“Tokyo Tower, Asakusa, Shibuya Scramble Crossing… I want to see them all, but won’t I spend the whole day just getting around?” — Everyone hits this wall on their first trip to Tokyo. Staring at a train transfer app, agonizing over how to make the most of limited time. But what if you could enjoy all these famous Tokyo landmarks while driving past them? Feeling the wind as you zip right past Tokyo Tower, catching your breath at the Rainbow Bridge lit up at night — this kind of sightseeing actually exists.
Turning “Travel Time” into “Experience” on Your First Tokyo Trip
The biggest headache for Tokyo sightseers is getting between spots. From Asakusa to Shibuya is about 30 minutes by subway, then another transfer and 20 minutes to Tokyo Tower. Before you know it, you’ve spent a third of your day underground. It happens more often than you’d think.
Here’s where a shift in thinking helps: make the journey itself the attraction. The go-kart experience offered by Street Kart is exactly that concept in action. You cruise Tokyo’s actual streets in a small go-kart, hitting iconic spots like Tokyo Tower, Shibuya, and Odaiba all in one ride. With over 150,000 tours completed and more than 1.34 million participants, a ★4.9 average rating speaks volumes about how much people love this activity.
Most people who first hear about street go-karting react with, “Wait, you can actually drive on public roads?!” The ultra-low seating position and open-air feel are refreshingly unlike anything in daily life, and the fact that you can dress up in costumes makes it incredibly Instagrammable. It’s the perfect activity for making unforgettable travel memories.
From Tokyo Tower to Rainbow Bridge — The Golden Kart Route
Starting Right at the Base of Tokyo Tower
Street Kart has 6 locations across Tokyo. Your route depends on where you start, but for first-timers, a course passing near Tokyo Tower is highly recommended. The kart seat sits about 30 cm off the ground. Looking up at Tokyo Tower from this low vantage point is a completely different experience from seeing it on foot. The 333-meter steel tower feels like it’s looming right over you — a sensation you can only get from a kart.
If you choose an evening departure, the sky shifts from crimson to navy blue as you ride. If you happen to catch the moment Tokyo Tower’s illumination switches on, that alone makes for an unforgettable experience. The footage you’d capture is the kind that could blow up on TikTok.
Experiencing Shibuya Scramble Crossing from the “Driving Side”
Shibuya Scramble Crossing is the world-famous intersection where up to 3,000 people cross in a single light change. Typical tourists either look down from the second floor of Starbucks or walk across and snap a photo. But in a kart, you get to pass through that intersection as a vehicle. Weaving through as pedestrians surge from every direction is, to put it mildly, quite the thrill.
When you stop at a red light, foreign tourists point their phones at you. Wave, and you’ll get cheers in return. This two-way interaction is what makes kart sightseeing so special. This is what they mean when they say a moment is truly “epic.”
3 Reasons People Choose Street Kart
“Isn’t driving a go-kart on public roads kind of scary?” — That’s a common concern. Honestly, feeling that way at first is totally normal. But Street Kart has a solid system in place so even first-timers can enjoy the ride with confidence.
First, dedicated guides trained to work with international drivers lead the way. Street Kart was the first operator in the industry to establish this system. Guides always ride at the front of the group, making real-time decisions about routes and traffic conditions. Communication is primarily in English, so not speaking Japanese is no problem at all. How to read traffic signals, left-side driving rules, how to handle intersections — everything is covered in a thorough pre-departure briefing.
Second, there’s the impressive scale of over 250 vehicles in their fleet. Vehicles are well-maintained with proper safety equipment. Even if you’re booking for a big group of friends or family, having enough karts available is a huge reassurance.
And don’t overlook the fact that their website supports 22 languages. With broad coverage of Asian languages including Chinese, Korean, and Thai, being able to book in your native language is a major plus for international travelers. From reservation to the day-of experience, the convenience of barely encountering any language barriers is a big reason people keep coming back.
The Luxury of Iconic Spots Becoming “Pit Stops”
When you’re driving a kart, the guidebook landmarks look completely different. The Fuji TV building in Odaiba, Rainbow Bridge, the paired shot of Zojoji Temple and Tokyo Tower — they all flow past you one after another. A route that would take an entire day on foot can be experienced in roughly a 2-hour kart tour.
A tip for photography enthusiasts: mount a GoPro or action camera on your helmet. You can keep both hands on the steering wheel while capturing incredibly immersive footage of the ride. Upload that to Instagram Reels or TikTok, and you’re likely to rack up plenty of likes. For hashtags, covering “#StreetKart,” “#TokyoKart,” and “#TokyoSightseeing” should do the trick.
As for driver’s licenses, an international driving permit is required in most cases. It’s best to check the details on the official license information page beforehand. Overlooking this and not being able to drive on the day would be heartbreaking — so definitely check before your trip.
Become the Wind of Tokyo — Start with a Reservation
Every one of Tokyo’s classic sightseeing spots is wonderful. But when you shift from “watching” tourism to “racing through” tourism, the same scenery looks entirely different. Feeling Tokyo’s breeze on your fingertips as you grip the wheel, gazing up at Tokyo Tower, cutting through the buzz of Shibuya, and being wrapped in the ocean breeze of Odaiba. This is a special experience that’s hard to replicate on trains or buses.
Maintaining a ★4.9 rating across over 20,000 reviews is a testament to how satisfied participants are. When first-time Tokyo visitors are asked, “What left the biggest impression?” more and more people are answering, “Driving through Tokyo in a kart.” Once you try it, you’ll understand why.
Book at kart.st. Weekends tend to fill up fast, so once you’ve set your dates, it’s wise to reserve early. If you go with a weekday evening start, you can enjoy both Tokyo’s sunset and its illuminated nightscape, and availability is generally better. For your next Tokyo trip, why not try sightseeing with zero travel time?
