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This wonderful observatory sits right at the middle of Shibuya, Tokyo overlooking the Shibuya scramble and city of skyscrapers. Even better this place is easily reachable by JR Yamote Line, Exit B6.

What’s up there?

It leads to the escalator that leads you up to the 360 degree open air observatory with a helipad. You might find some popular spots to take pictures.

This is a great place to have a breathtaking view of Tokyo, with no obstructions. The cost can set you back at 2500 yen if you are purchasing at the counters directly but you can snag it at a cheaper rate on KLOOK right NOW! Better still, get the Tokyo Pass which allows you to have access to multiple attractions with cost savings!

Getting there and Final thoughts

Take the lift up to level 14, show your pre-purchased tickets and get going. Usually the golden hour tickets are sold out fast. Afternoon slots in summer turned out to be a poor choice, as you can barely keep your eyes open.

Well, if you are not into elevated sightseeing, don’t worry there are many other activities that will keep you occupied in Tokyo be it the popular teamLabs Tokyo or shrines.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning that at no additional cost to you, I will receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Since I was googling what to do in Tokyo and this was one of the highly raved touristy thing to do in Tokyo. I was undecided on doing this as I haven’t go-kart before, haven’t been on the road for some time and especially in a new country… Perhaps not worth the risk.

Sharing with my friends and family members, there was a 50/50 opinion that its safe and I will be fine. So without hesitation, I signed up for Akiba Kart 1 hour tour on Klook. It was SGD69 and I decided to add on the waiver, in the event I choose not to go for the Go Kart, I get back 50% of the expense.

Within two days of signing up, I received an email from the operator on things I should bring and the precise venue for the meet up.

Things you must take note of when going for Go-Kart

*Always check with your operator if there is any changes

1. International Driver’s License (yes, you read it right, to drive on the road you must have a license to begin with)
2. Passport and home country license
3. Other accessories that you want for safety or fun
   1. Sunglasses if you are driving in the morning or afternoon during summer especially
   2. Go – Pro, you can do a rental with the operator and you could add on to this when you purchase on Klook
      

The experience

I had a little bit of difficulty finding the venue. Walked around the building and found out it was just a basement carpark which could be easily missed. There is a washroom in the vicinity but its best to head to the washroom before visiting the place.

You can bring a small pouch with the licenses and handphone, but you must leave the rest on the tables (unsecured). When I went, there was another person taking care of the shop hence I left my belongings. As a word of caution, its best to keep your valuables with you.

There was a 5 min briefing on how to use the kart, in the event you get separated from the team (which is common if you are at the back of the line) at traffic lines, reminders that you should not use your phone when driving, otherwise you will get fined.

We drove in a single line and I was one of the last few drivers. It was fun. It felt like driving a small minicar on the streets of Tokyo with the wind rushing against your face. The excitement kicked in when trying to catch up with the rest of the tour group and navigating busy junctions. It can be stressful when you miss the traffic light but don’t worry your guide and team will be waiting for you at the corner of the road, so you can join them if you get separated.

Tour Route

The tour didn’t cover Shibuya Crossing (apparently its quite a distance from Akihabara), but it went around Kanda, Kokyo Goen Garden, Otemochi and U turn back to Akihabara.

If your intention is to drive around Shibuya and Shinjuku or even the Tokyo Rainbow Bridge, it is good to check out the routes and research before booking : Usually it will be the 2 hour tours. Advance booking is better as the slots get taken up easily and I doubt you could walk-in.

After the tour, you will be brought back to the same pick up place and you can take your belongings and head off.

So what are you waiting for? Book your tickets on Klook right now

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Discover Japan, the land of contrast and rich culture

I booked my flight to Japan a week prior to the departure on 22 July and thereafter, started planning and booking accommodations. To explore more cities, I flew into NRT (Narita Intl Airport) and flew out of KIX (Osaka Intl Airport). I had 6 nights to immerse myself as much as possible.

How did I plan my Itinerary? I had intentions to cover Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka over the 6 nights and had read blogs, reddit review and watched multiple vlogs before pinning the exact locations. As this was a solo trip, I used Google Calendar to pre-plan the days with reminders and remember to input the location of your destinations on Google calendar invites. I received reminders on my iPhone as to what is the best time to leave to get to my next destination taking into account the traffic and never had to worry about figuring out what’s next on my list.

Need some ideas to plan your itinerary for your Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka trips? You can find it in my upcoming posts here on the places you could visit and my thoughts on it as well.

Here is a snapshot of the itinerary I had built for myself for the entire trip.

Final thoughts on the 6 nights in Japan? I should have stayed a little longer – perhaps a day or two. Perhaps I should have visited in October instead of doing a last minute trip. I would have seen a few more things in Tokyo or Kyoto and be fully present instead of rushing to the next destination. Perhaps it was the excitement or the Zen atmosphere of Kyoto that got me hooked.

As a solo traveler I met fellow solo travelers or strangers at the hotel rooftops or random cafes. Often the question I encountered was “What brings you to Japan” and I find myself answering, “I don’t know it was a random last minute trip”. Many share their passion for Japanese culture, food or the anime which amazed me as these individuals came from disparate countries but they could speak Japanese with intermediate proficiency.

Although I couldn’t speak Japanese, learning a couple of phrases before the trip helped and the staff at the restaurants get excited to help you out more when you try. That was the real charm of Japan. A developed country. Modern infrastructure, technology but English isn’t commonly spoken till today.