At 23:07 local time on Saturday night in Japan, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake shook the seabed just off the northeast coast of the country. The effects rippled to Tokyo, hours away. And on its way, one of the world’s best drivetrains suffered significant damage at Ebisu Circuit. The quake caused landslides around the region, collapsing highways and darkening roads. On the Ebisu Circuit, photos of the destruction show giant tracks of the track broken and covered with dirt and mud, and the cleanup will be extensive.
In the mountains of northern Japan, the Ebisu Circuit is a complex of seven tracks and two sliding blocks with a maze of elevation changes and sharp curves. The Ebisu is much loved by drivers around the world and was designed by pioneer driver Nobushige Kumakubo. Three times a year, this spectacular venue opens its gates for one and a half days for Matsuri, an event not allowed for anyone who wants to take part in the fun. It is interesting that Ebisu Circuit is combined with a Tōhoku Safari Park, where lions, tigers, monkeys, bears and more are caged near the tracks.
This track is almost four hours from Tokyo and is not easy to reach, but it is well worth it. Drivers visit the tracks built on the side of a mountain in the city of Nihonmatsu in the Fukushima Prefecture, for a variety of races with incredible views and challenging features. Circles include Nishi (West), Kita (North), Higashi (East, which has the longest straight), Minami (South, where D1 Grand Prix races take place), Drift Land, the School Track and the Mountain Pass (the Touge)) . The chips are called KuruKuru Land; kurukuru means “round and round” in Japanese, which perfectly describes the action. You can even take a ‘Drift Taxi’ and ride with two other friends in a parked Toyota JZX110 Mark II; for 30,000 Yen plus 500 extra for insurance, an experienced driver will take you on a sideways tour of the main tracks.
Drift Land has caused significant damage due to the earthquake, as you will see in the video from Powervehicles.com below:
It’s going to be a big cleanup, and I’m hope to recover soon.
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