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Tokyo go-kart operator busted for renting to unlicensed tourists

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Is there anything more cringe than seeing weaboo tourists who rent these noisy and antisocial vehicles? Hopefully this will lead to a crackdown on them.

8 ( +22 / -14 )

That's only one incident, how incident being inflicted by old people in Japan? More than that.

Are they expecting people to go to expensive Japanese driving school that cost 300 thousands yen, just to drive those kart?

-29 ( +5 / -34 )

These go cars should not be on public roads. They need to assign a confined place so adults can pretend to be children again.

21 ( +28 / -7 )

Ban them completely.

17 ( +22 / -5 )

sakurasukiToday  06:54 am JST

That's only one incident, how incident being inflicted by old people in Japan? More than that.

Are they expecting people to go to expensive Japanese driving school that cost 300 thousands yen, just to drive those kart?

You cannot enter Japanese driving school as a tourist and it is not required as described in the article. What you need to do, in your home country before coming to japan, is spend $10 to get the international driving permit.

25 ( +26 / -1 )

Wait. The article starts by making it look like they're renting those things to people without licenses. But further into the article, it's two people. Two. All this just for two people who drove without a license.

If they're gonna bring this nuisance to court, and maybe ultimately shot them down, they've better come with more than just two people drove without a license.

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

@WeiWei

> What you need to do, in your home country before coming to japan, is spend $10 to get the international driving permit.

Not all country able to issue international permit that being accepted by Japan, need to be in the list of countries that signed 1949 convention.

https://rent.toyota.co.jp/global_eng/drive/

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

But further into the article, it's two people. Two. All this just for two people who drove without a license.

Its not merely driving without a license, it also how the lack of license issue was discovered by the cops:

"One of the two individuals caused property damage after colliding with a parked vehicle on the roadside. The police officer who responded arrested the individual on the spot for driving without a license."

12 ( +13 / -1 )

@ Garthgole

If you read further into the article it says nearly 50

5 ( +7 / -2 )

The story should name the company involved. With no name, readers will blame every kart tour company for what sounds like slackness at the least clued-up one. Does anyone know who it is?

I only know about the one sued by Nintendo, Maricar, but they have country-by-country guide to licenses on their website. Their staff only need to read their own website to know what licenses are needed for customers from different countries. I doubt it is that company at fault here.

To ban the karts as many people would like, the police would have to change the rules. I suspect they are street legal because they pass rules intended for mobility vehicles used by old people. People rely on such vehicles, so the best approach may be to ban "formation guided tours" or something like that.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

The cart system is no problem. If people want to buzz around like Mario the let them. They stay out of the way of most people. They are better than taxi drivers. These LUUP standing scooters on the other hand need to go. People ride them everywhere without care. Feel sorry for the parked car but the guy who was riding got arrested and it should be done. Company can only go off what their customers tell them. Don’t think it’s right someone not even there is charged.

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

If you read further into the article it says nearly 50

True. But the prosecutors are bringing them to court just for two people. They need to add to those charges if they want to get rid of this business.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Wait. The article starts by making it look like they're renting those things to people without licenses. But further into the article, it's two people. 

I bet more than two people per winter will be driving cars without valid licenses in Niseko, either as customers on holiday or as seasonal staff driving every day for accommodation providers or ski rental places. International destinations like Niseko and Okinawa are inaka, so the local cops won't know much about international driving licenses either.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

This whole go cart thing is an absolute JOKE,

Japan with all the restrictions and rules it imposes on it's drivers allows these annoying carts on the streets of it's capital driven by people that have NO IDEA how or where to go, and yet it expect the general public to put up with it.

Someone got paid major cash to allow this.

7 ( +13 / -6 )

If these are indeed classifed as regular motorcars, fit for driving on regular roads, I'm in. I have a death wish you see.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Good, finish that circus..

0 ( +9 / -9 )

Well that's good. They are a blinking nuisance.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

@sakurasaki

"Not all country able to issue international permit that being accepted by Japan, need to be in the list of countries that signed 1949 convention".

Then don't drive in a foreign country. No valid licence= illegal.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

@Claire

Not all tourist know that, in fact based on this article even local people who run that business failed to do so.

The only way for people from outside those 1949 signatories country to drive in Japan is by paying 300 thousands driving school.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

Those people might have a valid driving license in their home country.

Only international driver's licenses issued by a country under the Geneva Convention are valid for driving in Japan.

