Does Mario Kart in Tokyo Still Exist?

I grew up playing Mario Kart, zipping through colourful landscapes as Mario, Yoshi and whichever character gave me the best chance of winning.

So, when I found out that visitors could drive go-karts on the actual streets of Tokyo, I knew I had to try it.

When I first experienced the activity in 2018, it was widely promoted as a real-life Mario Kart adventure, complete with costumes inspired by familiar Nintendo characters. Things have changed considerably since then. The operator is now known as Street Kart, is not affiliated with Nintendo and no longer offers Mario Kart-themed costumes.

Thankfully, the most exciting part remains: you can still get behind the wheel of a low-slung kart and explore Tokyo alongside ordinary city traffic.

Booking my street-kart adventure

I chose the Asakusa branch, where the current Samurai-S course takes drivers past Kaminarimon and towards Tokyo Skytree.

The route now lasts around 45 minutes to one hour, making it more of a quick sightseeing adventure than the two-hour journey I originally experienced. Street Kart operates several branches around Tokyo, along with locations in Osaka and Okinawa, and each shop follows a different route.

Prices and departure times vary according to the date and booking type, so it is best to check the live reservation calendar instead of relying on the old fixed rate of ¥7,000.

Street Kart asks participants to arrive around 30 minutes before their reservation. This leaves enough time to present the necessary documents, store personal belongings, choose a costume and listen to the safety briefing.

Choosing a costume

Costumes remain part of the fun, although you will no longer find Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi or other Nintendo characters waiting on the racks.

Instead, participants can choose from the generic and superhero-style costumes available at the shop. You can also skip the costume entirely and wear your normal clothes.

Whatever you choose, make sure your outfit is suitable for driving. Sandals, heels and long skirts are not recommended, and comfortable closed-toe shoes are the safest option.

Once everyone is ready, the guides explain how to operate the kart and go through the rules for driving on public roads.

Learning to drive the kart

Driving the kart felt similar to operating an automatic car, with separate accelerator and brake pedals.

The main difference was how close I felt to the ground. Buses, taxis and ordinary cars seemed enormous beside me, and I became much more aware of every vehicle passing nearby.

These are not amusement-park bumper cars, and the experience is not a race. The karts travel on actual roads, so drivers must follow Japanese traffic laws, remain in formation and obey the guides throughout the journey.

After a short practice and safety briefing, we lined up behind our guide and headed into the streets of Asakusa.

Cruising through Asakusa

There is something wonderfully surreal about exploring Tokyo from such a low vantage point.

The current route begins near the Asakusa shop before passing Kaminarimon, the enormous lantern-marked gateway leading towards Senso-ji Temple. From there, the convoy continues towards Tokyo Skytree, which seems even taller when viewed from the seat of a tiny kart.

Here’s a selfie with our fun-loving guides. Kudos to them!

Pedestrians often stop to wave or take photographs as the group passes. I certainly felt more conspicuous than I would have on an ordinary sightseeing bus.

That said, driving demands your full attention. Keep both hands ready, watch the traffic lights and leave the photography to your guide while the kart is moving. There will be opportunities for pictures when the group is safely stopped.

The guides usually take photographs during the experience, giving participants something to remember the journey by without encouraging anyone to reach for a phone behind the wheel.

And of course, how could we resist breaking out the classic Mario pose?

Is street-karting difficult?

The kart itself is relatively straightforward to control, but participants should be comfortable driving in traffic.

Tokyo follows left-hand traffic, and the combination of busy junctions, buses, taxis and unfamiliar road markings can feel intimidating. Listen carefully during the briefing and do not join simply because you want a few entertaining photographs.

Street Kart’s standard insurance is included in the tour fee, although drivers may still face a ¥50,000 deductible for damage caused by accidents, bumps or scratches. Additional full-coverage insurance may be available when booking.

Weather also matters. Tours often continue in light rain, but conditions can change. Wear suitable clothing and contact the shop when severe weather is expected.

What driving documents do I need?

You cannot participate with only your passport and ordinary Malaysian, Singaporean or other overseas driving licence.

Most international visitors need to carry all three of the following:

Their original domestic driving licence
An International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention
Their original passport

The International Driving Permit must be obtained before arriving in Japan. Permits issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention are not accepted.

Drivers from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan follow a different arrangement. They must carry their original licence, passport and an authorised Japanese translation of the licence.

Check the requirements for the country or region that issued your licence before paying for the tour. Anyone who arrives without the correct original documents may be refused participation without a refund.

How to get there & what to bring

Street Kart Asakusa remains at its original Nishi-Asakusa location. It is around an eight-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station.

You can easily combine the experience with a visit to Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise Shopping Street. Just remember to finish your shopping before the scheduled arrival time, as participants are expected to reach the shop 30 minutes early.

Street Kart Asakusa

Address: 3-25-31 Nishi-Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0035, Japan
Telephone: +81-80-9988-9988
Opening hours: 9.30am–9.30pm
Tour duration: Approximately 45 minutes to one hour

Is it still worth trying?

The experience is no longer the Mario-themed adventure I originally encountered in 2018. You will not be dressing up as Mario, Luigi or Yoshi, and the operator makes it clear that the activity has no connection to Nintendo or the Mario Kart games.

Even without those elements, driving a street kart through Tokyo remains unlike any conventional sightseeing tour.

You are sitting almost at road level, watching famous landmarks appear ahead of you while the city continues moving on every side. It is exciting, slightly nerve-racking and undeniably memorable.

My childhood dream may have begun with Mario Kart, but it turns out that cruising through the real streets of Tokyo was thrilling enough on its own.