Asakusa & Skytree Street Go-Kart: Old Tokyo Loop

Asakusa is the part of Tokyo that still looks like the old city: temple roofs, rickshaws and shopping streets that close early. Across the Sumida River, Tokyo Skytree rises 634 metres over the low houses of Oshiage, so the two eras of the city sit side by side.

The loop starts near Skytree, crosses toward Asakusa and passes the Kaminarimon gate with its giant red lantern at the front of Senso-ji. It then runs along Kappabashi, the street of restaurant-supply shops, loops around Ueno Park and past the market lanes of Ameyoko before ending in Akihabara. Three start times let you choose daylight on the temple or the lanterns after dark.

It is one hour of driving through the east side of Tokyo, where most visitors only walk, and you see Senso-ji, Ueno and Skytree without changing trains once.

Asakusa pairs easily with the drive: walk the Nakamise shopping street to Senso-ji, or take the river cruise on the Sumida. Tokyo Skytree's observation decks and the Solamachi mall sit right at the start area, so an evening start can end with the view from the top.