WRC 2026 Rally Japan: The full WRC stage guide and times
26th May 2026The World Rally Championship is back in action this weekend as they head east, to the Land of the Rising Sun, for Rally Japan.
Feature image credit: Jaanus Ree // Red Bull Content Pool
After three European rallies off the bounce, with Croatia Rally, Rally Islas Canarias and Rally de Portugal, the WRC heads east into Asia for the iconic Rally Japan.
WRC’s next round also makes a return to asphalt conditions, after a brief spell on gravel in Portugal, making it the third tarmac rally in four events. It also marks the last event on this type of surface for the rest of the season, as the rest of the year will be contested on gravel roads.
20 stages are expected to make up the Japanese event, contesting across 302.82km of competitive terrain amongst the 10 Rally1 crews, which will be taking part in the rally.
Saturday stands as the longest day of the weekend with eight stages to be completed. It will also be a reversed loop, starting with the 16.44km Obara test and ending the loop with its second pass.
But the second day of action will be settled with two back-to-back Super Special Stages with the 3.19km Fujioka tests.
So, what is the itinerary for Rally Japan?
*** All times displayed will be in local time to the event, Japan Standard Time. ***
*** Times bracketed (e.g. [08:03am]) will be shown in British Summer Time. ***
Thursday – May 28, 2026
Shakedown: Kuragaike Park – 08:01 [00:01]
Friday – May 29, 2026
SS1: Asuke 1 – 08:03 [00:03]
SS2: Isegami’s Tunnel 1 – 08:46 [00:46]
SS3: Inabu/Shitara 1 – 10:09 [02:09]
SS4: Asuke 2 – 13:57 [05:57]
SS5: Isegami’s Tunnel 2 – 14:40 [06:40]
SS6: Inabu/Shitara 2 – 16:03 [08:03]
Saturday – May 30, 2026
SS7: Obara 1 – 07:41 [Friday, May 29: 23:41]
SS8: Ena 1 – 08:54 [00:54]
SS9: Mt. Kasagi 1 – 10:35 [02:35]
SS10: Mt. Kasagi 2 – 13:05 [05:05]
SS11: Ena 2 – 14:38 [06:38]
SS12: Obara 2 – 15:56 [07:56]
SS13: Fujioka SSS 1 – 17:15 [09:15]
SS14: Fujioka SSS 2 – 17:38 [09:38]
Sunday – May 31, 2026
SS15: Nukata 1 – 08:14 [00:14]
SS16:Lake Mikawako 1 09:05 [01:05]
SS17: Kuragaike SS1 – 10:13 [02:13]
SS18: Kuragaike SSS2 – 10:32 [02:32]
SS19: Nukata 2 12:30 – 12:30 [04:30]
SS20: Lake Mikawako 2 (Wolf Power Stage) – 14:15 [06:15]
Read more WRC here:
- WRC 2026 Rally Japan: full Rally1 entry list
- Rally Portugal given €15,000 suspended fine after tow truck incident
- Sebastien Ogier regains Rally Portugal lead ahead of Thierry Neuville
- Sebastien Ogier profits from Adrien Fourmaux mistake at Rally Portugal
- Adrien Fourmaux takes over WRC Rally Portugal lead
- Solberg takes early Thursday lead at WRC Rally Portugal
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
