Street Kart Shibuya: Cruise Tokyo’s Iconic Streets

Most tourists to Tokyo make a trip to Shibuya, mainly to check out the famous Shibuya Crossing and walk around the bustling streets. But there is another way to see this iconic city, and that’s on wheels. Have you ever imagined driving through Shibuya Crossing surrounded by skyscrapers and huge LED screens? Well, Street Kart Shibuya offers this incredible opportunity.

If you visit Tokyo, you will likely see people zipping down the street in go-karts dressed in colourful cosplay costumes. Many companies provide this service, but one of the best is Japan Kart Shibuya. They provide customers with one of the safest and most fun go-karting experiences and visit some of the best locations in Tokyo. This is an exciting and unique way to explore the city while giving visitors an adrenaline rush. 

In this article, I will touch on the history of street karting in Tokyo, discuss the route that Street Kart Shibuya takes, talk about the legal requirements and prices, and give my opinion and review of the full experience they offer.

So put on that costume, strap in tight, and let’s hit the roads of the biggest city in the world. 3, 2, 1, Go!

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History and Background

Street Kart started the original Tokyo go-karting experience in 2015. Originally based on Mario Kart, it offered customers Mario costumes to wear during the experience, and it used the name MariCar. However, in 2017, Nintendo sued it and MariCar was fined 50 million yen. 

MariCar changed its branding to avoid any further legal issues. They changed their name to Street Kart and avoided using any Nintendo imagery, such as logos and costumes. Today, in addition to Street Kart, more companies have joined the race to offer this experience to visitors to Japan, including Japan Kart, Street Kart, Monkey Kart, and Neo Tokyo Kart. 

There are many areas in Tokyo where street karting can be tried, including Asakusa, Tokyo Bay, Akihabara, and, of course, the one that I will be reviewing, Shibuya by Japan Kart. It’s one for the bucket list and something that many tourists choose to do when visiting Japan.

Shibuya Karting Experience

When I decided to book Japan Kart Shibuya, I wanted to go with their later option, beginning at 5:15 pm. This would give me the best chance to see Tokyo during the day and at night. This is a huge bonus for some locations you visit on this experience.

However, I didn’t realise this slot would be so busy, and I had to book it roughly three weeks in advance. So, please keep this in mind when booking the tour. 

Description of Routes and Landmarks

Street Kart Shibuya by Japan Kart is a 2-hour and 15-minute guided tour. This length allowed me to see much more of Tokyo than some of the 1-hour tours offered by other providers.

I began the journey by leaving the starting location in Kanda and passing the iconic Imperial Palace. Then we headed to the bustling streets of Shibuya and drove down some of the back streets before seeing the mega-popular Shibuya Scramble Crossing. This was one of my favourite moments, as the skyscrapers and massive LED screens were in every direction I looked.

Next up was Roppongi, and this was when the sun started to set. I could see Tokyo coming alive as all of the lights began switching on. I then drove through the business district of Hibiya, which I’m not too familiar with, so it was fun to see it in this unique way.

It was now completely dark outside, and as we were driving, I suddenly noticed Tokyo Tower to the side of me. This is one of Tokyo’s best landmarks and looks stunning at night. Driving on the roads around this iconic tower gave me many unique views. We also had a quick pit stop here, allowing us to take a photo with the Tokyo Tower, stretch our legs, and use the bathroom if needed.

On our way back, we drove to Chiyoda and around the gorgeous red and white brick Tokyo Station. After that, I went back to the finishing point at Kanda.

Starting the Adventure

Street Kart Shibuya advises you to arrive at the location 15 minutes before the departure time. And they say latecomers and no-shows can’t be refunded. So please arrive there in plenty of time.

I arrived about 25 minutes before the departure time, and I was shocked to see everyone already there, most of whom were trying on costumes. I did a quick check-in, and the friendly staff checked my booking confirmation and my passport, driver’s license, and international driving permit. Make sure you have all the documents with you, as the staff checked each of them.

The staff then told me I could look at their costumes and wear any I fancied. I was pleasantly surprised to see various costumes featuring characters from Winnie the Pooh, Disney, Pokemon, and more. They also had more subtle costumes, such as Tokyo baseball jerseys and some traditional Japanese festival clothing. Some of the good ones had already been taken, but I was happy there was a Psyduck from Pokemon onesie, which I quickly selected and put on.

