Go Kart Tokyo 2026: Street Kart Prices, Routes and IDP Rules

A go kart Tokyo street tour costs roughly ¥5,000–¥26,000 per driver (about US$32–166) and lasts 45 minutes to 2 hours, from shops in Shibuya, Akihabara, Shinagawa, Asakusa, Kanda, Shinjuku and Tokyo Bay. Book on the operator’s own site (Street Kart or JapanKart) or through Viator, Klook or GetYourGuide, and bring a 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit, or you won’t drive and won’t get a refund.

This guide compares the Tokyo shops running in late 2026: route, price by time slot, address and nearest station. It also covers the licence rules that get visitors turned away, what happens on the day, the ¥50,000 damage excess, and whether to book a day or night slot.

Key facts

• Price: ¥5,000–¥26,000 per driver (approx. US$32–166). Daytime and online “review price” slots are cheapest.
• Duration: 45–60 min (short courses) to 1.5–2 hours (Tokyo Tower / Rainbow Bridge courses), plus 30 min check-in.
• Where: Shibuya (Shinsen Station), Akihabara, Kita-Shinagawa, Asakusa, Shinkiba (Tokyo Bay), Kanda, Shinjuku.
• Book: streetkart.com or japankart.com; also Viator, Klook, GetYourGuide.
• Best for: Adults (18+) with a valid IDP who want to see Tokyo from road level, especially after dark.

What is street go karting in Tokyo?

You drive a small, road-registered kart on ordinary Tokyo streets, in single file behind a guide, through real traffic. It is not a race track. You stop at red lights, give way to buses and sit next to taxis at Shibuya Crossing.

Under the Road Traffic Act these karts are “minicars” (ミニカー), treated as ordinary motor vehicles. That is why you need a full car licence to drive one (Tokyo Metropolitan Government). Minicars can’t use expressways. When a route “crosses Rainbow Bridge”, it uses the bridge’s lower ordinary-road deck, not the Shuto Expressway on top.

Who it suits: friends, couples and solo travellers who drive at home. Who it doesn’t suit: anyone without the right paperwork, children, and anyone pregnant or with back or heart problems (the Viator listing advises against it). The minimum age is 18.

Do you need an International Driving Permit to go kart in Tokyo?

Yes, unless you’re covered by one of the exceptions below. Every operator checks documents at the counter, and every one says the same: no valid paperwork, no drive, no refund.

You hold	Bring
Licence from a 1949 Geneva Convention country (UK, US, Canada, Australia, Ireland, NZ, Singapore, India, Korea and most others)	Original home licence + paper IDP booklet (1949 Geneva format) + passport
Licence from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan	Original licence + official Japanese translation (JAF, your embassy, or for Taiwan the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association) + passport
Licence from Estonia or Slovenia	Legal in Japan with an official Japanese translation, but neither kart operator lists these countries, so confirm with the shop before booking
US forces in Japan	SOFA licence (USFJ Form 4EJ), or state licence + military ID
Japanese licence	Japanese licence (Street Kart accepts this from residents only)

Sources: Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, JAF translation guide, Street Kart licence page, JapanKart driving requirements.

The rules that trip people up:

• 1968 Vienna permits don’t work. Japan recognises only the 1949 Geneva format. JapanKart says Vienna IDPs are not accepted. Street Kart asks you to contact the shop if your booklet says “1968”.
• Some countries can’t drive at all. IDPs from countries outside the 1949 Convention are refused. Street Kart names Mexico, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia as examples.
• Paper booklet only. Street Kart rejects card-type, digital, single-sheet and photocopied IDPs. JapanKart rejects IDPs bought from third-party websites. Get yours from the official body in the country that issued your licence (AA in the UK, AAA in the US, and so on).
• India and UAE: JapanKart accepts only the booklet-style Indian IDP, and for the UAE only an IDP from the Automobile & Touring Club of the UAE.
• No temporary or paper licences. Bring the original card.
• One-year limit. Street Kart requires the IDP to be used within a year of issue and within a year of entering Japan.
• JAF translations cost ¥6,000 and must be carried with the original licence (JAF).

What happens if you forget your IDP?

You don’t drive and you don’t get a refund. An IDP cannot be issued inside Japan (Street Kart), and a phone photo won’t do. If it’s at the hotel, go back for it and ask at the counter whether a later slot that day is free.

💡 Japan Pro Tip: Street Kart asks you to message photos of your documents after booking so staff can check them. Do it. It’s the only way to find out your IDP is the wrong type before you turn up.

Which go kart company is best in Tokyo? Every shop compared

Two companies run their own Tokyo shops with English booking: Street Kart (seven Tokyo shops, the operator behind the Viator “Official Street Go-Kart in Shibuya” listing) and JapanKart (Kanda, Shinjuku and Asakusa). Smaller brands sell through resellers. We couldn’t verify their shop addresses on an official site, so they aren’t compared here.

