Held since 1981, The Japan Cup is one of the world’s most prestigious thoroughbred horse races – and one of the world’s richest- with a total prize purse of over one billion yen , and regularly attracts an audience of more than 100,000 people.
The race is held annually on the last Sunday of November, at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchū, Tokyo, run over a distance of 2,400 m , with a maximum of 18 horses.
International Appeal
The Japan Cup was instituted by the Japan Racing Association (JRA) to give local horses the opportunity to compete against those of international calibre and to promote goodwill within the racing community worldwide.
Similar to Australia’s Melbourne Cup, the Japan Cup extends invitations to top-performing horses aged three and above from around the world.
The 2026 Japan Cup Tour
27th-30th Nov 2026
Japan Holidays has secured limited places for premium lounge suites for the 2026 November race, and has crafted a 4 Days / 3 Nights Luxury Racing & Autumn Foliage Tour to watch the 2026 Japan Cup – paired with private -guided tours to experience Japan’s peak autumn foliage and luxury shopping.
Tour Highlight – a visit to Mt Takao and lunch at the iconic Ukai Toriyama restaurant
A curated full-day tour with a private guide to visit Mt Takao – located less an hour from downtown Tokyo, featuring stunning Autumn scenery,ancient shrines, and spectacular views of Mount Fuji on clear days.
Enjoy lunch at the iconic Ukai Toriyama restaurant- set in a farmhouse in the architectural style of gassho-zukuri – a hidden gem near Mt. Takao famous for its Japanese charcoal-grilled dishes in a tranquil garden setting.
