Autopolis

The circuit was envisioned and funded by Tomonori Tsurumaki, a wealthy real-estate developer and investment banker, at a cost of $500 million. Tsurumaki gained international notoriety in 1989 when, during a Paris auction, he successfully bid $51.3 million for the Pablo Picasso painting Les Noces de Pierrette from his Tokyo hotel room. Following the bid, he announced the painting would hang in an art gallery at the racing resort then under development. The track was designed by Yoshitoshi Sakurai, who previously served as the project leader for the Honda Formula One team during the 1960s.

Autopolis opened in November 1990 with a grand opening event featuring "Sabre Cars"—30 Buick-powered, US-built single-seaters. The inaugural race pitted invited US CART drivers, including Johnny Rutherford and Dick Simon, against local Japanese competitors. Following this, Tsurumaki attempted to establish a dedicated series for these vehicles known as Formula Crane 45, though it only saw a handful of participants in 1991.

During its early years, Autopolis was positioned as a candidate for the Formula One calendar. To promote this ambition, the venue sponsored the Benetton Formula One team in 1990 and 1991, with the circuit's logo appearing prominently on the cars. In 1991, the track hosted its only major international event of the era: the 430km of Autopolis, the season finale of the World Sportscar Championship. The race was won by Michael Schumacher and Karl Wendlinger driving a Sauber-Mercedes-Benz C291.

Despite the high standard of facilities, the circuit faced immediate criticism from visitors to the World Sportscar Championship event. Critics noted the track was too remote to the hotels, which required a several-hour bus ride, and felt the venue was unsuitable for a Formula One race.

The circuit is defined by its significant elevation changes, totaling over 50 m (160 ft). The start/finish straight is situated at an altitude of 820 m (2,690 ft). The track layout is divided into distinct topographical sections: the first portion of the lap is generally downhill, while the latter half of the course runs uphill.

The circuit's history has been marked by financial instability. Tsurumaki’s company, Nippon Tri-Trust, collapsed into bankruptcy in 1993—the same year Autopolis was scheduled to host the Asian Grand Prix on the Formula One calendar. Following the bankruptcy, the F1 slot was reassigned to Donington Park. The circuit and other assets, which included three hotels and an artificial ski slope, ended up in the hands of Hazama, the firm responsible for the construction of the race track.

By 1995, the company offered the site for sale at 10% of its build cost. After a period of changing hands, Kawasaki Motors purchased the circuit in 2005.

While its Formula One ambitions were never realized, Autopolis became a staple for domestic Japanese championships. It first hosted a Super GT (then JGTC) exhibition race in 1999, won by Tom Coronel and Hidetoshi Mitsusada. Since 2003, it has been a regular stop for the Super GT series, with some exceptions. In 2006, the track began hosting Super Formula.

The circuit has also hosted the Asia Road Racing Championship, the Japanese Touring Car Championship, and various motorcycle events such as the MFJ Superbike series. Additionally, it serves as a venue for the D1 Grand Prix drifting series, Super Formula Lights, and Super Taikyu endurance racing.

Autopolis remains a prominent venue in the Japanese racing landscape under the ownership of Kawasaki. Its cultural footprint extended into digital media when it was added to Gran Turismo Sport in 2019; it has also appeared in the Need for Speed series and Gran Turismo 7. While the Picasso painting that once defined Tsurumaki’s extravagant vision remained in a bank vault waiting to be sold, the circuit continues to operate as an international facility for both four-wheel and two-wheel motorsport in the Kyushu region.