Tokyo, Go Karting experience : Tips and review

Akihabara Street Kart Experience – Tokyo Go-Kart Adventure Guide

Why We Chose Street Kart in Tokyo

One of the main reasons we booked this activity was that it was on my husband’s Tokyo bucket list. After researching different companies, I found that the largest and most well-known right now is called Street Kart.

We chose the one-hour Akihabara course, which takes you from Akihabara through Tokyo and Ginza before looping back. It’s worth comparing options carefully since tour lengths and prices vary by company and location.

Street Kart has several branches spread across Tokyo, and each branch offers different tour lengths — 30 minutes, 1 hour, 1.5 hours, or even 2 hours. Depending on which location you choose, the routes also vary, so you can decide whether you want to cruise around areas like Shinjuku, Shibuya, or Asakusa. 

For our experience, we joined the tour at the Akihabara 2 branch, which took us through the buzzing streets of Akihabara, into Ginza, and back again. It felt like a completely unique way to see the city from ground level, right in the middle of Tokyo traffic! Other providers include Yah Kart, Monkey Kart, Neo Kart, Japan Kart, Joy Kart so on.

Important note: Due to copyright issues with Nintendo, these tours no longer offer Mario costumes, and the activity is not officially called “Mario Kart” anymore.

Our Street Kart Experience (1-Hour Akihabara Tour)

When we arrived at the meeting point, the staff quickly checked our international driving permits, Australian licenses, and passports. After a short safety briefing, we were ready to go. The karts were simple to drive — the only caution was never press the accelerator and brake at the same time.

Driving felt similar to a regular car, although the pedals were heavier than I expected. For us, one hour was the perfect length. We had debated the 2-hour option, but it might have been tiring.

Our group had five people, including the instructor. He spoke clear English, was super friendly, and took lots of photos for us whenever we stopped at safe spots.

Booking Street Kart in Tokyo – Official Website vs Klook & KKday

I booked directly through the official Street Kart website, and the process was smooth and quick. Their customer support was responsive, and I found better prices and more available time slots than on third-party sites.

For example, on Klook, tickets for May 8th were around 10,000–11,000 yen for all time slots. On the official site, I found tickets between 8,000 and 10,000 yen with more flexible timings.

Tip: Book directly via the official site to save money and secure better time slots.

=> Official website of Street Kart: https://kart.st/akihabara.html#main

Price and timetable on Klook

Price and timetable on the Street Kart website

For example, on Klook, tickets were around 10,000 to 11,000 yen for May 8th, regardless of the time, but on the official site, I found tickets from 8,000 to 10,000 yen, and more time options too.

Things to Know Before You Go

One concern I had was getting separated at traffic lights. My husband actually got stuck at one, but the group simply waited for him at the next intersection. The instructors manage this really well, so no need to worry.

The main downside was the pollution — with exhaust fumes right at nose level, it wasn’t the most pleasant part of the ride. Wearing a mask was definitely helpful, though I regret keeping it on for photos (all our pictures have masks 😅).

Costumes are optional, but they add a lot of fun to the experience. While we didn’t wear them this time, looking back at other people’s photos, I’ll definitely rent a costume next time to capture more memorable shots.

Final Thoughts – Is Street Kart in Tokyo Worth It?

Overall, the Tokyo Street Kart experience in Akihabara was one hour of pure fun. The thrill of driving through the city streets, passing landmarks like Tokyo Tower and Ginza, made it unforgettable.

It’s safe, well-organised, and a unique way to experience Tokyo from the streets. Despite minor downsides like pollution, it was absolutely worth the price, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

If you’re visiting Tokyo and looking for a unique activity near Akihabara, I highly recommend trying Street Kart. It’s a must-do for anyone who wants a mix of adrenaline, sightseeing, and fun!

We took a lot of photos, but we were all wearing masks in them.
Even my husband had both a mask and sunglasses on 😅

*This review is based on my personal experience, and results may vary for others. Please take it as a friendly reference.