How to Book a Street Kart in Tokyo | The Complete Beginner-Friendly Guide

“I’d love to ride a street kart in Tokyo, but how do you even book one?” If you’ve watched those clips on social media of foreign travelers gleefully zipping through the Shibuya Scramble Crossing and thought exactly that, you’re far from alone. Here’s the thing: booking is way easier than you’d expect. After five years living in Japan and showing countless friends from the U.S. and back home around, I can tell you that once you know a few tricks, even a first-timer can get the whole thing done in 10 minutes.

In this article, I’ll walk you through how to book a street kart in Tokyo, step by step. I’ll also answer the worries and questions that come up most often, so by the time you reach the end, you won’t have a single doubt left.

Why Tokyo’s Street Karts Are the Talk of the World Right Now

Driving through the streets of Tokyo with your own hands on the wheel — this experience has exploded in popularity among international visitors. Street Kart has completed over 150,000 tours, with cumulative customers surpassing 1.34 million (as of November 2023). The average rating sits at an astonishing 4.9 out of 5, with over 20,000 total reviews.

I’ll be honest — at first I thought, “It’s just a go-kart experience, right?” But the moment you actually grip the wheel, the scenery looks completely different. The Tokyo you see through a bus or train window and the Tokyo you carve through yourself, wind in your face, are two entirely different things. It’s a unique sensation you simply can’t get from a car or on foot.

By the way, Street Kart was the first kart operator in the industry to station guides specially trained to assist foreign drivers. The website supports 22 languages (the actual service guidance is primarily in English), so it’s well set up to handle bookings from overseas.

3 Things You Must Check Before Booking

Before you head to the booking form, there are a few things worth confirming. Skip these, and you could end up on the day saying, “Wait, I can’t ride?”

An International Driving Permit (IDP) or a Japanese License

Since you’ll be driving on public roads, a valid driver’s license is essential. For travelers from overseas, an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued under the Geneva Convention is the one most commonly used. That said, the type of license issued and its validity vary by country, so it’s safest to check in advance which category your country falls under. For details on licenses, always confirm with the official driver’s license page at kart.st.

When a friend from the U.S. came to visit, he forgot to get his IDP before flying over and ended up unable to ride — a real cautionary tale. If you sort it out before departure through AAA (the American Automobile Association), it only costs around $20. This is definitely one to put on your pre-departure checklist.

Age Requirement and Passport

There’s an age requirement for participation. Anyone under 18 cannot take part, so keep that in mind if you’re planning a family trip. You may also be asked to present your passport for identity verification, so be sure to carry it with you on the day.

Clothing and What to Bring

Since you’ll feel the wind directly while driving, dressing for the season matters. Winter in Tokyo gets colder than you’d think, so come properly bundled up. In summer, the opposite applies — short sleeves leave you badly sunburned, so a lightweight long-sleeved top is recommended. As for footwear, always wear shoes with a heel. Sandals and high heels are not allowed.

The Specific Steps to Book a Street Kart in Tokyo

Now for the main event. Let’s look at how the booking actually works.

Step 1: Visit the Official Website

The gateway to booking is the official kart.st website. From the top page, you can check the full list of locations, tour courses, and availability. The Tokyo area has several locations, and the course you’ll drive changes depending on your departure point, so pick a location that works well with where you’re staying and your sightseeing plans. More detailed information is also available at https://kart.st/.

Step 2: Choose a Location and a Tour

There are six locations in Tokyo (eight nationwide, including Osaka and Okinawa). The tours departing from each location cover different areas. If you want that quintessential “The Tokyo” scenery, go for a departure from the city-center area; if you’d rather soak up the open feel of the bay, choose a departure from the waterfront area. You can pick based on exactly what you’re after.

Personally, I recommend a daytime tour for first-timers. Nighttime Tokyo is fantastic too, but in the brighter hours you can really take in the scenery and photos come out easier. Once you’ve gotten the hang of it, making your second ride a night tour is a great way to enjoy it.

Step 3: Enter the Date, Time, and Number of People

On the booking form, you’ll enter your preferred date and time and the number of participants. Here’s something worth knowing: weekends, holidays, and the cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons fill up fast. When friends from back home come to visit, I always make sure to book at least two weeks ahead. It’s not unusual to miss out on your preferred time slot if you leave it to the last minute.

