Most tourists think about stopping by racecourses before or after visiting popular tourist destinations, especially when they come to Japan with family members or friends who are not really into race betting. Below are well-known tourist spots and their closest racecourses.
1. Sapporo
Sapporo, Horse Racing (JRA) (Hokkaido)
Soen is the nearest station to the racecourse, which is next to Sapporo station. It is a 5-minute walk to the racecourse from Soen station.
2. Nikko
Utsunomiya, Bicycle Racing (Keirin) (Tochigi)
About 50 minutes is needed from Nikko station to Utsunomiya station by train. You’ll ride on a bus bus from Utsunomiya station to the racecourse for 15 minutes.
3. Tokyo
Several racecourses are accessible from Tokyo station and Haneda Airport (HND, Tokyo International Airport). See the pages below.
4. Tokyo Disney Land & Tokyo DisneySea
(1) Funabashi, Horse Racing (NRA) (Chiba)
(2) Edogawa, Boat Racing (Tokyo)
You can get to Minami Funabashi station near Funabashi horse racecourse from Maihama station near both parks by train. It takes about 15 minutes by train and 10 minutes on foot from Minami Funabashi station to the racecourse.
It would be better to take a taxi to the Edogawa boat racecourse because there are no direct train lines from around the parks to the racecourse.
5. Yokohama
Several racecourses are accessible from Yokohama station. See this page.
6. Kamakura
Odawara, Bicycle Racing (Keirin) (Kanagawa)
It takes an hour by train from Kamakura station to Odawara station. Odawara is the closest station to the racecourse. You’ll get to the racecourse for 15 minutes on foot.
7. Hakone
Odawara, Bicycle Racing (Keirin) (Kanagawa)
Hakone Tozan railway connects the Hakone area and Odawara station. You’ll get to the racecourse from the station for 15 minutes on foot.
8. Mount Fuji
There are no racecourses around Mt. Fuji. The root of Mt.Fuji stretches out to both Yamanashi prefecture and Shizuoka prefecture. While there are no racecourses in Yamanashi, Shizuoka has three. The Shizuoka bicycle racecourse and the Ito-Onsen bicycle racecourse are closer to a trail entrance of Mt. Fuji, but it will take around three hours to get there by public transportation from either of them.
9. Kanazawa
Kanazawa, Horse Racing (NRA) (Kanazawa)
You can get to the Kanazaka horse racecourse by its free shuttle or taxi. It takes about 25 minutes.
10. Nagoya
Several racecourses are accessible from Nagoya station. See this page.
11. Takayama
There are no racecourses around Takayama. The Toyama bicycle racecourse is closest to Takayama, but it takes about two hours to get to its nearest station to the racecourse from Takayama station.
12. Kyoto
Several racecourses are accessible from Kyoto station. See this page.
13. Nara
Nara, Bicycle Racing (Keirin) (Nara)
It takes 15 minutes from Nara (Kintetsu) station to Heijyo station by train. 3 minute walk is needed to the racecourse.
14. Universal Studios Japan
(1) Sonoda, Horse Racing (NRA) (Hyogo)
(2) Amagasaki, Boat Racing (Hyogo)
(3) Suminoe, Boat Racing (Osaka)
By train, you can get to the Sonoda horse racecourse and the Suminoe boat racecourse within 50 minutes. You can also go to the Amagasaki boat racecourse for 30 30-minute ride on the train.
15. Kobe
Several racecourses are accessible from Sannomiya station. See this page.
16. Hiroshima
(1) Miyajima (Hiroshima), Boat Racing (Hiroshima)
(2) Hiroshima (Hiroshima), Bicycle Racing (Keirin) (Hiroshima)
About 30 minutes is needed to get to each of the racecourses. In particular, the Miyajima boat racecourse is just around the ferry port to Miyajima (Itsukushima Shrine and O-torii). You might see races from the ferry deck on the way to and back from Miyajima!
17. Fukuoka
Several racecourses are accessible from Hakata station. See the page nelow.
Fukuoka Airport is known for its easy access from downtown Hakata. The subway takes 5 minutes to Fukuoka airport station from Hakata station and 15 minutes from Tenjin station. You can fly to Tokyo for less than 2 hours or visit Seoul for an hour and a half flight with a variety of LCCs!
18. Nagasaki
(1) Omura, Boat Racing (Nagasaki)
(2) Sasebo, Bicycle Racing (Keirin) (Nagasaki)
It takes 50 minutes from Nagasaki station to Omura station by train. You’ll take free shuttle taxis from Omura station to the Omura boat racecourse.
To reach Sasebo station, near the Sasebo bicycle racecourse, you’ll need a 2-hour ride on the Shinkansen and a local train or an expressway bus from Nagasaki station. Free shuttle buses are available from Sasebo station to the racecourse.
19. Okinawa
There are no racecourses in Okinawa. You should go to the mainland by air for gambling. Flying to South Korea would be great since it only takes two hours and a half.