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Tsukuba RC Arena is for international racing
Tsukuba RC Arena is amazing. It’s the base for Yokomo, one of Japan’s leading RC car companies. If this is your hobby, you need to check it out. I spent a day there and had great fun.
The arena has been around for quite a long time but was recently renovated. It reopened in October 2022 on the same weekend as the All Japan Hobby and Model Show. Yokomo has created an incredible place. It is an RC enthusiast’s dream come true. I doubt you’ll find anything better than this.
The facilities are great. Their shop is all kitted out. If you need a chassis, electronics, bodies, paints, oils, or tools they have it for you. And best of all, it is at an international level. So if you don’t speak Japanese don’t worry, they have English-speaking staff.
This was my first time seeing the sport and I was impressed. Tsukuba RC Arena had everything the RC enthusiast could need. Tables were everywhere so people could work on their cars. Access to power points is no problem. Everyone is friendly. The camaraderie is obvious. It’s obvious this venue has a huge future.
The arena has different courses for racing. The circuits are road, hill, and drifting. There is also an outdoor area. No one used that for my visit, as it rained most of the day.
I was impressed by the drivers’ skill levels. They kept their cars on the tracks like they were glued to them. These people must spend endless hours practicing.
Take the drifters for example. They were like real life. I saw cars slide around the track side by side, barely millimeters from each other. It’s hard to imagine how much time it takes to get to that level.
By the way, how did I discover Tsukuba RC Arena? The person responsible is TJ Williams. We connected through his R/C Racer Japan Facebook group. He’s been involved in the sport for a long time and is very knowledgeable. Any question I threw at him, he had an answer. Give his page a like if you want to get involved.
I also met a few members of his group who were all wonderful guys. They were also knowledgeable about the sport. In my few hours at Tsukuba RC Arena, I learned a lot. Of course, I got my time at driving one of these cars. It was so much fun.
Where is Tsukuba RC Arena?
Tsukuba RC Arena (formerly Yatabe Arena) is in Ibaraki Prefecture. The address is 4385-2 Yatabe, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0861. It is about a one-hour drive from Tokyo.
The closest train station is Midorino on the Tsukuba Express Line. The walk is about 5 kilometers, so a car or taxi would be advisable.
Here it is on a Google Map:
Conclusion
RC racing has a huge following in Japan. Tsukuba RC Arena is a mecca for them. Yokomo has poured a lot of resources into it for you to enjoy. And it will be the premier place in Japan for international-level events. I doubt you could find better. Why don’t you join them?
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External Links
- Tsukuba RC Arena
- R/C Racer Japan (on Facebook)