Prices below are per driver, from each operator’s booking page in October 2026. Street Kart shows a discounted “review price” (applied automatically online if you plan to share a review) and a higher “regular” price. Its pages show several price tables without saying which dates they cover, so we give ranges. Check the live calendar.

Shop	Course	Duration	Price (¥)	Nearest station
Street Kart Shibuya	Shibuya Crossing, Harajuku, Omotesando	~1 hr	9,000–18,000 (regular 20,000)	Shinsen, 3 min
Street Kart Shibuya Annex	Dogenzaka, Shibuya Crossing, Omotesando, Harajuku	~1 hr	8,000–18,000 (regular 20,000)	Shinsen, 5 min
Street Kart Akihabara #1	Akihabara, central Tokyo	~1 hr	7,000–14,000 (regular 15,000)	Suehirocho Exit 1, 3 min
Street Kart Akihabara #2	A2-S: Tokyo Station, Ginza. A2-M: Imperial Palace, Harajuku, Shibuya Crossing	1 hr / 1.5–2 hrs	7,000–10,000 / 10,000–17,500	JR Akihabara Showa-dori exit, 8 min
Street Kart Shinagawa	Shinagawa to Tokyo Tower	~1 hr	14,000–16,000 (regular 20,000)	Keikyu Kita-Shinagawa, 5 min
Street Kart Tokyo Bay	Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo Tower	1.5–2 hrs	7,500–25,000	Shinkiba, 10–13 min
Street Kart Asakusa	Asakusa loop	45–60 min	from 5,000–6,000 (regular 12,000)	Tokyo Metro Asakusa, 8 min
JapanKart Kanda	Imperial Palace, Shibuya Crossing, Roppongi, Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Station	2 hrs	26,000	Kanda area
JapanKart Shinjuku	Harajuku, Shibuya, Kabukicho	1.5 hrs	21,000	Shinjuku area
JapanKart Asakusa	Tokyo Bay, Ginza, Akihabara, Ueno / or Akihabara + Kaminarimon	2 hrs / 1 hr	16,000 / 10,000	Asakusa area

US dollar figures use ¥157 = US$1 (rate on 24 October 2026).

1. Street Kart Shibuya (Shibuya Crossing course)

The Lowdown: The shop behind the Viator listing with over 4,000 reviews. Course H-S is a one-hour loop through Shibuya Crossing, the backstreets of Harajuku and down Omotesando.

Where: 15-3 Maruyamacho, Shibuya-ku. Keio Inokashira Line Shinsen Station, about 3 minutes on foot; JR Shibuya Station about 15 minutes.

The Vibe: Neon, crowds, taxis. Expect pedestrians filming you at red lights.

Price: Daytime review prices ¥9,000–¥16,000 (midday “flash sale” slots are the cheapest); 5–8pm ¥14,000–¥18,000; regular ¥20,000. Includes kart, guide, costume and basic insurance. Open 10:00–22:00.

Official Link: streetkart.com/en/booking_shibuya.html

💡 Japan Pro Tip: In late autumn it’s dark soon after 4:30pm, so the first evening slot already gets you full neon. There’s no need to pay for an 8pm start.

2. Street Kart Shibuya Annex (Dogenzaka course)

The Lowdown: A second shop in Maruyamacho with a slightly different one-hour loop (H2-S): Dogenzaka, the Scramble, Omotesando and Harajuku. Useful when the main shop is full.

Where: THE CITY Shibuya 2F, 10-11 Maruyamacho, Shibuya-ku. Shinsen Station about 5 minutes; JR Shibuya about 15 minutes.

The Vibe: Same neon, plus one extra stretch of nightlife street.

Price: Daytime ¥8,000–¥16,000; evening ¥14,000–¥18,000; regular ¥20,000. Open 10:00–22:00.

Official Link: streetkart.com/en/booking_shibuya2.html

💡 Japan Pro Tip: The two Shibuya calendars are priced separately for almost the same route. Check both before you pay.

3. Street Kart Tokyo Bay (Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower)

The Lowdown: The longest Street Kart course (K-M, 1.5–2 hours). It crosses Rainbow Bridge and passes Tokyo Tower. This is the route for skyline views rather than crowds.

Where: 2-10-8 Shinkiba, Koto-ku. Shinkiba Station (JR Keiyo, Tokyo Metro Yurakucho and Rinkai lines), 10–13 minutes on foot through a warehouse district.

The Vibe: Wide roads, longer stretches at speed, bay views. Fewer onlookers, more driving.

Price: ¥8,500–¥17,000 at 10am, ¥7,500–¥15,000 at 1pm, ¥12,000–¥17,500 at 4pm, ¥19,500–¥25,000 at 7pm. Regular ¥25,000.

