Tokyo for Car Lovers: The Best Driving & Racing Experiences You Can Book
A complete guide including Mario Kart Tokyo, Tokyo Drift meets in Tokyo, car hire and other ideas!
If you or someone you love can’t resist the roar of an engine then Tokyo is going to blow your mind. We’ve seen some incredible super cars, just while crossing the road! My husband is a massive car enthusiast who religiously follows Formula 1 racing (while driving a sensible family car), so while most of our Japan trips have been about temples, theme parks, food, and fun for the family, I decided on our next trip I would surprise him with something to get him really excited.
I’ve been extensively researching the best car experiences in Tokyo for our next visit: everything you can do in Tokyo for car lovers! From Mario Kart Tokyo (better known as street car Tokyo) go karting through the city’s busiest streets to experiencing a Fast and Furious drift-style tour in the city, I thought i’d share that research with you!
Tokyo isn’t just about neon lights, sushi, and bullet trains: it’s also a dream destination for car lovers. So here’s my full guide to the best car experiences in Tokyo, plus how to book them in advance.
- Fast & Furious Tokyo Drift Experience
- Street Go-Karting in Tokyo
- Visit Nissan Crossing in Ginza
- Hire a Car and Explore Tokyo (and Beyond)
- Final Thoughts: Why These Car Experiences Are Worth It
Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!
Fast & Furious Tokyo Drift Experience
I think this might well be the COOLEST car experience I’ve found in Tokyo. A Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift Experience, just like in the movies! This is a tour that allows you to experience secret meets inspired by the legendary Midnight Club and it includes a ride in a sports car as part of the largest JDM car club in Japan.
This is a guided experience with passionate car enthusiasts and you’ll take a scenic drive through Tokyo with iconic sightseeing stops. Honestly, this whole experience sounds epic: Meet at Tom’s City Circuit Tokyo Bay and enjoy special karting discounts before the ride. Cruise past the dazzling Rainbow Bridge, the glowing Tokyo Tower, and the famous Super Autobacs, before arriving at an exclusive secret car meet — an underground gathering of legendary JDM machines, roaring engines, and neon lights. Feel the adrenaline and passion of Japan’s underground car culture like never before.
👉 Book your Tokyo Drift Experience as soon as you set a date – spaces are limited and often sell out fast!
🎁 Use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get 5% off these prices
Street Go-Karting in Tokyo
You can go street go karting in Tokyo in various areas of the city but Shibuya and Akihabara are the two post popular spots. This used to be known as Mario Kart in Tokyo, but then Nintendo filed a law suit and now their known as street karts in Tokyo instead. I know that this isn’t a popular experience with local residents, but whenever we’ve seen groups whizzing past us in Shibuya, it always looks like so much fun!
As the name suggests, you’ll dress up and then drive go-karts through central Tokyo. Dressing up is not obligatory, but we’ve seen people dressed up as Mario, Pikachu, and various different superheroes. These are generally onesies, and then you have a wear a helmet on top for safety reasons.
Depending on the road you choose, you’ll generally visit Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Tower, and Roppongi. These tours are safe, fully road-legal and led by guides. Note that you’ll need an international driving permit to take place and this isn’t an experience for kids: you have to be 18 plus to take part!
👉 Book your Go Karting experience in Tokyo here, to guarentee the best dates and time slots
🎁 Use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get 5% off these prices
Visit Nissan Crossing in Ginza
If you’re visiting Tokyo on a budget then you’ll be pleased to hear that this car experience in Tokyo is completely free! Located in the heart of high-end Ginza (Tokyo’s version of Mayfair for any Londonites) you’ll find Nissan Crossing.
This is effectively a car showroom, but a car showroom unlike any you’ve every seen before. It’s a sleek, futuristic showroom showcasing Nissan’s concept cars and latest tech. When you get there, you’re welcome to sit in the high-end car models, see the rotating exhibition cars, and there’s even a cafe in Nissan Crossing Tokyo so this is a great place to stop for a well-deserved break. I’ve got a feeling this will fast become on of our favourite free things to do in Tokyo!
You’ll find limited-edition car merchandise in the gift area inside Nissan Crossing Tokyo too, so if you’re looking for a car-themed souvenir gift to take home from your trip, this is the perfect place to visit!
✨TIP: Use this address in your phone sat nav if you need help finding Nissan Crossing Tokyo.
〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 5 Chome−8−1 Ginza Place, 2F
Hire a Car and Explore Tokyo (and Beyond)
We’ve never hired a car in Japan before, but we’ll be hiring one for the first time on our next trip in March: We’ll be hiring ours in Okinawa and using it for island hopping and visiting all those beautiful remote beaches. In Tokyo, hiring a car is the perfect choice if you’re thinking of visiting the Fuji Five Lakes or Hakone region. Some people even opt to hire a car and drive out to the Tokyo Disney parks (although I think the public transport system is great, so we’ve never done this).
If you love cars, you’ll love the thrill of driving in Japan! The country is famous for its excellent roads, clean service areas, and polite drivers.
We’ve already pre-booked our car hire with Klook. I recommend using them as they include English-language support and GPS (essential for getting around a country as big, and often remote, as Japan!)
👉 Click here to check prices and availability for car hire for you location and dates
🎁 Use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get 5% off these prices
Top Tips for driving in Japan
If you do decide to hire a car and drive in Japan then here are some top tips/things to know:
- In Japan, they drive on the left hand side of the road. This is the same as here in the UK (so great news for us!) but something to consider if you’re travelling from the USA or any other country where they drive on the right.
- Apply for an international driving permit before you arrive in Japan. In the UK, you can apply for this easily by visiting your local post office (not all post offices do this – we had to go to a bigger branch, but they did do it on the same day, so it was really easy).
- Keep some coins OR top up your Suica card so you have the money you need on hand to pay for toll roads.
- If you’re driving in the bigger cities (like Tokyo and Osaka) then parking can be expensive. Plan ahead and pre-book parking to save some money.
Final Thoughts: Why These Car Experiences Are Worth It
Tokyo delivers car experiences you just can’t find anywhere else — equal parts fun, futuristic, and family-friendly. We’ve already booked our car hire, we will definitely be visiting Nissan crossing, and I can’t decide whether to book the Fast and Furious Experience or The real-life Mario Karts in Tokyo as a Christmas gift for Mike.
What are your thoughts? Which of these two experiences would you prefer?
ALSO do yo have any tips on driving in Japan to share with us, or have you been on your own Tokyo car adventure? All tips and advice gratefully received in the comments section below!
WANT MORE POSTS LIKE THIS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX? HIT SUBSCRIBE BELOW
Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!