The staff then called us all over to sit on some chairs and watch an instructional video. This was an informative safety video that explained the laws for driving on the roads of Tokyo, what important road signs mean, how the experience would work, and what rules we must follow as a group.

We were told to leave any large bags behind, but we could take items like wallets and phones if they were in our pockets or a small shoulder bag such as a bumbag.

We then headed outside as one of the staff demonstrated how to operate the go-karts. These are very simple to operate, which kept my mind at ease. The staff showed us how to turn them on and off. They explained that the cars were automatic, so we only had to use a break and accelerator, and then described how to operate the indicators. This was simple and clear, and they spoke in extremely good English.

The go-karts used in Street Kart Shibuya look very new. I’ve done other go-kart experiences and the vehicles looked like they had been well used. I believe this is a fairly new tour, as the karts were in great condition. I soon discovered they handled well and felt more powerful than the last go-kart I used.

On the Road

One of the first things I realised was that the staff take this tour very seriously and safety is one of their top priorities. We drove in a single file with staff members driving a car leading the way. This was great as you could always see the car as it towered over the go-karts.

There was also an extra member of staff riding a motorbike behind us. They were there in case anyone had an issue with the kart and to help us change lanes more easily. 

Another thing that I noticed was that other tourists and locals appeared to be enjoying seeing us. Often, when we stopped at traffic lights, people waved at us and took photos.

The staff were also on hand to take photos of us during the experience. Many times throughout the journey, when we stopped at red lights, one of the staff members would get out of his car and go around the group, snapping photos of us, and then head back to his car before the light changed to green.

One of the key moments was when we stopped at the Tokyo Tower. This was a nice break, just over the halfway point. It allowed us to stretch our legs and use the toilet. But the staff also snapped photos of us in our costumes with the tower in the background.

End of the Tour

At the end of the tour, we drove back to the starting point and lined up in single file. The staff then let us head back inside as they park the go-karts in the garage.

Once I was inside and took off my costume, the staff told us there was free water, snacks, or tea and coffee from a machine that we could help ourselves to. This was a nice touch, as 2-plus hours on a go-kart can be a little tiring, and it’s nice to rest a bit before heading home.

At this point, they also took all of our emails and shared the Google Drive with us, which contained all of the photos they took throughout the journey. Because the staff does this often as their job, the photos turned out great and made the perfect souvenir to take home.

Legal Requirements and Safety Measures

Before booking a Shibuya Go Kart experience, you should check you have everything required to do this legally:

• All participants must be 18 years old or above.
• You will need your original driving license, plus a hard copy of an international driving permit, as well as a valid passport. These are all requirements and will be checked when you arrive. 
• You must show a hard copy of a valid international driving permit on the day of the activity. Otherwise, your booking will be cancelled, and there will be no refund. So make sure you have everything required before going.

There are several different conventions for International Driving Permits (IDPs). Japan only recognises IDPs issued under the 1950 Geneva Convention. You need to get an IDP from your home country before visiting Japan.  

Not all countries require an IDP to drive in Japan. Visitors from Switzerland, Germany, France, Taiwan, Belgium, Estonia, and Monaco must bring their original driving license and an official Japanese translation by the authorised organisation.

Check out our International Driving Permit article for more information on IDPs and how they work.

There are a few other safety notes to keep in mind. This experience requires good weather. If it is cancelled due to bad weather, you can either choose from changing to a different date, or you can receive a refund.

You can’t participate if you are under the influence of alcohol. Your booking will be cancelled, and there will be no refund or amendment. 

The tour might also be cancelled if there are any mechanical issues during the tour.

Practical Information

Now that the legal information has been covered, I’ll discuss how to book this experience, the costs, tips for first-timers, how to get to the starting point, and other things to do in the area. 

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Booking and Pricing

Street Kart Shibuya can be booked through Klook and the official Japan Kart website. I used Klook because it’s one of the easiest, quickest, and most secure ways to book experiences.

Klook allows you to book in advance, choosing your date and slot time and the number of participants. You can pay with various cards, including Mastercard, Maestro, and American Express. They also support PayPal payments.

