How Many Race Tracks Are in Japan?

Japan has become a location where horse racing is conducted on a grand scale. Some would argue that it is second only the United States and the UK when it comes to live racing. Japan also has a vibrant breeding program to make sure that the country retains enough horses to support the race tracks in its cities.

There are a total of 25 horse racing tracks located in Japan. If you are not from Japan, only a couple of these might be familiar to you. The tracks host three varieties of horse racing. There is flat racing, jump racing, and power racing. For most bettors from the United States, flat racing will be the most familiar of the three.

Off-track betting facilities provide a separate way to follow races and purchase tickets without visiting the course itself. They should not be added to the racecourse count. The number of betting outlets can change, and a JRA outlet, a local-racing facility and an online account are different access channels with their own operating arrangements.

Who Oversees the Horse Racing Tracks in Japan?

Japan has central and local racing structures. The JRA conducts the central circuit at ten racecourses. Local racing is conducted by its local organizers within the NAR system. Identifying the organizer matters when looking up race conditions, results, disciplinary notices or horse betting information: one circuit’s published rules are not automatically the rules for every Japanese meeting.

The Japan Racing Association does not oversee all 25 venues. Its ten courses are Tokyo, Nakayama, Kyoto, Hanshin, Chukyo, Fukushima, Niigata, Kokura, Sapporo and Hakodate. The NAR guide lists a separate group of 15 local venues, including Obihiro. Do not infer a complaint or appeal procedure from the organizer’s name alone; consult the rules and official contact channel for the particular meeting.

Many countries are moving to this type of horse racing model. The United States is one country that has resisted a national body of racing regulators. Instead, the US allows each individual state to have its own horse racing boards. This can sometimes lead to issues when trainers compete in different states.

The time has come to take a look at some of the different horse racing tracks in Japan. Our focus will be on the major tracks. We will begin with the most famous of them all.

Tokyo Racecourse

The Tokyo Racecourse is located in Tokyo and occupies a vast complex which includes three different tracks, barns, and training areas. It was originally constructed in 1933. In 2007 a renovation of the facility occurred. This made it one of the most advanced horse racing facilities in the world.

The Japan Cup is one of Tokyo’s signature international races. Its reputation should be distinguished from a specific attendance claim: attendance varies by year, and visitors should consult the current admission arrangements, race date and official course information before planning a trip.

Nakayama Racecourse

This racecourse is also located in Japan’s capital area. It is actually older than Tokyo Racecourse by a few years. Nakayama was constructed in 1920. Since that time it has remained an important facility to the sport of Japanese horse racing.

Some of the famous races that are held at the Nakayama Racecourse include the Sprinter’s Stakes and the Nakayama Grand Jump. This is a track where bettors can enjoy both flat racing and jump racing, sometimes on the same day.

Kyoto Racecourse

Kyoto Racecourse is a major western-Japan venue with a long racing history. For a visit or a betting plan, its current fixtures matter more than a generic description of a meeting. JRA racing normally takes place on weekends, with holiday exceptions. A meeting contains specified racing dates; it is not a universal five-day event, nor does every course share a fixed eight-to-twelve-day schedule. Check the official calendar for the season and any changes of venue.

The Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the Mile Championship are two of the primary races that are held at the facility. Most of the racing at this racecourse is of the flat variety.

Hanshin Racecourse

Hanshin is another major western-Japan JRA venue. Kyoto and Hanshin should be considered distinct courses with different layouts and fixtures, rather than evidence of a rule allowing only two tracks in a jurisdiction. Course geometry, distance and the actual entry list are the useful starting points for assessing a race; the number of nearby venues does not establish that a field will be full or competitive.

At Hanshin the Osaka Hai and the Oka Sho are the primary races on the calendar. There are also a few other races which are seen as major sporting events.

Other Racecourses in Japan

Along with the major horse racing tracks that we have listed above, there are also some minor racecourses in Japan. These include:

Chukyo Racecourse
Fukushima Racecourse
Niigata Racecourse
Kokura Racecourse
Sapporo Racecourse
Hakodate Racecourse

The events at these tracks consist of flat racing and jump racing. While jump racing is still conducted on a certain scale in Japan, flat racing remains the most popular. There is, however, a third type of horse racing track in Japan.

Power Horse Racing Tracks

In Japan you will find some horse racing tracks that offer what is known as power racing. In this type of event the horses are connected to a large sled. They then have to pull this sled after it is loaded with weights and a driver. This is a test of endurance and large draft-type horses are used.

While power racing can be entertaining, it is not a sport that is overseen by the JRA. Most people would even consider this to be an entirely different event than thoroughbred racing.

How to Compare Japan’s Racing Facilities

Japan’s major racecourses combine racing surfaces, spectator facilities, training areas and published race information. For a bettor, the important question is how the particular course affects today’s event. Check its direction, bends, straight length, surface and official going report rather than treating every Japanese venue as interchangeable. A course can offer several configurations, and a listed distance alone does not describe the route the horses will take.

Good facilities do not establish a universal safety or veterinary ranking against every other country. Nor does a prominent international race guarantee the same field strength throughout a venue’s calendar. Use the organizer’s course guide and race-day notices for facts that can be checked. For a visitor, compare admission, transport, seating and accessibility separately from the racing analysis. For a remote viewer, confirm the current racecard, result service and broadcast channel before relying on an older venue description.

Betting Access to Japanese Racing from Outside Japan

For an international bettor, a provider listing Japanese races does not by itself establish that the wagers enter an official JRA pool. Coverage can be restricted to particular courses, races or account locations, and settlement methods can differ. Confirm the meeting actually appears on the current menu, identify the bet types and units, and read whether settlement uses an official dividend, another pool or bookmaker terms. A racing broadcast is also different from wagering access. Our articles on how to bet the JRA and Japan horse racing odds explain the ticket and price distinctions.

How to Bet Horse Racing Tracks in Japan

We will conclude this guide with a look at how to bet on many of the horse racing tracks we have mentioned. If you live in Japan, a pleasant day at the track can be a fun endeavor. If you are like the rest of us, you may need to find another option. The online racebook is perfect.

Online racebooks have become very popular in recent years throughout the world. Many bettors like them because they offer access to horse racing in other countries. Opening an online racebook account does not guarantee access to almost every Japanese track. Check the current venue and race menu, your account eligibility and the provider’s settlement rules before relying on its coverage.

There are other advantages. Convenience is the biggest. You don’t have to leave your home to make bets, and you can use a phone or tablet to wager on the go. See our Bovada racebook review, Twinspires review or even our Betamerica review. These reviews describe different services and histories; they are not a promise of current Japanese coverage or availability in every US state. online racebook comparison for folks outside the USA such as Canada or Europe!

What the 25-course count includes
Group	Racecourses	Scope
JRA central racing	10	The ten courses named above
NAR local racing	15	Includes Obihiro’s distinct ban’ei racing
Combined total	25	Two racing structures, not one uniform program
Off-track outlets	Not added	Betting locations are not racecourses

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How Many Race Tracks Are in Japan?