Fuji Speedway Hotel - The Ultimate Petrolhead Paradise at the Foot of Mount Fuji

There aren't many places where you can soak in an outdoor hot spring while gazing at Mount Fuji, then drive three laps around a world-class race circuit before dinner. The Fuji Speedway Hotel, which opened in late 2022, occupies a unique patch of Shizuoka Prefecture where Japan's highest peak looms over one of Asia's most storied racing venues.

This hotel is built directly on the grounds of Fuji Speedway, with a proper motor museum occupying its first two floors and genuine racing experiences available to anyone brave enough to grip the wheel.

The 120-room property is part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, a brand designed for one-off hotels that resist cookie-cutter formulas. Here, that means floor-to-ceiling windows framing either the circuit or the mountain, a speakeasy bar lined with 270 miniature race cars, and villas with private garages where you can admire your vehicle from the living room.

Location

The hotel sits in Oyama, about 10 kilometers from both Gotemba Station and Suruga Oyama Station on the JR Gotemba Line. It's approximately 80 minutes by car from Tokyo, tucked into the foothills where tranquility and speed coexist in unlikely harmony.

If you're driving – and at a hotel celebrating car culture, many do – free parking accommodates 262 vehicles across three lots. The surrounding area offers Mishima Skywalk, Japan's longest suspension footbridge, and the Fujigoko five lakes that circle Mount Fuji's base. Premium outlet shopping sprawls nearby for those seeking retail therapy between track sessions.

Fuji Speedway Circuit

Fuji Speedway opened in 1966 and remains one of few FIA Grade 1 circuits in Asia, certified to host the highest level of international racing. The track has witnessed Formula 1 grands prix, the FIA World Endurance Championship, and Japan's premier Super GT series. Its 4,563-meter main circuit features a notably long front straight where cars reach blistering speeds before braking hard into the first corner, all played out against Mount Fuji's snowcapped profile.

The circuit hosts various racing events throughout the year, including the Super GT series, a grueling 24-hour endurance race, and the FIA World Endurance Championship. On regular business days when no events run, hotel guests enter the speedway grounds free by scanning room keys at the P14 gate or presenting parking permits at the West Gate. You can walk or cycle the premises, though access closes during private testing days and major events.

Toyota's Racing Laboratory

Fuji Speedway Hotel marked the first collaboration between Toyota Fudosan and Hyatt Hotels, part of the broader Fuji Motorsports Forest project developed by the Toyota Group. The property introduced The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand to Japan, emphasizing story-worthy stays in distinctive settings rather than standardized luxury.

The architecture embraces clean modernist lines with extensive glazing that dissolves boundaries between interior spaces and the dramatic landscape. Buttery leather, marble detailing, and contemporary art create sophisticated rooms, while motorsports references appear throughout – from minibar amenities packaged like plastic model kits (Shizuoka produces most of Japan's plastic models) to subtle racing-inspired design elements.

The third-floor lobby connects directly to the Fuji Motor Sports Museum below, essentially making a car collection your entrance experience. A V8 engine greets visitors at the bar entrance. Racing cars visible from the lobby set the tone before you've even checked in.

Fuji Motorsports Museum

Operated by Toyota Motor Corporation with cooperation from 10 domestic and international automakers, the museum occupies the hotel's first and second floors with approximately 40 racing cars spanning 130 years of motorsports history. The collection traces evolution from late 19th-century French races where steam, electric, and gasoline vehicles competed to prove technological superiority, through to modern endurance prototypes and grand prix machines.

Legendary vehicles that competed at the highest levels share space with cars making their Japanese debut. The exhibitions explore how racing technology influenced mass-production vehicles, positioning motorsports as a development laboratory rather than mere spectacle. The museum's third-floor shop and cafe open onto a terrace overlooking the speedway. Hotel guests receive discounted admission with re-entry privileges.

TROFEO Lounge

This all-day casual lounge anchors the hotel's heart with Mount Fuji views through expansive windows. The menu emphasizes Shizuoka's agricultural diversity: Konta kumquats in spring, crown melons and peaches in summer, figs in autumn, Benihoppe strawberries in winter. The kitchen transforms local black fish cake (kuro hanpen) into fish and chips served with original avocado wasabi mayonnaise.

Afternoon tea runs from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, accompanied by unlimited original coffees and teas including bold Motorsports Blend and delicate Mount Fuji Blend by Ronnefeldt.

Italian Restaurant TROFEO

Named for the Italian word meaning "trophy," this trattoria-style restaurant features floor-to-ceiling windows framing Mount Fuji and an open kitchen where chefs work with visible dedication. The show kitchen philosophy extends to outdoor terraces where you can dine surrounded by mountain air.

Local ingredients dominate the menu: handcrafted mozzarella from cows raised in the Asagiri Highlands, sweet Amella tomatoes, tender Kintaro trout, Mishima vegetables. The Japanese Beef T-Bone Steak, grilled on high-performance equipment, showcases both fillet and sirloin – best enjoyed with lemon and sea salt to appreciate the meat's quality. Freshly baked pizza and homemade pasta round out offerings available as set meals or à la carte.

Breakfast transforms the restaurant into a buffet spanning Western and Japanese traditions. Free-range eggs prepared to order, caramelized banana pancakes, smashed avocado toast, and local seafood appear alongside traditional grated yam soup (tororo-jiru) from Chojiya, a restaurant operating for over 400 years. Cold-pressed juices complement the Mount Fuji backdrop that makes early mornings feel special.

The Emerald Room, a private space with Fuji views, accommodates intimate gatherings.

Robata OYAMA

Contemporary robata dining centers on the open kitchen's charcoal grill, where premium meats, fresh seafood, and seasonal vegetables cook over direct heat. The restaurant name references Oyama, the city hosting the hotel, signaling commitment to local sourcing.