There are three available slots to book. And they all last 2 hours and 15 minutes: 9:45 am, 1:30 pm and 5:15 pm. The slots all have the same price, but group bookings receive a discount.

• Solo traveller price: 17,500 yen
• Group of 2 – 3 Price: 16,625 yen
• Group of 4 – 8 Price: 15,750 yen

There are a wide range of Shibuya Street Kart courses offered through your preferred online travel agency. Our recommended options include Klook, Get Your Guide, Viator, Rakuten, and KKDay.

Tips for First-Time Participants

If this is your first time doing a street-karting Tokyo experience, these are some tips to help you make the most of your time.

Clothing

Dress sensibly and wear comfortable shoes. Something you feel comfortable stepping on the accelerator and breaking peddles with. I would avoid anything like flip-flops.

I did the Street Kart Shibuya experience at the start of June, and Tokyo was really heating up. I wore shorts and a T-shirt so I didn’t overheat and could easily wear the costume over it. If you come in July or August, you might want to skip wearing the costume altogether.

Costumes

You can bring your own costume if you would rather not borrow one of theirs. However, the costumes all looked new and clean. After we wore our costumes, they took them away to clean immediately.

On my visit, some of the most popular costumes were Pokemon characters and Minions. I went with the Psyduck costume since some other people in my group were wearing Pokemon onesies. 

Photos and Videos

If you have a GoPro, you can wear it during the tour. You can either wear it with a head strap or a chest mount. Japan Kart Shibuya can’t provide you with an action camera rental.

At various points throughout the experience, the staff will hop out of the car and snap photos of the customers. This allows you to relax and enjoy the experience without worrying about trying to take selfies. However, many members of my group would take photos of the surroundings while they were stopped at red lights.

The group will also stop at Tokyo Tower during the journey with the staff member taking a group photo with the tower as the backdrop and then individual photos for each customer. At the end of the experience, one of the staff members took our email address and shared it with either Airdrop for Apple users or Google Drive for Android users.

How to Get to the Starting Point

Although Shibuya is in the name, Japan Kart is located in Kanda, Tokyo.

Japan Kart Kanda Branch Address: 2F, 42 Kanda Higashimatsushitacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0042, Japan.

You can ride the Yamanote Line to Kanda Station to access the start point. It is a six-minute walk from the North Exit.

Another option is to use the Marunouchi Line and ride until Awajicho Station. Take exit A1 and from there, it is a 10-minute walk.

Kanda Station is also on the Ginza Line, only a seven-minute direct train ride from Ginza Station. After arriving, take Exit 3 and walk for five minutes to the location.

Nearby Attractions and Dining

Kanda is known as an academic area that is full of universities and schools. However, there are a few things you might want to check out in the area.

Next to the Kanda River is an area called Maach Ecute, which is full of various restaurants. If you take the west exit of Kanda Station, you’ll find a popular shopping street called Nishiguchi. There are also a bunch of izakayas and small cheap restaurants available.

If you are looking to soak in some Japanese culture, you can visit the Kanda Myojin Shrine. This is a large gorgeous shrine that has a history of 1,300 years. Also in the middle of Kanda is the Nikolai-do. This is the Holy Resurrection Cathedral and the main cathedral of the Japanese Orthodox Church. It stands out in Tokyo as it has a Russian-style design.

Final Thoughts

If you have ever considered trying one of Tokyo’s many street-karting experiences, I would highly recommend driving a go kart in Shibuya.

The whole experience was well organised and ran smoothly from start to finish. The staff was all friendly and had excellent communication skills to answer any questions or worries that visitors had.

Another massive bonus of Street Kart Shibuya is the location and the length of the experience. This all takes part in central Tokyo allowing you to soak in the atmosphere of the busy city. It also gives you the chance to see numerous iconic Tokyo locations, such as Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Station, Imperial Palace, and the Tokyo Tower. The 2-hour time also gives you longer to get comfortable driving the go-kart than some 1-hour experiences.

If you have any worries about driving a go-kart in Shibuya, these will disappear quickly. The tutorial put my mind at ease as they made it look straightforward. After driving for about 10 or 15 minutes, I grew more confident and comfortable with the kart. It was a fantastic feeling driving through the streets of Tokyo with the wind in my hair and a huge smile on my face.

Driving across Shibuya Crossing is an experience that you won’t forget. 

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