Why You Should Go
More than 170 tuned cars and their tuning shops packed one Tsukuba paddock in 2026
Format
One Day Time Attack
Crowd
Car parks and grandstands close to full in 2026 (organiser report)
Vibe
Tuning shop paddock and Super Lap shootouts
About This Event
Tuning shops from across Japan and overseas bring their quickest street based builds to Tsukuba Circuit for one day of time attack against the clock. Course 2000 is a tight, short circuit whose longest straight is the 437 m back straight, and the event runs in the middle of the Japanese winter.
1What to Expect
Entries come from tuning shops and private teams in Japan and overseas, split into classes. In 2026 a new S2000 class drew 20 cars, the biggest one make class, alongside one make classes for the GR Yaris, NC Roadster and Swift.
Super Lap sessions are the headline runs: cars go out in groups set by model and rivalry, usually for two laps (2026 format).
The paddock is part of the show. In 2026, 31 companies had stands across the A and B paddocks, the lawn and the area behind the grandstand, with tyre, limited slip diff and fuel system demonstrations.
Mid February mornings at Tsukuba are cold: it was 6°C at the 9am start in 2026, rising past 15°C by the afternoon under clear skies.
2Best Way to Experience It
- Super Lap cars head out from both the A and B paddocks (2026), and the grandstands were where the crowd gathered to watch them.
- Between sessions the paddock has the cars, the crews working on them and the shop stands. In 2026 general admission could not enter Paddock A until the morning Super Lap had finished.
About the Venue
3Nearby Accommodation
While you're in the area
Experiences near Tsukuba Circuit
4Logistics
Getting thereDriving, Public transport, Rideshare and taxis, Best value route
Driving
- Tsukuba Circuit is in Shimotsuma, Ibaraki, north of Tokyo.
- The circuit's directions start from Bando IC on the Ken-O Expressway (Prefectural Route 20 towards Yuki) or Yawara IC on the Joban Expressway (National Route 294 towards Joso).
- In 2026 event parking was ¥2,000 for cars and ¥1,000 for motorcycles, paid on site in car parks P6, P7 and P8, which closed to new arrivals once full.
- 2027 parking is not yet announced.
Public transport
- The nearest station the circuit names is Sodo on the Kanto Railway Joso Line: Tsukuba Express from Akihabara to Moriya, then the Joso Line towards Shimodate.
- No event shuttle has been announced for 2027.
Rideshare and taxis
- Taxis run from Sodo Station to the circuit, about 6 km and about 15 minutes by the circuit's own figures.
Best value route
- For a group, one shared car means one parking fee, and the organiser asked visitors to car pool in 2026 because spaces are limited.
- Without a car, the train to Sodo and a taxi is the only published way in.
Tickets and entryTickets, Bringing things in
Tickets
- Entry was ¥2,000 in 2026, with tickets sold at the gate from 6am and gates opening at 7am.
- 2027 prices are not yet announced, and advance sales are due to open around January 2027 on the organiser's ticket page.
Bringing things in
- Tsukuba Circuit lets spectators bring their own alcohol, but drinking is allowed only in the Main Stand, Sub Stand and Final Corner Stand, and no alcohol is sold on site.
- Drones are banned without permission, rubbish goes home with you, and dogs enter the stands only in a carry box.
On the dayKit
Kit
- Warm layers, a beanie and gloves for an early start in the stands and the open paddock in mid February.
5Frequently Asked Questions
?Suitable for kids?
Entry was free for high school students and younger in 2026, and Tsukuba Circuit has a nursing room on the second floor of the control tower in Paddock A for nappy changes and preparing milk.
?Worried about the paddock?
The walkways are narrow, with cars and trailers moving through them, and engine noise can drown out announcements. The organiser puts drivers and teams first, and anyone who gets in their way can be asked to leave (2026 rules).
?Hate queues?
Arrival traffic backed up onto the roads around the circuit in 2026, which the organiser apologised for.
6Cost Breakdown
| 2026 prices | Price |
|---|---|
| General admission | ¥2,000 |
| High school students and younger free | |
| Car parking | ¥2,000 |
| Motorcycle parking | ¥1,000 |
Last verified: 19 October 2026Official link: timeattack.co.jp
Tags
Permanent CircuitCar DisplaysPublic TransportOne Day EventBehind the ScenesFamilies
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