Travel
José R. Mendoza
- I went on a go-kart tour through the streets of Tokyo last year for $125.
- The driving tour lasted one hour and took us to some of the main attractions in Tokyo.
- It was stressful at first but I enjoyed the unique, exciting experience.
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Tokyo is filled with unforgettable experiences — after all, it's the most popular city in Japan, which the World Economic Forum named the No. 3 best country for tourism in the world.
In a city filled with options, I've found one of the most thrilling, unique ways to explore it is with a go-kart tour.
Last year, I booked a one-hour go-kart tour through Monkey Kart, which offers several options and routes. While in costume, I got to drive a tiny vehicle resembling those from the Nintendo game "Mario Kart."
The tour took my group through Tokyo, including Shibuya Crossing, Shinjuku Golden Gai, Harajuku Station, Tokyo Tower, and Roppongi District.
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Here's what the tour was like and why I'd do it again.
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The tour cost about $125, and I also paid $20 for a required driving permit.
I paid $125 when booking my tour online. The price included a one-hour go-kart rental, a costume rental, and a tour guide.
During the booking process, I chose the 5 p.m. tour around sunset, so I could see the city in daylight and when it got dark.
US Citizens also need an international driving permit (IDP) to participate in the tour (and drive in Japan) so I got mine at my nearest AAA office for $20 before I left for Tokyo.
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The tour kicked off in Shibuya City.
When I arrived at the meeting point in Shibuya City, I had to show my passport, physical IDP card, and tour confirmation email.
Then, I was able to choose the costume I wanted to wear for my ride.
The Pikachu onesie seemed to be the most popular pick, but none were left, so I opted for a Winnie the Pooh one.
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First, we were instructed on how to drive the kart.
Before getting into our karts, our guide gave us safety and operational instructions, including how to signal, brake, and accelerate.
He showed us which hand gestures he'd use to indicate where we should turn and reminded us to always stay with our group.
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Then, we chose our karts.
After the safety orientation, I picked my kart, which was small, tight, and low to the ground.
I saw some people attaching GoPro cameras to their karts, and I strapped my phone to my chest so I could film videos during the tour.
The staff ensured I was comfortable and knew how to operate the kart before we left.
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Finally, we headed to the streets of Tokyo.
In Japan, everyone drives on the left side of the road. I'm used to driving on the right side in the US, so it took me a few minutes to get used to it.
Once I felt comfortable driving, my adrenaline started pumping, and I began enjoying the breeze and scenery.
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I got to experience my 15 seconds of fame driving through Tokyo at night.
It felt like everyone on the tour was a celebrity as tourists snapped pictures of us while we were stopped at intersections.
As night started to fall, the city lights came on, making for an epic backdrop. Tokyo is a vibrant city full of lights and people, and it was special to experience it from a kart at night.
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Our group also stopped at the Shibuya Crossing.
One of the tour's highlights was driving through the Shibuya Crossing, considered the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world.
The guide timed the tour so well that we got there before a red light and could take in the full effect of the crossing, which can have thousands of pedestrians on it at a time.
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The ride felt intense at times, but it wasn't too scary.
As we wrapped up the tour, we got to go faster than when we started.
I wasn't able to check my speed, but I would guess I went as fast as 40 miles per hour.
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Overall, I'd do this unique experience again.
The go-kart tour was exhilarating even though it felt difficult at first because I'd never driven on the left side of the road or in such a small vehicle before.
The karts are also pretty loud and the smell of the fumes coming off of them is strong.
Even so, the one-hour tour was a thrilling and unique way to see Tokyo. If I get the chance to return to the city, I'd do it again.
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