Tokyo Go Kart Tour: Shibuya Crossing & Tokyo Tower Drive

You're Behind the Wheel at Shibuya Crossing

You drive a go-kart through Tokyo's central landmarks (Tokyo Tower, Shibuya Crossing, Omotesando, Roppongi, the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station) following a professional guide in a small convoy. The tour includes a safety briefing, costume, fuel, photo stops and mandatory insurance. You'll need a valid international driving permit or equivalent before arrival.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided Tokyo go-kart city tour

• Start at Nihonbashi district
• Safety briefing and vehicle orientation
• Drive past Tokyo Tower
• Cruise through Roppongi district
• Drive through Omotesando boulevard
• Pass Meiji Shrine Imperial Garden
• Experience Shibuya Crossing
• Pass Tokyo Imperial Palace
• Pass Tokyo Station

The Experience

You pull up to Nihonbashi in central Tokyo, hand over your international driving permit, and within minutes you're in a go-kart with a professional guide leading a small convoy through the city's most recognizable streets. The safety briefing is quick (helmet on, follow the guide, stay in formation), and then you're moving. Tokyo Tower rises ahead of you at 333 meters, that red-and-white needle cutting through the modern skyline, and you're driving past it like it's part of your commute. The guide points out the history as you cruise, but mostly you're focused on the road, the other karts, the sheer strangeness of steering through Roppongi's business district and Omotesando's luxury boutiques in a vehicle that feels half-toy, half-real.

The route takes you through neighborhoods most visitors see from a train window or a tour bus seat. Meiji Shrine's Imperial Garden passes on one side (that dense forest pocket in the middle of the city), and then you're heading toward Shibuya. The crossing itself is surreal from ground level. You're not above it on a bridge or watching from a café. You're in it, waiting at the light with thousands of people moving in every direction, the digital screens flashing overhead, and the sheer volume of bodies and motion happening around you while you sit in a go-kart. It's the kind of moment that doesn't quite feel real until you're there. After that, the Imperial Palace slides past with its stone walls and moats, and Tokyo Station's red-brick Marunouchi building marks the end of the loop.

The whole thing runs two to three hours depending on traffic and how the guide paces the stops. You get a costume, the kind Mario Kart players wear, and fuel is included, so there's no hidden cost once you've paid. The mandatory Japanese vehicle liability insurance is built in, though you can add optional go-kart coverage for ¥1,500 if you want it. The one thing to know upfront: you need an original driving license and an International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. If you're from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan, a Japanese translation of your license works instead. US Forces in Japan need a SOFA license. Without the right documents, the tour gets cancelled with no refund, so sort that before you book.

What’s included

• Go-kart vehicle with fuel.
• professional guide leading the convoy.
• safety briefing and vehicle orientation.
• costume.
• photo opportunities at major landmarks.
• mandatory Japanese vehicle liability insurance.
• stops at Tokyo Tower, Shibuya Crossing, Omotesando, Roppongi, Meiji Shrine Imperial Garden, the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Kartzilla Go Kart Tours | Top Cultural & Historic Destinations in Tokyo

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Tokyo's central landmarks from street level and actually drive the route yourself instead of watching from a bus. The go-kart format is what makes the crossing and the tower feel immediate rather than distant.

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Top questions

Can I drive if I have a US driver's license?

Yes, if you also have an International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. US Forces in Japan can use a SOFA Driving License instead.

What happens if I don't bring my driving license?

The tour will be cancelled with no refund. You must provide the original of your local driving license and International Driving Permit before the tour starts.

Is the go-kart tour safe for people with back or heart conditions?

The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health. Consult your doctor if you have concerns about the physical demands.

Can pregnant travelers do this tour?

No, the tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers.

How long does the tour take?

The tour runs two to three hours, including the safety briefing, vehicle orientation and all landmark stops.

What's included in the price?

The price includes the go-kart, costume, fuel, a professional guide, photo opportunities and mandatory Japanese vehicle liability insurance.

Can I add extra insurance?

Yes, optional go-kart vehicle insurance is available for ¥1,500 per vehicle.

Do I need to book in advance if I need a Japanese translation of my driving license?

Yes, contact the operator a month in advance if you need assistance obtaining a Japanese translation of your license.