Go-Kart in Tokyo.
- Apr 30, 2017
- 3 min read
Before we get you all excited driving a Go-kart on the streets of Tokyo, YES YOU NEED DRIVING LICENSE and you NEED to convert your license to international driving license. Go-kart in Singapore is quite pricey, we have tried KF1 Karting in Singapore and per person easily $30 or more for a mere 15 mins of fun. I would say it was fun and all but 15 mins is very short and goes round and round in the same circuit, okay can. With Klook, Go-kart in Akihabara is only $36 for an hour on the streeeeeets not in circuit!
We booked our Street Go Karting Experience in Akihabara (link) weeks before the trip from Klook. Like I have stated you need a driving license for this activity and you need to convert your license to international driving license (IDP). Converting license is really easy, you can either make a online application from their website or walk-in application. We did a walk-in application at AMK branch, there wasn't a queue at all just fill in the information card and take a photo and you get your IDP card on the spot. Fees of $20 per IDP but you get to drive for a year in any country stated in the card, which we needed for the next part of the trip not just for go karting. The street go kart are usually fully booked so do book 1-2 weeks ahead to ensure you get this experience. Be sure to have your IDP ready as you need that for the booking.
Getting to the go-kart location is a bit of a hunt, the building looks like any other buildings, you will need google map to find your way. Once there pass the IDP to the very friendly Japanese man, and he will check and get to you suit up in onesie/costume of whichever you wanna be, but if you don't want to suit up it's fine too. Then again, not everyday you get to drive a go kart around Tokyo so might as well have fun and look stupid. Onesies and costume are free and optional * You will get so much attention from bystanders, kids be waving at you and adult be taking photos.
We got the 2hr package initially but was advise by the boss to get a guide to show us around and it will be safer as we don't know their streets. As we didn't want to top up alot more we swap our 2hr package to 1 hr and top-up abit more to get a guide.
The guide will also help you to take photos during short traffic light breaks, he will bring you to a few of the tourist spots in the area from sensoji temple to sky tree and other places.
I brought along my GoPro but didnt had a head mount, the boss saw that we had a gopro and was kind to lend us his head mount, thankyou very much cause without it we wouldn't have a video to show you. Sorry it's very shaky, we didn't film the whole hour long drive, but you get the glimpse of it.
You will be driving at 60km/hr, might not be fast but beside all the cars and narrow streets, it's actually quite fast.
Things to take note :
You can book an optional add-on for a driver to guide you throughout Akihabara. The driver will drive in a separate kart
All drivers must be 150cm to 185cm tall
High heels or similar shoes are not recommended
If you rent the go karts for 1 hour or more, please make sure the tank is full when you return. An additional charge of 800 yen per kart will be charged if the tank is not full
Please ensure you contact the go kart facility if you decide to extend your time
All go karts are for 1 person only. No multi-person go karts are available
We don't recommend that you park the go kart anywhere during your experience. There are not many parking lots in Tokyo and we can't take any responsibility if the go kart is damaged
The facility provides cosplay costumes that you can borrow for no extra charge. You can purchase inexpensive costumes at the nearby Don Quixote shop if you would like your own!
Converting Singapore Driving License to International Driving License.
Address : 51 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, #02-02, Singapore 569922 or 535 Kallang Bahru,#01-08, GB Point, Singapore 339351
Fees : $20
Opening hours : Do check from their website.
Go-kart
Address : Building Sasage B1F, 2-4-6 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Nearest station : Akihabara
Comments