Race Through Osaka’s Must-See Tourist Spots by Street Kart! Turn Your First Trip Into an Epic Adventure
The moment Namba’s neon lights paint the night sky, the sound of engines echoes through the streets. Gripping the steering wheel while looking up at the Glico Running Man sign in Dotonbori—this is absolutely incredible! Sure, walking around Osaka’s classic tourist spots is nice, but cruising through them on a street kart multiplies the fun exponentially. First-time visitors to Osaka, it’s time to graduate from just sightseeing!
Experience Osaka’s Classic Spots from a Whole New Perspective
When you think of Osaka, you think of Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi, Namba, and Amerikamura. These are all iconic spots representing Osaka Minami, featured in every guidebook. But here’s the thing—walking between all these spots takes quite a bit of time and honestly, it’s tiring. It’s a waste to burn through all your energy just getting around when you want to have fun with friends.
That’s where street karting comes in! Street Kart’s Osaka location is in the Minami-Horie area, offering tours that efficiently cover Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi, Namba, and Amerikamura in about one hour. It’s just a 5-minute walk from Yotsubashi Station on the Osaka Metro and 3 minutes from Nishi-Ohashi Station—super convenient access. Friends from Brazil were absolutely thrilled, saying “I can’t believe you can have this kind of experience in Japan!”
When you’re riding a kart on public roads, the cityscape looks completely different. The feeling of gazing at the Glico sign—which you’d normally look up at—from the driver’s seat is something special. When you stop at traffic lights, people around you start pointing their phones at you. It’s like being a celebrity! Friends from all over the world keep saying “This is the new way to do tourism in Japan!”
The Ultimate Route Through Classic Spots
Street Kart’s Osaka tour features a popular course that takes you through Amerikamura, Shinsaibashi, Dotonbori, and Namba. The whole thing takes about an hour, and trained guides lead the way, so even first-timers can feel at ease. With over 6,632 reviews and a 4.9/5.0★ rating, it’s easy to see why.
Starting near the triangular park in Amerikamura, you’ll soak in the street culture atmosphere. Racing through streets lined with vintage clothing shops and cafes is an energizing experience! There are similar vibes in neighborhoods in São Paulo, Brazil, but Japan has its own unique sense of style that’s truly special.
After passing through Shinsaibashi’s covered shopping arcade, you arrive at the Dotonbori area. The giant crab sign of Kani Doraku, Kuidaore Taro, and the Glico Running Man—you get to enjoy all these classic tourist spots from the unique angle of looking up from your kart. When the guide stops at traffic lights, it’s the perfect photo opportunity! The energy is infectious, and everyone gets pumped up together.
In the Namba area, you’ll pass by Namba Grand Kagetsu, the holy ground of Japanese comedy. Driving your kart while feeling Osaka’s culture of laughter somehow makes you naturally smile. Maybe that’s the power of Osaka. The cheerful spirit of Brazilians and Osaka’s lively vibe have something in common—it just feels right!
Best Photo Spots
The area in front of the Glico sign in Dotonbori is the number one photo spot. Visit from late afternoon into evening, and the combination of your kart illuminated by neon lights with the sign behind you is incredibly photogenic. The guides will act as photographers too, so no worries even while you’re driving. Professional-quality photos are included in the tour price, which is a fantastic bonus.
The entrance to Shinsaibashi-suji is another great spot for photos. Shoot with the arcade signs in the background for a quintessentially Osaka vibe. Your Instagram followers will definitely ask “What ride is this?” The appeal of street karting is that anyone can enjoy it, regardless of nationality!
Why People Choose Street Kart
Street Kart is known as the industry pioneer in providing kart services with guides specifically trained for international drivers. Their track record speaks for itself: over 1.34 million total customers and more than 150,000 tours completed.
Regarding safety, they work in coordination with police and conduct vehicle inspections and briefings before every departure. Operating the kart is simple—just learn the accelerator and brake, and anyone can drive. Even if you don’t speak Japanese, you can communicate with the guides through smiles and body language, so no worries!
You can choose from different insurance plans—Plan A offers complete coverage for just 500 yen, giving you extra peace of mind. Guides provide full support in case of any incidents. With a website available in 22 languages, you can go from booking to tour day without any language barriers. For driver’s license requirements, check https://kart.st/en/drivers-license/ in advance to make sure you’re prepared.
Costumes are available for free rental on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that Mario Kart-related costumes are not available. Street Kart is an independent service with no affiliation to Nintendo or the Mario Kart series. Racing through the streets in original hero costumes is an amazing experience in itself!
Helmets and goggles are provided free of charge, and rain coats are available for wet weather. Tours run even in light rain, so there’s less worry about cancellations due to minor weather changes.
How to Combine Street Karting with Osaka Sightseeing
Enjoying Osaka’s food scene before or after your tour is highly recommended. Have fresh seafood for breakfast at Kuromon Market, join the Street Kart tour, grab some takoyaki while strolling through Dotonbori, then finish the day with kushikatsu—that’s the ultimate plan! Go with friends and your excitement will be through the roof all day long.
If you visit the observation deck at Abeno Harukas to get a bird’s eye view of Osaka before hopping on your kart, you’ll get that amazing feeling of “I’m now driving through the streets I was just looking down at!” Osaka from up high and Osaka from ground level—both are absolutely incredible!
Tsutenkaku Tower and the Shinsekai area are about 15 minutes away by train. You can enjoy authentic kushikatsu at Daruma before or after your kart experience. Don’t forget to rub the soles of Billiken’s feet and make a wish!
What First-Timers Should Know
Reservations open up to 3 months in advance, and booking 2-4 weeks ahead is recommended during peak seasons. Same-day bookings are possible if there’s availability, but you must arrive 30 minutes early. Payment is through PayPal and accepts credit cards, making overseas bookings smooth and easy.
Bring your driver’s license (either an International Driving Permit or a license from an eligible country with official Japanese translation) and passport—these are essential. Wear closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothing like jeans. Avoid heels and sandals—come in sneakers. There are small lockers for belongings, but large suitcases can’t be stored, so leave them at your hotel.
The most popular time slots are the evening ones from 5 PM to 7 PM. You get to enjoy Osaka’s night views and neon lights while driving, making your photos even more impressive. The neon atmosphere in Dotonbori is absolutely amazing! It’s so much fun that everyone should experience it at least once in their lifetime.
Conclusion
If you’re visiting Osaka’s classic tourist spots for the first time, street karting is the ultimate choice. You can efficiently experience the charm of Osaka Minami—Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi, Namba, and Amerikamura—in about one hour. Trained guides lead the way for safety, and photo services are included so you’ll capture all your memories perfectly.
You can easily book Street Kart at https://kart.st/. Why not transform your Osaka sightseeing from just “seeing” to “racing through”? It’s guaranteed to be a blast, so definitely give it a try. Race through the streets of Osaka with everyone, and you’re sure to create the best memories ever!
Costume Information
Please note that we do not offer rental costumes related to Nintendo or “Mario Kart.” We only provide costumes that respect intellectual property rights.
