Explore Osaka’s Must-See Spots by Street Kart! The Ultimate Route for First-Time Visitors

A New Way to Experience Osaka: Racing Through the Streets by Kart

Doesn’t Osaka have so many attractions that you don’t know where to start? Dotonbori, Osaka Castle, Tsutenkaku… you want to see them all, but it’s such a waste to get exhausted just from traveling between them. That’s why I recommend exploring Osaka by street kart.

You get to ride a kart on public roads and cruise through Osaka’s streets while feeling the wind in your hair. This isn’t just transportation—it’s an incredibly fun experience in itself! When I told my Taiwanese friends about this, they were like, “Wait, you can actually do that in Japan!?” When I shared it on social media, it got tons of reactions on Xiaohongshu too. It seems like tourists from across Asia are paying attention to this as a “uniquely Japanese experience.”

Start at Dotonbori! The Glico Sign and the City of Food Lovers

When it comes to quintessential Osaka sightseeing, Dotonbori is the classic choice. Taking a photo in front of the Glico sign is practically a ritual at this point, right? When you drive a street kart around Dotonbori, you see a completely different view compared to walking.

When you’re in a kart, people on the street wave at you like crazy. They call out “So cute!” and “Amazing!”—it makes you feel like a celebrity (lol). Especially cruising through the neon-lit streets at night is peak aesthetic vibes, and you’ll totally understand why it goes viral on TikTok.

I also recommend the route from Dotonbori through Shinsaibashi-suji toward Amerikamura. This area is packed with youth culture, and it’s a fresh experience to view the lined-up vintage shops and cafes from your kart. You can feel a unique street culture that you won’t find in Taiwan.

Enjoy History and Stunning Views at Osaka Castle

After you’ve soaked in the Dotonbori area, head to Osaka Castle next. There’s a spot where you can take photos with your kart and the castle tower in the background, and it’s seriously Instagram-worthy. Cherry blossom season is especially insane—driving your kart through the pink petals is truly a “only in Japan” experience.

The area around Osaka Castle Park has wide roads that are perfect for kart driving. The combination of historical architecture and modern kart adventure is irresistible to foreign tourists. My friend from Hong Kong said, “I couldn’t stop posting to my Instagram Stories!”

Osaka Castle is one of the most accessible castles in Japan, making it easy to incorporate into a street kart route. Even just circling around the castle is incredibly satisfying.

Why Street Kart Is the Top Choice

If you want to experience street karting in Osaka, I recommend Street Kart. Here’s why: their services for foreign tourists are really comprehensive.

First, the guides are trained to work with international drivers, so communication in English is smooth. You can enjoy the experience without worrying about language barriers. My Taiwanese friends told me this was a huge help. Even if you don’t speak Japanese, they’ll guide you properly with gestures and simple English.

Second, they’ve conducted over 150,000 tours and served more than 1.34 million customers. That track record is proof you can trust them. With an average customer rating of 4.9/5.0 stars and over 20,000 reviews, you can see just how satisfied people are.

Plus, they have over 250 vehicles, so it’s easy to book for groups. It’s awesome that even if you go with a bunch of friends, everyone can ride karts together. When I went with my group of Taiwanese friends, we all got reservations for the same time slot.

Their website supports 22 languages, so you won’t have any trouble from the booking stage. They support Chinese (both Traditional and Simplified), which is super helpful for Asian tourists. You can also check out more details at hp2.stg.streetkart.org.

By the way, they don’t provide Mario Kart-related costumes. Street Kart is an independent service with no affiliation to Nintendo or the Mario Kart series. However, you’re welcome to bring and wear your own costumes, so if you’re into cosplay, feel free to join in your favorite outfit!

Regarding driver’s licenses, you can drive with an international license or certain foreign licenses, but please check the official website for details.

Discover Osaka’s Deep Charm at Tsutenkaku and Shinsekai

Another must-see spot in Osaka sightseeing is the Shinsekai area, where Tsutenkaku Tower stands tall. This neighborhood, with its retro atmosphere, is packed with Osaka’s deeper charm. When you cruise through streets lined with kushikatsu restaurant signs and Showa-era vibes, you feel like you’ve traveled back in time.

On the route from Shinsekai toward Tennoji, you can even see Abeno Harukas. If you take a photo with your kart in front of Japan’s tallest building, you’ll get an amazing shot that screams “I’m in Osaka!” In Taiwan, photos of “kart in front of Harukas” got tons of attention, and I received so many DMs asking “How did you take that?”

Why Sunset Is the Best Time

If you’re going to explore Osaka by kart, sunset is the best timing. The contrast between the orange sky and Osaka’s cityscape is beautiful, and your photo quality goes up dramatically. The time when neon lights start coming on is also perfect for video shooting. When I edited with CapCut and uploaded to TikTok, I got three times my usual views.

Make Your Osaka Trip an Extra Special Memory

If you want to efficiently explore Osaka’s classic tourist spots while having a blast, street karting is truly a great choice. It’s easier than walking, offers a sense of freedom you can’t get from trains or buses, and best of all, “the experience itself” becomes part of your sightseeing.

For first-time visitors to Osaka, it’s awesome that you can hit Dotonbori, Osaka Castle, and Tsutenkaku all in one go. And the fact that the travel time between them is just as fun? That’s the ultimate value for both your money and your time!

For Asian tourists, experiences you can only have in Japan are actually pretty limited. Among them, being able to drive a kart on public roads is definitely something to put on your “must-do in Japan” list. I want to tell all my Taiwanese friends about this—it’s honestly the new standard for Osaka sightseeing.

Booking is easy at kart.st, so check it out when you’re planning your Osaka trip. You’ll definitely create special memories that you can’t get from regular sightseeing!

Note About Costumes

We do not offer rentals of Nintendo or “Mario Kart” related costumes. We only provide costumes that respect intellectual property rights.