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Fuji Japan circuit
The 4.563 m long Fuji Speedway circuit lies on the footsteps of Mount Fuji, one of the main symbols of Japan. It is close to Shizuoka, a city west of Tokyo. The first two Japanese GPs were hosted here, back in 1976 and 1977. The circuit was acquired by the Toyota Motor Corporation in 2000. Last year they have won its bid to host a Grand Prix event, replacing the much-loved Suzuka circuit as host to the Japanese Grand Prix in the 2007 Formula One season. This follows a major refurbishment of the track, using a new design form Hermann Tilke. Fuji was the first Formula One circuit ever featured on a videogame, Pole Position. It is also featured on Gran Turismo 4, where the circuit is available in three different layouts. This will certainly increase interest on the race, in a country where Formula One is already very popular. Fuji promises not to disappoint the fans, with its state –of-the-art facilities. The main straight length is 1,475m and it is the longest one out of the Grand Prix circuit.

GEOGRAPHY: Japan is separated from the Asian mainland by 160km (100 miles) of sea. About 70 per cent of the country is covered by hills and mountains, a number of which are active or dormant volcanoes. A series of mountain ranges runs from northern Hokkaido to southern Kyushu. The Japanese Alps (the most prominent range) run in a north–south direction through central Honshu. The highest mountain is Mount Fuji at 3776m (12,388ft). Lowlands and plains are small and scattered, mostly lying along the coast and composed of alluvial lowlands and diluvial uplands. The coastline is very long in relation to the land area, and has very varied features. The deeply indented bays with good natural harbours tend to be adjacent to mountainous terrain.

Government: Constitutional monarchy. Head of State: Emperor Akihito since 1989. Head of Government: Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro since 2001.

Language: Japanese is the official language. Some English is spoken in major cities.

Religion: Shintoism and Buddhism (most Japanese follow both religions) with a Christian minority. In Okinawa, however, people believe in Niraikanai, the realm of the dead beyond the sea.

Time: GMT + 9.

Electricity: 100 volts AC, 60Hz in the west (Osaka); 100 volts AC, 50Hz in eastern Japan and Tokyo. Plugs are flat two-pin and light bulbs are screw-type.

Communications: Telephone Full IDD service. Country code: 81. Outgoing international code: Variable; 0051 through the operator. Three companies provide international communications services: KDDI, IDC and ISD, each possessing their own international access number (001 010, 0061 and 0041, respectively). Credit cards can also be used directly in some phoneboxes.

Mobile telephone The Japanese mobile network uses PDC (Personal Digital Cellular System) technology, which is not compatible with GSM or other mobile services. Visitors can hire handsets from companies such as NTT, Mover Rental Centre, 2-2-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8019 (tel: (3) 3282 0100) or Sony Finance, Rental Sales Department, Minamiaoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo (tel: (3) 3475 5721). For UK travellers, mobiles can also be hired before departure from Adam Phones (tel: (0800) 123 000), Cellhire PLC (tel: (0800) 610 610; e-mail: london@cellhire.com) or Mobell Communications (tel: (01543) 426 999).

Fax Sending and receiving can be arranged at any hour at major hotels. KDDI offers facilities in Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo and Yokohama.

Internet There are many Internet cafes in Tokyo and in the main cities in Japan. The main ISPs include ASCII (website: www.ascii.co.jp), Jeton and Starnet. Some hotel telephones and the new grey telephones have modular sockets for computer network access.

Telegram These can be sent from the main hotels and from the above company, also from larger post offices in major cities. Two rates are available. Overseas telegrams can also be sent from the Central Post Office in Tokyo until midnight.

Post Letters can be taken to the Central Post Office in front of Tokyo Station or the International Post Office, near exit A-2 Otemachi subway station, which provide English-speaking personnel. Airmail to Europe takes four to six days. All main post offices have Poste Restante facilities and will hold mail for up to 10 days. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700. The International Post Office and Central Post Office are open weekdays until 1900, and Saturday until 1700.

Press The English-language daily newspapers in Tokyo include Daily Sports, The Daily Yomiuri, The Japan Times and The Mainichi Daily News.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

Japan Suzuka Circuit:
(Suzuka - Japan) Grand Prix racing was first held in Japan in 1976, at the Fuji circuit, then moved to Suzuka a decade later. Suzuka's figure of eight track is unique in Formula 1 racing. The closest airports to Suzuka are Nagaya and Osaka's Kansai International. Tokyo is further away but the bullet train is a comfortable enough option of travelling to the race from the capital.