Official Link: streetkart.com/en/booking_tokyobay.html

💡 Japan Pro Tip: The 7pm slot is the dearest. From late November to early January the sun sets around 4:30pm, so the 4pm slot gets you the bridge at dusk for less.

4. Street Kart Shinagawa (Tokyo Tower course)

The Lowdown: A one-hour run (S-S) from Kita-Shinagawa to Tokyo Tower through central Tokyo. A good pick if you’re staying near Shinagawa.

Where: 1-23-15 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku. Keikyu Kita-Shinagawa Station about 5 minutes; JR Shinagawa about 15 minutes.

The Vibe: Main roads and office districts, with the tower as the payoff.

Price: From ¥15,000 (10am), ¥14,000 (12–4pm), ¥16,000 (6–8pm); regular ¥20,000. Open 10:00–22:00.

Official Link: streetkart.com/en/booking_shinagawa.html

💡 Japan Pro Tip: Kita-Shinagawa is one stop from Keikyu Shinagawa, but only local trains stop there. Rapid and limited express trains run straight through.

5. Street Kart Akihabara #1 and #2

The Lowdown: Two shops. #1 runs a one-hour loop (A1S) past Akihabara’s arcades and anime stores. #2 offers a one-hour Tokyo Station and Ginza loop (A2-S) or a 1.5–2-hour run to the Imperial Palace, Harajuku and Shibuya Crossing (A2-M).

Where: #1 is at 4-12-9 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku: Suehirocho Station (Ginza Line) Exit 1, 3 minutes, or JR Akihabara Electric Town exit, 7 minutes. #2 is at 4-16-7 Kanda Sakumacho, Chiyoda-ku: JR Akihabara Showa-dori exit, 8 minutes.

The Vibe: #1 is all arcades and billboards. #2’s long course is the cheapest way to get Shibuya Crossing and the Palace in one drive.

Price: #1 is ¥7,000–¥12,000 daytime and ¥8,000–¥14,000 7–8:30pm (regular ¥15,000). #2’s A2-S is from ¥7,000–¥10,000 (regular ¥15,000); A2-M is ¥10,000–¥12,000 at 10am and 1pm and ¥12,000–¥17,500 at 7pm (regular ¥20,000).

Official Link: streetkart.com/en/booking_akihabara.html and booking_akihabara2.html

💡 Japan Pro Tip: Chuo-dori becomes a pedestrian zone on Sunday afternoons, so routes are diverted then. Book a weekday or Saturday for the main drag. Pair it with our Akihabara guide and anime spots in Tokyo.

6. Street Kart Asakusa (KS-M course)

The Lowdown: The cheapest kart in Tokyo. A 45–60-minute loop around Asakusa’s sightseeing streets.

Where: 3-25-31 Nishi-Asakusa, Taito-ku. About 8 minutes on foot from Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station. Open 9:30–21:30.

The Vibe: Old-town streets, with more pedestrians than traffic.

Price: From ¥5,000 (10am–5pm) and ¥6,000 (7pm) at the early-booking review price; regular from ¥12,000.

Official Link: streetkart.com/en/booking_asakusa.html

💡 Japan Pro Tip: If you’re nervous about traffic, start here. It’s the shortest course and the quietest roads.

7. JapanKart Kanda (Shibuya and Tokyo Tower, 2 hours)

The Lowdown: A separate company. JapanKart’s flagship is a two-hour loop from its Kanda shop: Imperial Palace, Shibuya Crossing, Roppongi, Tokyo Tower, then back past Tokyo Station.

Where: Kanda, Chiyoda-ku. JapanKart’s site gives map links rather than a written address, so use the address in your booking confirmation.

The Vibe: Two staff vehicles accompany every group, with staff on motorbikes when traffic needs it. Photos are shared after the tour.

Price: ¥26,000 per driver for 120 minutes. JapanKart also runs Shibuya/Shinjuku (90 min, ¥21,000, from its Shinjuku shop), Asakusa/Tokyo Bay (120 min, ¥16,000) and Akihabara/Asakusa (60 min, ¥10,000).

Official Link: japankart.com

💡 Japan Pro Tip: It’s dearer per hour than Street Kart. You’re paying for length and landmarks: reviewers mention photos taken under Tokyo Tower, which most one-hour courses only drive past.

How much does go karting in Tokyo cost?

From ¥5,000 (Asakusa, daytime, booked direct) to ¥26,000 (JapanKart’s two-hour Tokyo Tower run). A one-hour Shibuya drive is ¥9,000–¥18,000 booked direct. The same Shibuya shop is listed on Viator from about US$87 (roughly ¥13,700), with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Compare like for like.