My country delivers international licenses under the Vienna convention signed in1968. Japan did not sign the Vienna convention, The Geneva Convention was signed in 1949.

As a result, my country international licences are not valid in Japan and I guess that’s the same for some other countries. This is just an administrative difference that makes no difference when driving but Japan can play with that. The operator has the duty to check but this is cumbersome

1 ( +3 / -2 )

How are these things even allowed on open roads?

They're a menace to public safety.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Chinese tourists

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

The only way for people from outside those 1949 signatories country to drive in Japan is by paying 300 thousands driving school.

I'll flag this because it's incorrect. People from Taiwan, France, Switzerland (here) etc can drive in Japan with a JAF translation that can be printed out at 7-Eleven. Only for one year though.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Good.

Get rid of it all.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

They have those annoying carts around here, ruddy menace they are. They zoom around dressed up like Mario and other characters and yes they are adults, it defies belief.

Once, I was cycling near Shin Sekai with my son and the buffoon in charge of the others didn’t look when turning right and almost crashed into us. I was ruddy livid and the bloke didn’t seem to care he could have caused an accident.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

Greedy moron running this business.

Dumb, reckless morons who want to drive go-karts on the streets of Tokyo.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Around Osaka Castle I see these groups quite often, but so far haven’t seen any egregious behavior. I’m sure a lot depends on the management of the company.

Good, finish that circus..

Hey, TL, their country, their rules, etc., right?

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

@kohakuebisu

I'll flag this because it's incorrect. People from Taiwan, France, Switzerland (here) etc can drive in Japan with a JAF translation that can be printed out at 7-Eleven. Only for one year though.

It's only six countries got that exception, Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan.

https://english.jaf.or.jp/driving-in-japan/drive-in-japan/switch-to-japanese-license

They can't use IDP but they can use driving license from their country and JAF translation.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Have these stupid things running around a race track, not the public roads. Can't be long before a fatal accident happens then greed turns to tears

2 ( +4 / -2 )

@sakurasuki

you don’t need to pay all that money and go to a driving school, you can just take the test.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The point ultimately is that these are real cars that can move pretty fast and inflict damage, plus they’re a serious nuisance. And their exhaust stinks too.. I live in Shibuya-ku and both from a driver and a pedestrian perspective, these are really a dangerous form of transportation that clogs up traffic, makes a lot of noise, and also makes it feel like my neighborhood serves as an amusement park for overseas tourists indulging their fantasy of the video game anime manga world that they believe Japan is. Aside from my own cringe-factor whenever I accidentally make eye contact with one of these tourists, overall it only makes all foreigners in Japan look bad and gives tourists a false idea of safety and privilege that these go-karts do not actually offer. And more importantly, it may be hard to get a license here, but if you can’t drive in the first place or can’t be responsible enough to get an international license from your own country, stay off the road, please!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Non-narrow-minded me has been on a tour in these karts. It was dangerous and exhilarating and highly recommendable if you are a licensed driver with some gonads.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Can't be a foreign concept of refusing to sign someone up for your services if they are not qualified and is likely to endanger you and others. It's not like foreigners are treated like gods and must not be denied, so why only this.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Non-narrow-minded me has been on a tour in these karts. It was dangerous and exhilarating and highly recommendable if you are a licensed driver with some gonads.

Nuisance me has also done the tour and I was rude enough to have enormous fun doing it. I think I may have spoiled some people's fun by having enormous fun myself whilst they weren't.

I was also foolish enough to observe the rules of the road on which I was legally allowed to and licensed to drive upon.

Despite driving a bright blue go-cart and wearing a luminous dinosaur outfit I think a truck driver who was busy urinating into a PET bottle whilst playing Pokemon and smoking a cigarette may not have noticed me as clearly as I should have been noticed.

My fault entirely.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

I guess I can see how this cosplay is fun for a segment of tourists, but these vehicles are a pain in the behind for ordinary traffic participants. It is absolutely justified that the cops make sure that at least these people have valid license and get some instruction. Also, they should make sure they have proper lighting in the back; they are so low that sometimes they are hard to see.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Clippedyclop

Despite driving a bright blue go-cart and wearing a luminous dinosaur outfit I think a truck driver who was busy urinating into a PET bottle whilst playing Pokemon and smoking a cigarette may not have noticed me as clearly as I should have been noticed.

