Family Hotels for a Fuji Speedway Race Weekend

Space, kitchens and baths for younger fans

A race day with children is long, and the hotel has to make the mornings and evenings easy. Gotemba keeps the drive to the circuit short, while Yamanakako adds a lake, larger rooms and more to do once the cars stop, so the choice depends on how much time your family wants to spend away from the track.

For the shortest day with children, Fuji Speedway Hotel, in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, is in a class of its own. It stands at the circuit in Oyama with direct track access, so a tired child can be back in the room without a drive, and the indoor pool and hot spring bath give the family something to do between sessions. It is rated 9.6 from more than 700 reviews and is the only hotel here at the track itself, which explains why it fills early for WEC and Super GT weekends. Book it first if your budget allows.

Gotemba, on the eastern side of Mount Fuji, is the practical middle ground for families who drive. Dormy Inn Express Fujisan Gotemba has air-conditioned family rooms, a 24-hour reception, free parking on site and a family-friendly restaurant serving a buffet breakfast, and it is rated 8.8 from more than 2,100 reviews. Super Hotel Gotemba 1 lists a child-friendly buffet, a hot spring bath and mountain views from its rooms. Mars Garden Wood Gotenba adds karaoke rooms and two restaurants, a useful mix when the evening has to keep teenagers as busy as the circuit did during the day.

Yamanakako, on the Yamanashi side of Mount Fuji, means a longer drive to Oyama but more space and more to do once racing ends. Sansui Resorts Yamanakako has family rooms with lake, garden or mountain views, a race-screening area, a fitness centre and race-day parking. Hotel Mt. Fuji offers three dining options, karaoke and a hot spring bath facing the mountain. Fuji Matsuzono Hotel, rated 8.3 from more than 1,400 reviews, has a family-friendly restaurant serving Japanese and Chinese dishes and sushi, so feeding children who are picky eaters after a long day is easy.

Self-catering is a real option around the lake, and it helps families who like to keep their own meal routines. TID TID Yamanakako has family rooms with kitchenettes, a garden and an open-air bath. Each unit of the aparthotel 彩の宿楓泉 has a full kitchen, a private open-air bath and access to a picnic area, although its free parking is off site. Hatago Tsubakiya, rated 8.8, offers a shared kitchen lounge plus table tennis and billiards, while Sun Plaza Hotel Fuji Lake Yamanaka has a minimarket on site for snacks and drinks before an early start.

Gotemba and the Yamanakako area blend the excitement of motorsports with the tranquility of nature, making it an ideal setting for families. Beyond the circuit, the region offers attractions like Lake Yamanaka, with its scenic views and outdoor activities, and the Gotemba Premium Outlets for a change of pace. The atmosphere during a race weekend is generally enthusiastic but also accommodating, with local businesses accustomed to visitors. It's a place where you can enjoy the race action and still find moments of calm for family time.