proven mortar]

i guessed because the pfp looks dutch

[soft siren]

Schiphol kinda annoying to go through as a non Schengen

[grim hare]

Tons of team staff at NGO airport this morning. Guys watching slow motion pit stops on their laptops 😂

[copper wigeon]

no coolish?

[worthy fulcrum]

coolish goated

[copper wigeon]

I had 2 coolishes on the way back

[glossy dune]

https://tenor.com/view/max-verstappen-f1-formule-1-gif-15087359750872636720

[edgy gulch]

DOO-DOO-DODO

[glossy dune]

MAX VERSTAPPEN

[edgy gulch]

posts that make the lewis to ferrari move even funnier

[prime gyro]

That’s the official airport code, Tokyo to Amsterdam was NRT-AMS 🙂

[prime gyro]

Literally 0 line at passport control. From landing to my house was 1h 10m. That includes taxi from the furthest landing strip, passport control, luggage collection (which took the longest). Without luggage it could be half an hour to get home from landing.

[prime gyro]

Need to save some things for the next trip!

[soft siren]

For Schengen people probably. I had a 1 hour customs process. Meanwhile I was out in 15 mins at Lisbon

[prime gyro]

Yes Dutch passport, otherwise Schiphol can suck a lot (security can be super busy as well)

[soft siren]

Yup

[prime gyro]

But the bus the Schiphol stops in front of my house, 15 minutes to the terminal building, so that’s unbeatable

[soft siren]

15mins? Must be loud with the planes flying by