One of the major highlights of our recent 2018 trip was being able to take a couple of hours from parenting duties (thanks to my parents for helping us with the kids at our Airbnb) to experience Street Go-Karting in Japan! It has always been misterchewy’s dream to try out this activity, and now, he has finally fulfilled it! Psst.. Check out his ear-to-ear grins in some of the photos 😉
Since we had planned to dedicate three days in Tokyo Disney Resort, we didn’t have much time in Tokyo for street go-karting and decided to experience it in Osaka instead. Upon Googling, Akiba Kart Osaka is one of the more renowned and popular street go-karting tour service providers in Namba area. Guess what, the shop is a mere 7-minute walk from Namba Station!
The hubs and I are both huge fans of the Mario Kart Nintendo game, so we purchased and brought our own Mario and Luigi costumes to Japan. Do take note that Mario Kart costumes are not available at the shop.
Fret not! There are plenty of other costumes to choose from at Akiba Kart Osaka, such as Spiderman, Hello Kitty and Pikachu. We also noticed some quirky Sushi costumes.
Before the actual briefing, we were made to watch a safety introductory video on an iPad, which is very informative and easy to comprehend.
Customers of Akiba Kart Osaka from all over the world.
Taking more photos while waiting for everyone to get settled into their costumes. We were told that there would be 10 of us joining the street go-karting tour.
What a perfect day to for street go-karting in Osaka!
A briefing was conducted before we set off.
Our guide, Isao, taking the lead. If you notice, all go-karts have its own license plate.
Just in case you are wondering, the standard driving rules and regulations apply even for street go-karting in Japan. No driving beyond the speed limits, no using of mobile phones (including taking photos) while driving, and of course, no throwing of banana skins at other drivers. It is alright to take photos after your go-kart is put to a complete stop at the red light. However, you need to be quick and able to gauge when the green light comes on, if not you will risk getting horned at.
With kids, it is like a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to experience street go-karting in Japan for misterchewy and I, so we took many photos at almost all the red lights. LOL!
We drove in a single file unless Isao signalled for us to line up in pairs when approaching the traffic lights. There was also another guide right at the back to ensure that nobody was left behind.
It was such an exhilarating experience being able to try out street go-karting along the busy streets of Osaka! Since all of us were in costumes, we attracted quite a bit of attention from passersby who stopped to wave at us and also took photos of us. Of course, we were sporting enough to wave back and pose for photos too!
It is also very memorable for misterchewy and I as the weather was quite cold then, and we were kinda freezing our butts off as we drove along the streets. However, being able to enjoy the view of Osaka city while street go-karting in our costumes also gave us that adrenaline rush we will never forget.
We had a stopover at Osaka Castle, where we took a short break for some photos. Are you able to identify all the characters?
Time to head back to Akiba Kart Osaka shop at Namba!
We are very lucky that Isao kept taking photos for us at every chance whenever we stopped at the red lights.
Passing by Namba Station while making our way back.
Important point to take note of: In order to be able to participate in street go-karting in Japan, Singaporean drivers MUST apply for an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by a signatory to the 1949 Geneva Convention. Without presenting your IDP, you will be denied riding the go-kart, even if you have paid for your reservation online. We applied for ours at the Automobile Association of Singapore (AAS). IDP online application processing and delivery via local courier will take 7 working days, while IDP can be collected on the spot within an hour for walk-in application.
For walk-in application, do remember to bring along your NRIC and Singapore Driving License. Applicant’s picture will be taken on-site at no extra charge. The fee for IDP application is $20 and is valid for one year from date of issue.
For more information and reservation for street go-karting in Osaka, visit Akiba Kart Osaka. The Osaka Castle Park Tour is about 2 hours long and costs ‎JPY¥9000 (SGD$112) per person. There is a discount if you post a review on Facebook. If you have always been thinking of trying street go-karting in Japan, hesitate no more! Sign up now with Akiba Kart Osaka!
Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!