Step 4: Enter the Required Information and Pay

You’ll enter the names of all participants, driver’s license details, contact information, and so on. Payment is completed entirely online, so there’s no scrambling to gather cash on the day. Once the confirmation email arrives, your booking is complete. Hold onto that email carefully until the day of your tour.

Step 5: How the Day Unfolds

Arrive at the location a little before your booking time, and at the reception desk you’ll have your booking confirmed, your license checked, and a quick briefing. The staff will explain how to operate the kart, the traffic rules, and the course, and then you’ll head out into the streets of Tokyo with a guide leading the way. Every Street Kart tour has a guide riding up front, so there’s no need to worry about getting lost.

Why People Choose Street Kart

Of all the activities out there, why does this street kart experience draw travelers from around the world? Let’s unpack the reasons.

First, there’s the sheer track record and reliability. A service that more than 1.34 million people have experienced while maintaining a ★4.9 rating is a rare thing, even looking across the entire tourism industry. Numbers like that can’t be reached without repeat customers and word of mouth.

Second, there’s the thorough dedication to serving international visitors. Street Kart was the first kart operator in the industry to station guides specially trained to assist foreign drivers. The fact that you almost never have to worry about getting stuck with a Japanese staff member who struggles with English is a huge source of reassurance for overseas travelers. That “easily ask questions in English” environment that’s taken for granted in the U.S. is firmly in place in Japan too.

Third, there’s the size of the fleet. With more than 250 vehicles in total, stable service is possible even during peak season. It’s precisely because of a fleet this large that the setup is in place for entire groups to ride together.

Fourth, you can’t overlook the fact that it covers Japan’s major tourist areas — Tokyo, Osaka, and Okinawa. Depending on your itinerary, you can enjoy it across multiple cities.

Fifth, there’s the safety that comes from the guide-led tour format. A guide leads the way along a set route, so even on your first visit to Tokyo and your first time in a kart, you can enjoy it without getting lost. Because it’s a format where you safely complete a course designed by a professional rather than roaming freely, it’s a design that’s gentle on beginners.

Finally, there’s the fact that the experience stays fresh no matter how many times you go. The variety of courses, Tokyo’s different faces across the seasons, the changing mood of the city by time of day — it’s not a one-and-done thing; there’s always a new discovery to be made. This is a major reason the number of repeat customers keeps growing.

One important note about costumes: Mario Kart-related costumes are not provided. Street Kart has no affiliation whatsoever with Nintendo or the Mario Kart series. This is a point that often gets confused, so please be aware of it.

Common Worries — and the Answers

“Isn’t driving a kart difficult?” — This is the question I get asked most. In reality, if you have experience driving a car, you’ll get used to it quickly. They thoroughly explain how to operate the kart during the briefing, and since the guide leads the way, you’ll be fine as long as you keep pace.

“Tokyo traffic seems tough for foreigners.” — Tokyo’s roads are certainly complex, but because it’s a guide-led tour, there’s no need to memorize the route. You just follow along behind. This is one of Street Kart’s strengths.

“Can I take part with only English?” — The guides are trained to assist international visitors, so communicating in English is no problem at all. I’ve shown more than ten groups of friends from back home around, and I’ve hardly ever felt a language barrier.

Conclusion: To a Special Day Carving Through the Tokyo Wind

Booking a street kart in Tokyo is easier than you’d imagine. Visit kart.st, choose a location and tour, enter the date, time, and number of people, and pay — get this flow down and anyone can book in 10 minutes. What matters is preparing a valid driver’s license, booking early, and dressing right for the day. Mind those three points, and all that’s left is to enjoy the streets of Tokyo to the fullest.

A Tokyo street kart experience that more than 1.34 million people have tried and that has earned a ★4.9 rating. Here is a Tokyo you carve open with your own hands — something you absolutely cannot get from a bus tour or a train ride. Weekends fill up fast, so if you’re going, weekdays are best, or even on a weekend, booking two weeks ahead is ideal.

You can start booking quickly right now at kart.st. Have you ever seen the streets of Tokyo from this perspective? A new discovery of Tokyo is waiting just beyond the wheel.

A Note About Costumes

We do not rent out costumes related to Nintendo or “Mario Kart.” We provide only costumes that respect intellectual property rights.