Well, clearly he did notice you, otherwise you would not be here to write the message. Me, I ride a motorbike in Tokyo and make sure I am visible (bright jacket and helmet with reflector stripe). No way I would join the traffic here in these coackroach-height vehicles. What is the distance where you become invisible to a truck? 20 meters or so? Shudder.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

リッチ

The cart system is no problem. If people want to buzz around like Mario the let them. They stay out of the way of most people. They are better than taxi drivers. These LUUP standing scooters on the other hand need to go. 

Agree. The LOOP scooters are the worst.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

No way I would join the traffic here in these coackroach-height vehicles. What is the distance where you become invisible to a truck? 20 meters or so? Shudder.

MAGA sure does love its 'coackroaches' in the same way Nazis loved their rats.

What is the distance where you become invisible to a truck? 20 meters or so? Shudder.

At no distance is a go-cart invisible.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

ClippetyClop

MAGA sure does love its 'coackroaches' in the same way Nazis loved their rats.

What does "MAGA" have to do with go-karts in Tokyo? I said "cockroaches" because they are so low and flat. Read it as "micro Lamborghini" if you prefer.

At no distance is a go-cart invisible.

You must be kidding. Look at these big SUVs and construction trucks. There is a line of sight from the driver to the road. No way you can see a tiny object close to the bumper. Why do you think schools here are teaching kids to raise their hands when crossing the street?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Seems like a lot of foreign guests in Japan dislike these go-carts. What's wrong with other people having some fun?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

What's wrong with other people having some fun?

it’s not about anything being wrong about anyone having fun. It’s how the “fun” is being had at the expense of residents’ and everyone’s safety and normal functioning of public roads regulated by traffic laws. If these were off-road in an enclosed space or some other kind of special track- or if they were part of a special event that only happens once in awhile under carefully monitored circumstances— it would be a completely different story.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

@whole-in-the-donut

But they are following the traffic laws.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Look at these big SUVs and construction trucks. There is a line of sight from the driver to the road. No way you can see a tiny object close to the bumper.

What a load of rubbish. How do those 'tiny' dayglo go-carts driven by gaijin in dayglo dinosaur outfits get close to the bumper? Do they suddenly appear there?

Truck drivers sit right at the front of the cab. They can see everything. If SUV drivers aren't smart enough to remember that they have a pack of go-carts in front of them, then the problem is with them.

Why do you think schools here are teaching kids to raise their hands when crossing the street?

What on earth are you going on about?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

No helmets!?

It some fun.

I could never imagine such a sight in London past or present.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

ClippetyClop

What a load of rubbish. How do those 'tiny' dayglo go-carts driven by gaijin in dayglo dinosaur outfits get close to the bumper? Do they suddenly appear there?

The lower the vehicle/the shorter the person, the more difficult to see. Not rocket science.

Truck drivers sit right at the front of the cab. They can see everything. If SUV drivers aren't smart enough to remember that they have a pack of go-carts in front of them, then the problem is with them.

Some trucks and all SUVs have bonnets. Big ones.

Why do you think schools here are teaching kids to raise their hands when crossing the street?

What on earth are you going on about?

Kids are taught to raise hands to increase visibility by increasing height. Not that it makes a huge difference, but the principle is correct.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

itsonlyrocknroll

No helmets!?

It some fun.

I could never imagine such a sight in London past or present.

I dont think tourists associate London with cosplay. And yes, the Japanese helmet law is strange. If the vehicle has more than 2 wheels, helmets are not required.... no matter how exposed you are. No common sense.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

The lower the vehicle/the shorter the person, the more difficult to see. Not rocket science. Some trucks and all SUVs have bonnets. Big ones.

And how exactly does a pack of noisy, bright go-carts appear in front of these vehicles without the driver noticing them? And how is the failure of other drivers to notice them the fault of the go-cartists?

Kids are taught to raise hands to increase visibility by increasing height.

Irrelevant and false. They raise their hands to signify that they wish to cross the road.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

ClippetyClopOct. 13  04:41 pm JST

And how exactly does a pack of noisy, bright go-carts appear in front of these vehicles without the driver noticing them?

Plenty of drivers have been complaining about exactly that.

And how is the failure of other drivers to notice them the fault of the go-cartists?

Irrelevant to the fact that it is easy to not to see every one of them.

Irrelevant and false. They raise their hands to signify that they wish to cross the road.

Nope.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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