Extras to budget for:

• Full insurance: optional, price not published. Basic cover leaves you liable for the first ¥50,000 of kart damage (see below).
• Traffic fines: yours. Street Kart’s terms make the driver responsible for any violation and let the shop charge unpaid fines to you (Street Kart terms).

What happens on a go kart tour? Step by step

1. T-30 min: arrive. Street Kart asks for 30 minutes before your slot. Late arrivals can’t join.
2. Document check. Licence, IDP or translation, and passport. This is where people get turned away.
3. Costume. You choose a costume at the shop. Costumes are washed.
4. Briefing and safety video. How the kart works, hand signals, and single file with no overtaking.
5. Drive: 45 minutes to 2 hours. A guide leads. Street Kart caps groups at six drivers per guide and splits bigger parties.
6. Photo stops. Longer courses only. Staff take photos and share them.
7. Return and change. Allow 15 minutes. Viator reviewers note that a “90-minute” listing meant about 35–40 minutes in the kart once check-in was counted.

Is go karting in Tokyo safe?

It’s real traffic, so it carries real risk. The karts sit very low, below the bumper line of most vans and taxis, and you drive on the left. In April 2018 the government tightened the safety standards for public-road karts after accidents involving foreign tourists. Seatbelts, head restraints, high-visibility parts and night-visibility lamps became compulsory equipment (MLIT).

Helmets: Not legally required. A 2017 Cabinet answer to the Diet confirmed that minicars carry no helmet obligation (House of Representatives). Street Kart’s pages don’t mention helmets. Some resellers say they’re provided, so ask if you want one.

Insurance: Street Kart’s included cover pays up to ¥80 million for injury to others, ¥20 million for property damage and ¥5 million for driver injury. You pay a ¥50,000 excess per kart for any damage, from a scrape to a crash, billed straight after the tour. Full cover (extra fee) removes that and raises driver injury cover to ¥30 million (Street Kart).

Alcohol: Don’t. Japan’s drink-driving law applies to karts as to any car. Save the beer for after.

Age and size: 18+ at every listing we checked. Neither operator publishes height or weight limits, so ask if you’re very tall or heavy.

What to wear: No heels, sandals or long skirts (Street Kart’s rule). Bring a warm layer at night from November: the karts are open and you sit at exhaust height.

Can you still drive in a character costume?

Not an official one, because of a court case. Nintendo sued the original operator, MariCar, in 2017 over its name and character costumes. The Tokyo District Court ruled for Nintendo in September 2018. In January 2020 the Intellectual Property High Court raised the damages to ¥50 million and ordered the company to stop using the MariCar name. The Supreme Court dismissed the final appeal in December 2020 (SoraNews24). The business now trades as Street Kart.

Today you pick from the shop’s own generic costumes. If you want to bring your own, keep it generic and check with the shop first.

Is it better at night or during the day?

Night, for most people. Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Tower and Rainbow Bridge are all lit up. The catch: night slots usually cost several thousand yen more, and Tokyo Bay at 7pm is the priciest slot in town.

Day slots are cheaper and better for photos of you rather than the lights. From late November to early January, a 4pm start gets you dusk for less than a 7pm slot. In town for the winter light-ups? See our Tokyo illuminations 2026 guide.

What if it rains?

Street Kart says tours “usually proceed despite the weather”, so rain alone won’t get you a refund. Ask the shop if conditions look dangerous. Its booking pages say cancellation is free up to 7 days before, but its FAQ says changes within 6 days fall under the cancellation policy, so treat 7 days as the safe deadline. Platform bookings such as Viator allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before. If the forecast looks bad, see our rainy day Tokyo guide for plan B.

Can you bring a GoPro?

Usually yes, if it doesn’t get in the way of driving. JapanKart reviewers mention phone chest mounts supplied by staff, so a chest or head strap is the safest bet. Street Kart’s terms bar collecting footage for media distribution without the shop’s permission, so personal use only.

Can non-drivers come along?

Not in the kart. Street Kart’s karts are single-seaters, and its terms ban anyone else from riding unless staff arrange it.

Non-driving alternatives:

• Watch from above. Time it with a friend’s Shibuya slot and watch the Crossing from Shibuya Sky.
• Rickshaw in Asakusa. The closest thing to a street-level tour without a licence.
• First trip? Our first-time in Tokyo guide covers what else to fit around it.

Conclusion

Book a Street Kart slot direct for the best price: Shibuya for the Crossing, Tokyo Bay for Rainbow Bridge, Asakusa if you’re nervous. Book JapanKart for Tokyo Tower and the Palace in one two-hour drive. Sort your 1949 Geneva IDP before you fly, aim for a dusk or night slot, and browse bookable experiences on Japan Pro to plan the rest of your trip.

Go kart Tokyo FAQ