Ticket

Suzuka Circuit offers a unique ticket option for amateur photographers. From what I can see there are no other races on the calender that create preffered access areas for fans who take their cameras seriously. I understand the reason Suzuka lay this on is two fold; to satisfy the many Japanese camera enthusiasts and to keep telephoto lenses away from the grandstands. Indeed, on the latter point there is a maximum 20cm lens length (physical, not focal) restriction on what can be used in the grandstands.

2012 Japanese F1 Grand Prix ‘Camera Seat’ prices – http://vipe8.com/f1/ticket-english2012.html

The photographer ticket was not offered through the official Formula 1 website but I found them by chance on a ticketing agent website VIP Enterprises Inc. The website has an english translation option and lists all the various tickets and seats in the grandstands around the circuit. Additionally, at the very bottom, are four ‘camera seat’ options.

The ‘camera seats’ (note; their are no actual seats, ‘ticket’ would be a better translation) are available with or without hairpin (turn 11) access and with or without the cloak (luggage storage) service.

Circuit map with ‘Camera Seat’ access areas circled in red – http://vipe8.com/f1/ticket-english2012.html

All the ‘camera seat’ tickets provide access to the s-curve section (C, D and E) and spoon curve (M). The additional hairpin access grants use of I and J. These tickets are effectively general admission, but on a smaller scale. As you will see later in my blog the camera seat areas were not that busy, yet when I went to book my ticket – exactly two months before the race weekend – they had already sold out of the hairpin access. As such I ordered a normal 38,000 yen camera seat, but sent an e-mail to the ticket agent to see if there were any hairpin tickets being held back. Luckily I received a prompt reply and indeed they had a hairpin access ticket to offer me.

Photographers Ticket: ‘Camera Seat’ with Hairpin Access

Processing the ticket payment online is completely in Japanese. As such I relied completely on Google Translate to get me through the process. The hairpin access ticket (without cloak service) cost 42,000 yen (£312, $509). At the end of the payment process I had an option to have the tickets couriered to the UK (at a charge) or to collect them from the VIP Enterprises Inc. office in Tokyo. Since I planned to arrive in Japan the weekend before the race I chose to collect them in person. The ticket agent sent me an address and street map of how to find the office and we agreed a date and time for the collection.

On the first business day following my arrival in Tokyo I collected the tickets from their office in the Omotesando area of Tokyo – a 10-minute walk from Omotesando Station. This particular area of Tokyo is very pleasant, partially residential and yet has many high-end fashion boutiques. A map and directions to the their office can be found here: オフィス地図（最短）一部英語 The office is quite inconspicuous since it’s located amongst private homes and there is no sign outside to identify it.

The sales agent who had been helping me with my enquiry and order was at the office when I called. He was most helpful and explained everything I needed to know about the ticket and how to collect my photographers vest at the circuit. In all it was excellent service and I can thoroughly recommend VIP Enterprises Inc.