In a nationwide first, the Shibuya Ward of Tokyo has announced that they will be enacting revised ordinance to crack down on the unsafe driving practices of inbound tourists partaking in go-kart tours of the capital. The revised ordinance, which will be submitted during an assembly in June aims to come into effect as early as July, 2025.
The ordinance follows over 245 registered complaints to police officials surrounding noise and other issues, and 42 accidents caused by reckless driving from go-kart drivers in the capital. It will require any go-kart business wishing to operate in the Shibuya Ward to notify of planned activities at least 30 days in advance of operations – while also requiring these businesses to host meetings with residents of the Shibuya Ward to both explain operations, and respond to inquiries and concerns.
However, the effectiveness of such changes is quickly called into question with the Shibuya Ward announcing that it will not set penalties for violations of the ordinance. This decision mimics the recent ordinance put into place in the Shibuya Ward banning public drinking, which also does not carry any penalties if violated.
Loved by tourists and largely denounced by locals, the go-kart tourism industry originally gained footing in 2015. In its 10-year history, the tourist-focused industry has been shrouded in numerous controversies that have caught the attention of both domestic and international eyes. The tours offer tourists a guided go-karting experience around the nation's capital, visiting a number of its most iconic tourist locations.
Arguably the most notable controversy came to a close with the 2020 supreme court victory awarded to Nintendo in filings against "MariCar," one of the original services to offer this type of experience. The filings were originally made following Nintendo's concerns that, with a name so similar to their own massively-popular racing franchise, and with drivers dressed up as Nintendo characters, any accidents caused by drivers would reflect poorly on their own game franchise.
While the question remains surrounding the effectiveness of this ordinance, if it is approved, we can expect changes to take place in the Shibuya Ward starting from July, 2025.
