From Shibuya to the Mountains and Highlands! A Street Kart Experience Every Hiking Lover Should Try
You hop on the first train of the morning, heading for the mountains and highlands of Tokyo. You work up a sweat, breathe in that green, leafy air, and spend a wonderfully fulfilling day. But here’s the thing—treating the Shibuya you pass through on the way there and back as nothing more than a transfer station might just be a bit of a waste. So many of my friends visiting from overseas say the exact same thing: “The streets of Shibuya are an attraction in themselves!” The waves of people at the Scramble Crossing, the neon lights, the pulse of the city. Racing through that very Shibuya in a street kart is an experience that I think even hiking lovers will find refreshingly new.
Shibuya: The Perfect Base Camp for Your Mountain and Highland Trips
From Shibuya, access to Mt. Takao, Okutama, and the highland areas stretching out around the foothills of Mt. Fuji is wonderfully easy. A friend of mine from Brazil told me, “Back home, driving for hours to reach real nature was just the norm.” But in Tokyo, you can hop between trains from Shibuya and get right near the trailheads. Even my friends from Europe were amazed at how conveniently close everything is.
That’s exactly why I’d love for you to experience Shibuya not as “just a place you pass through,” but as “the base camp for your journey.” Stay in Shibuya the night before your hike, get your gear in order, and charge up on the city’s energy. After coming back down the mountain, wash off the sweat and treat yourself to a well-earned dinner in Shibuya. Savoring both the quiet of the mountains and the buzz of the city all in a single day—that, I think, is a way of enjoying things that’s uniquely Tokyo.
The area around Shibuya Station is packed with accommodations, restaurants, and outdoor shops, making it great both for prepping for your hike and for relaxing afterward. Coin lockers and cafés are easy to find too, so you can stash your hiking gear temporarily and stroll around the city unburdened. Having the routes to both the mountains and the city all gathered in one place is one of the great charms of using Shibuya as your home base.
Feeling the City in the Wind: The Shibuya Street Kart Experience
If you’re the type who loves “feeling nature with your own two feet” while hiking, I think you’ll understand. The appeal of a street kart lies in exactly that—”feeling the city with your whole body.” You ride in a roofless kart, soak in the sounds of the city while waiting at an intersection, and feel the wind rushing through the canyons of buildings against your cheeks. The cheers of those around you mingling with the engine noise—that sense of togetherness feels absolutely wonderful.
What’s important here is that this is a guided tour with a set course. An experienced guide leads the way, so even people who aren’t familiar with Shibuya’s streets can join with ease. You drive a predetermined route, all forming a convoy together. It’s not a style where you can roam freely wherever you please—but that’s precisely why I think even first-timers can relax and enjoy it. And even if you’re nervous about the language, there are plenty of moments where a smile and a bit of body language are all you need to communicate.
Please note that participation is limited to those aged 18 and over, and driving requires meeting certain conditions, such as holding a valid license in Japan. Since license requirements are handled differently depending on your country or region, if you’re considering joining, please check the details in advance on the official site’s page about driver’s licenses. When it comes to safety-related equipment and rules, it’s important to listen carefully to the guide’s explanation on the day and drive according to their instructions.
Why So Many People Choose Street Kart
Here, I’d like to share why Street Kart is used by so many people, along with some publicly available figures. To date, more than 150,000 tours have been conducted, and over 1.34 million customers have taken part (as of November 2023). The average rating is 4.9/5.0★, with more than 20,000 reviews. These numbers serve, I think, as one good measure of how much support it has earned from its many participants.
The fleet boasts more than 250 vehicles, with eight locations in total—six stores in Tokyo plus Osaka and Okinawa. What’s worth noting is that this is a pioneering kart operator in the industry, with guides specially trained to support foreign drivers. Having a system in place to support visitors from overseas is surely a reassuring point for anyone riding a public-road kart in Japan for the first time.
The language support is generous too. The website is available in 22 languages, making it easy for people all over the world to book. The actual tour guidance is primarily in English, but the guides follow up attentively. My multinational group of friends, regardless of nationality, all said they “want to ride again.” I think there’s an atmosphere here that lets everyone enjoy it together, across differences in culture and language.
What Street Kart offers is, purely and simply, a public-road kart tour for enjoying the cityscape of Shibuya. It’s not an experience tied to any particular character or video game—understanding that it’s about savoring the pure experience of “racing through the city with the wind” will, I think, help you picture the day even more clearly.
A Sample One-Day Plan to Enjoy Both Mountains and City
Picture this. Early in the morning, you set off from Shibuya to hike in the highlands or mountains. You take a deep breath surrounded by greenery and work up a sweat. In the afternoon, you head back to Shibuya, and from early evening you go cruising through the city in a street kart. The twilight neon reflects off the road surface, and if it’s just stopped raining, you ride along streets that glow in soft, faint colors. The sense of accomplishment from the mountains and the thrill of strolling the city, all packed tightly into a single day. Even for mountain lovers, I think it makes for a memorable combination.
For example, here’s one possible flow.
- Early morning: Depart Shibuya for the trailheads in the Mt. Takao or Okutama direction. Hike in the crisp morning air.
- Midday: Take a break at the summit or partway up, and enjoy lunch while taking in the views.
- Afternoon: Return to Shibuya, take a breather at a café or public bathhouse/sauna, and wash off the sweat.
- Evening to night: Cruise through the streets of Shibuya in a street kart. Enjoy the city’s illuminated expression.
- Night: Dinner in Shibuya. Soak in the afterglow of the day.
Of course, it’s also easy to split the hiking and the karting across separate days and savor each one at a leisurely pace. Being able to adjust to your energy level and schedule is another advantage of basing yourself in Shibuya.
You can check street kart reservations, availability, and the course details for each location at kart.st. Since courses and durations may vary by location, it’s reassuring to check the latest information on the official site according to the area you want to join.
In Summary: A Dual-Wielding Mountain-and-City Adventure Starting from Shibuya
For anyone who loves hiking and mountain climbing, Shibuya can be both the gateway to the mountains and highlands and a stage that adds color to your journey. On the very same day you enjoy the quiet of nature, you cap it off by feeling the city with your whole body in a street kart. This ebb and flow, I think, is what makes a Tokyo trip all the more special.
Since weekends and holidays tend to fill up with reservations, if you’re thinking of joining, I’d recommend planning early. After filling your lungs with mountain air, how about cutting through the Shibuya wind? Start by checking availability at kart.st. I’m sure you’ll discover a side of Shibuya you’d never noticed before.
A Note About Costumes
We do not offer rentals of costumes related to Nintendo works such as “Mario Kart.” Only properly licensed costumes are available for use. You can check the details about costumes on the Street Kart official site.
