Race Through Tokyo with Your Family! How to Create Unforgettable Memories with Street Kart
Racing through the streets of Tokyo with your whole family. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, it can actually happen. Shibuya’s scramble crossing, Tokyo Tower lit up at night, the old-town charm of Asakusa. This sensation that you’d never get from ordinary sightseeing—you can only experience it with street kart.
I’ve been in Japan for four years since coming from Brazil, and I’ve tried just about every entertainment Tokyo has to offer. But when friends visit with their families and I ask them, “What was the most fun?” they all say the same thing: “Street kart!” Why? Because it’s not just sightseeing—it’s an adventure where every family member becomes the star.
Basic Rules for Enjoying Street Kart with Your Family
First, let me share something important. Street karts are real vehicles that drive on public roads, so you need a valid driver’s license to operate one. If you have a Japanese license, you’re all set. Tourists from overseas need to bring both an International Driving Permit (IDP) and their home country’s license. Check the official website for license details.
Here’s the key point: each kart seats one person. That means every family member with a license drives their own kart. Both parents can drive, and if your adult children have licenses, they can join too. Unfortunately, children without licenses can’t ride along, so plan accordingly.
Street Kart operates as a guide-led tour, following designated routes safely. You can’t make detours or change the route on your own, but the flip side is that even first-timers can confidently cruise through Tokyo’s streets.
Why Families Choose Street Kart
Let me tell you why Street Kart is perfect for family trips.
First, there’s the overwhelming track record: over 1.34 million customers and more than 150,000 tours completed. An average customer rating of 4.9/5.0★ with over 20,000 reviews speaks to their reliability. For families nervous about trying something new, there’s no data more reassuring than this.
Another huge plus is that guides are trained specifically for international drivers. As the industry’s first kart operator catering to foreigners, Street Kart delivers service in English. My American friends and French friends all loved that they could enjoy the experience without any language barriers. The website supports 22 languages, making booking and research a breeze.
With 6 locations in Tokyo plus Osaka and Okinawa—8 shops total—you can flexibly fit it into your itinerary. Experience it during your Tokyo stay, or catch a ride in Osaka during your Kansai trip. They have over 250 vehicles, so family group bookings are no problem. Just note that groups are limited to 6 people max. It’s a safety rule for smooth driving, so larger groups should book separately.
Best Times and Seasons for Family Rides
Tours start from 10 AM, so you can enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel before heading out. This is a huge plus for family trips, right? Even families who aren’t morning people can join comfortably.
A note about weather: tours generally run even in the rain, but they’re cancelled when it snows. The karts can’t be fitted with snow tires due to their structure, so snowy road driving isn’t possible for safety reasons. Tokyo rarely gets snow in winter, but checking the forecast beforehand gives peace of mind.
Personally, I recommend the evening tours. Driving through Tokyo as the city starts glowing with neon feels like being inside a movie. Routes passing through Shibuya or Akihabara are especially amazing—the lit-up signs and intersection vibes are absolutely incredible.
Understanding the Process from Booking to Tour Day
Booking is easy through kart.st. Just select your group size, preferred date and time, and departure location. Weekends are popular, so booking about two weeks ahead is best.
On the day, arrive at your designated shop before the meeting time. There’ll be license verification, a safety briefing, and instruction on kart operation. Don’t worry if it’s your first time. The guides explain everything thoroughly, and the controls are simple.
You can wear costumes while riding, but here’s an important note. We do not provide Mario Kart-related costumes. Street Kart has no affiliation with Nintendo or the Mario Kart series, so please understand this in advance. It’s still fun to show off your personality with other character costumes or original outfits as a family.
Feel the Tokyo Wind While Strengthening Family Bonds
The biggest appeal of street karting is that exhilarating feeling of racing through Tokyo from a ground-level perspective. Scenery you can’t see from a regular car, wind you can’t feel, sounds of the city you can’t hear—you experience Tokyo with all five senses.
During the tour, when you stop at traffic lights, pedestrians wave and take photos. In those moments, the whole family gets to feel like celebrities. My American friend’s family raved that it was “the most memorable experience in Tokyo.”
The roughly 2-hour course passes through numerous Tokyo landmarks. The guide leads the way, so there’s no worry about getting lost, and you travel at safe speeds so even beginners feel comfortable. Yet that sense of freedom and thrill is something special.
Make Your Family’s Tokyo Trip Extraordinary
Tokyo has countless tourist spots. But opportunities where the whole family shares the same experience and excitement together are rare. Street kart offers exactly that kind of precious experience.
After the tour, everyone gathers around the photos and videos saying things like “That intersection was amazing!” and “Remember the person waving in front of that building?” Those shared memories make family bonds even stronger.
Check out the official website for booking and detailed information. The ultimate exciting experience of racing through Tokyo’s streets with your family awaits. Seriously, you’d be missing out if you don’t try this at least once in your life!
Costume Information
We do not rent Nintendo or “Mario Kart” related costumes. We only provide costumes that respect intellectual property rights.