Shizuoka's position between Mount Fuji and Suruga Bay (Japan's deepest) provides remarkable ingredient diversity. The menu changes with seasons, featuring produce at peak flavor. Collaborative partnerships with long-established regional businesses include unagi (eel) from Chojiya and tea from Marushichi Seicha, a craft tea company founded in 1907.

BAR 4563

This speakeasy-style bar takes its name from the Fuji Speedway main course length in meters. A V8 engine displayed at the entrance announces the theme, while 270 mini race cars line the walls in starting grid formation, perpetually poised for action. The communal red table derives inspiration from Formula One car design, and an outdoor terrace extends the space into mountain air.

Bartenders create tailored cocktails based on your preferences and mood. The whiskey selection highlights single malt Japanese expressions, particularly from Gaiaflow Shizuoka Distillery in the Oku-Shizu mountains – Japan's first distillery using Japanese cedar in distillation.

Racing Simulators

The bar houses a professional-grade racing simulator operating from 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM. Thirty-minute sessions put you in virtual cockpits with realistic graphics and vehicle physics. You must order at least one drink, creating a social atmosphere around simulated competition.

The fitness center's simulator targets serious enthusiasts, using professional-spec equipment designed for actual race car drivers but accessible to guests. Operating hours run 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Sessions last 30 minutes.

Drivers must reach 130 centimeters minimum height to operate pedals properly. The experience delivers realistic sounds and vibrations while you navigate Fuji Speedway's challenging layout in various car models.

The hotel offers 120 accommodations: standard and deluxe rooms measuring 462 to 645 square feet, 21 suites ranging from 925 to 1,560 square feet with separate living rooms, and five villas spanning up to 1,614 square feet.

All feature private balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows, marble bathrooms with deep-soaking tubs, and amenities including Nespresso coffee makers, Shizuoka green tea, and minibars stocked with local specialties like limited-label Gaia Flow whiskey. The villas add private show garages with floor-to-ceiling glass, open kitchens, outdoor terraces, and dog-friendly accommodations for those traveling with pets.

The defining choice is your view. Suites facing Mount Fuji frame Japan's most iconic peak through expansive balcony openings, with the snowcapped summit dominating the vista. The mountain's presence shifts with weather and light – sometimes crystal clear, other times shrouded in clouds, always commanding attention. It's the tranquil half of the hotel's philosophy.

Suites facing the circuit offer the kinetic counterpoint. The track stretches below, its asphalt ribbon curving through the landscape. During race events, cars howl past in bursts of speed and sound. On quiet days, the empty circuit becomes a meditative study in lines and perspective, the long front straight leading toward distant mountains.

Omika Wellness & Spa

This standalone sanctuary connects to the main hotel building via a covered walkway, named for the district where the hotel resides. The facility overlooks Mount Fuji and surrounding forests, dedicated exclusively to guest wellness. Open from 6:00 AM to midnight for overnight guests, the complex integrates traditional Japanese bathing culture with contemporary fitness amenities. Spa treatments, the indoor pool, fitness center, and hot spring baths create a comprehensive wellness experience in a nature-infused setting.

The ground-floor 20-meter heated pool accommodates lap swimming with adjacent whirlpool and surrounding loungers for relaxation. Operating hours run 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring natural light and views into the swimming experience, connecting indoor activity to the forested landscape outside.

The hot spring facilities separate into male and female public bathing areas, both offering indoor and outdoor pools with Mount Fuji views. Sulfate spring water sourced on-site purportedly promotes healthy skin. The male onsen includes a dry sauna reaching 89 degrees Celsius and a cold plunge bath fed by Mount Fuji groundwater. The female onsen features a steam sauna. Traditional washing areas provide complimentary toiletries infused with Shizuoka tea seed oil extracted from hand-picked tea seeds.

Indoor and outdoor relaxation areas extend the onsen experience beyond bathing, with complimentary Shizuoka tea and local Asagiri milk available while you absorb mountain views. Overnight guests and spa treatment clients require no reservations, though visitor numbers may be limited during busy periods to preserve tranquility.

Racing Experiences

Three distinct track experiences let you engage with Fuji Speedway beyond spectating. The Experience Driving program allows three laps on the International Racing Course in your own vehicle or a rental car, following an Official Car in single file formation while maintaining safe distances. Exclusive to hotel guests, rental car reservations open one month in advance, including high-performance Toyota Gazoo Racing sports cars.

The Sports Driving program targets intermediate and advanced drivers through a two-hour seminar culminating in FISCO license acquisition, which permits a 30-minute sports driving session. English-speaking staff guide you through safety protocols and basic rules, making the experience accessible even without prior race driving experience.

A rental kart experience operates on a small-scale course designed to mirror the main Fuji Speedway layout's shape. The approximately 520-meter track ensures high safety standards suitable for beginners while delivering the thrilling sound and power of gasoline-powered karts.

Mount Fuji Experience: East Fuji Nature Hike

The East Fuji Nature Hike offers intermediate-level trekking through forests fostered by Mount Fuji's volcanic presence. The seven-kilometer route takes approximately 4.5 hours with a professional guide navigating complex forest trails that change dramatically with seasons: vibrant greenery in spring and summer, golden larch forests in autumn, clear air and snow-capped mountain views in winter.

The trail leads to Futatsuzuka, where Mount Fuji, Mount Hoei, and Mount Futagoyama-kamizuka align in a unique vista alongside 360-degree panoramic views. Guides share stories about Mount Fuji's forests and terrain while ensuring safe passage through areas where losing the trail is easy. Minimum age is seven years old.