If dressing up in a Super Mario costume and Go-Karting around on public roadways is a fantasy of yours, you came to the right place. Believe it or not this is a real thing and it happens right in the city center of Tokyo, Japan. The company MariCar has made this incredible feat a reality by custom making Go-Karts that can legally run on public streets. They dish out life-size Nintendo character costumes for you to wear and take you on a WILD ride through several cities in Japan.
This is most definitely the coolest thing I have done so far on my travels and one of my favorites to share with others. I really can’t think of any better way to do Tokyo right then by cruising around the city streets on a Go-Kart for several hours dressed up like Yoshi. If you want to make this a reality for yourself, read my tips below and buckle up. You are about to embark on the ride of a lifetime that the inner ten-year-old in yourself will be proud of forever!
Step 1: Book a Flight
You can’t go Mario Karting in Japan without actually being there. Having a flight confirmation number makes things real. Once you complete this step, you can start to make moves on securing your very own real-life Mario Kart experience. Not to mention there are a plethora of other fun and odd things to do in Japan. Going to Tokyo is like going to a completely different world. It’s absolutely worth the trip…believe me.
Step 2: Make a Reservation
To my knowledge, there is only one company that reserves the rights to run this karting experience on the actual streets of the city. The guys at MariCAR are experts and are great to work with! Their response rates are quick and the reservation system by email is relatively flawless. All costumes, karts, and a tour guide are included. You can even rent bluetooth speakers to create your own music experience for the ride.
MariCAR has picked up in popularity immensely since I visited last year. They now have seven different locations in the city of Tokyo and three location options in other cities in Japan including Osaka. To make a reservation, head to MariCar.com and select the Other Shop tab to choose the shop location you are interested in booking for. Once you have loaded the shop page, select the Price tab to view the different courses available at that location.
At the time we went, we opted for the S-L Course (they only had one location) because it is essentially a three hour long tour of Tokyo for 110 USD. They take you through several different cities and they even drive you through Shibuya Crossing (the busiest intersection in the world).
The website gives you several options for making reservations including their Facebook Page. They recommend making your reservation through Facebook Messenger for the fastest response rate. You can call them or use their online email system as an alternate booking option.
What’s Included
The selected tour price includes the car rental, gas, the costume, a tour guide, accident insurance, all applicable taxes and fees, and even pictures from the ride airdropped directly to your phone or emailed to you. Optional add-ons include a bluetooth speaker, a GoPro to use for your ride (memory card not supplied), or a photo shooting experience (BYO Professional Photographer). You can also purchase fake mustaches or one of the Mario character costumes to take home with you as a souvenir! All of these pricing options are listed on their website under the pricing page.
Pro Tip: Daytime rides are perfect for filming if you want to GoPro your experience. The night option is best if you want a real feel for all the incredible lights and hustle and bustle of the city. Tokyo is like Times Square in New York on steroids. The amount of towering lights in every direction is astounding and really cool to see while whizzing by on a go-kart.
Step 3: Get an International Driver’s Permit
In order to rent and drive a MariCar go kart, you will need to bring your driver’s license and a valid IDP (International Driver’s Permit). An IDP is really just an international translation for your Driver’s License and is quite easy to obtain! A few things to note before applying:
- In order to qualify for an IDP, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old to apply.
- Carry BOTH your IDP and your valid driver’s license when driving abroad.
- Obtain your IDP from the same country that issued your driver’s license.
There are two ways to apply for and receive your IDP
- You can apply for an IDP in person at your nearest AAA or AATA. You will need to bring the following:
- Two valid passport photos
- 20$ permit fee (check or credit card)
- A valid Driver’s License
- You can mail in your application to AAA or AATA with the following items included:
- 2 identical recent Passport Type Photos (2″ x 2″) SIGNED ON BACK
- $20.00 Permit fee via check or money order only (NO CASH by mail)
- A photocopy of BOTH SIDES of U.S. Driver’s License
- Optional: Additional postage in U.S. funds for expedited return mail (see USPS.com for rates)
An IDP stays valid for only a year before having to reapply, so make sure that you get yours within the year that you plan to visit Japan! For more information on applying for an IDP, visit the DMV website information page HERE.
Step 4: Head to your MariCAR Location
Once you have all of your travel plans mapped out, make sure to print out the map of the shop you are visiting with a Japanese address handy. The Access tab on the MariCAR website will give you all the detailed address and map information you need. NOTE: make sure you are on the right location page when you select the access tab. You can show this to any cab driver in the city or you can take the public transit system. The transit system is extremely efficient in Tokyo and can be easily navigated by using google maps or by asking for assistance at the station. The station ticket screens have the option to be translated into English as well.
Step 5: Pick your Character
When you arrive at your designated MariCAR shop, check in with the staff and sign all the applicable waivers and complete your payment. There are complimentary lockers available for you to store all of your personal belongings safely. I recommend leaving everything in here except for your phone but make sure you keep it in a secure place in the kart. Don’t place any belongings in your pockets as they can easily fall out on the ride. The Go-Karts are able to be driven on the highway because they have been customized for real road use, so make sure you keep everything secure!
Once you are all set, you are free to pick out your costume. They have anything from the original Mario Kart characters to other Marvel superhero costumes and just plain random things like a banana suit or birthday cake suit.
Pro Tip: If you have your eyes set on a certain character or want first dibs on your costume, arrive to your appointment EARLY. These are FCFS so you want to make sure you are there and ready to go. They usually have a large amount available for selection but this can depend on what season you attend. With the increasing popularity of this excursion, I wouldn’t bank on arriving last minute and getting your first choice.
Step 6: Become a Bad Ass
The only thing left to do is take to the streets of Tokyo fully decked out in costume while bystanders gawk in awe and take photos of you as if you are a local celebrity. The tour guide will take you karting through some of the coolest areas in the city and to some of the biggest landmarks like the Tokyo Sky Tree or the Tokyo Tower. They take photos for you and air drop them or email them to you as well which means more time to enjoy yourself while they take care of the rest!
NOTE: Unfortunately, you cannot throw shells, bananas, or any other objects while go karting, so make sure to leave these objects behind. As funny as it sounds that they have to have this as a rule on their website, you are actually driving on roadways with real cars and real people. These items are not provided and are prohibited from use during your drive.
Congratulations! You can now wow all your friends with your amazing travel story about the time you went Real-Life Mario Karting in Japan and have some pretty rad pictures to prove it!
What is the coolest thing you have done on your travels? Share it with us in the comment section below!
