Katy C.
Yelp
We drove go-karts around the streets of Tokyo and had a BLAST! I saw posts about this experience while doing research for our trip, but was really nervous about the idea of driving in an open vehicle without a helmet in one of the busiest cities in the world.
Fortunately, a friend was in Tokyo prior to our trip and told me how much fun it was and that she felt really safe the whole time. That was enough of an endorsement for me, so I made a reservation online (super easy through their website) and stopped by the local AAA office to get an international driving permit (IDP). An IDP is required to drive in Japan, no exceptions. Some countries might not issue one as well, so be sure to check your specific regulations in your home country.
There are three different routes for the Monkey Kart experience. We chose route 2, which goes through Shinjuku, Harajuku, and Shibuya Crossing. We went during the day, which felt less scary to me, haha.
Once you arrive, you'll get suited up in a fun costume, store your stuff in a locker, and watch a safety video. The video was informative and easy to follow, and outlined how our guide Ken would have us follow along with him using hand signals.
Then we were off! The go kart was easy to maneuver and I felt safe. We got going pretty fast and it was absolutely thrilling. You drive on the left side of the road in Japan, but I was never worried about the driving since Ken was such a great guide. He also took so many awesome photos of us! You can take your own photos and video but only while stopped at red lights. Ken's photos were way better than all of mine.
Once we got back, Ken presented us each with a printed photo that he had taken, which was such a cool keepsake. The tour was about $100USD per person, which was totally worth it as this was the best experience we had in Tokyo!