Mari-CAR Go Karts, Another Must Have Adventure in Okinawa
CONTRIBUTED BY JASON ANNIS
Have you ever dreamed of speeding through the streets of Okinawa as a character from Mario Kart? Well, dream no more – Maricar allows you to live your fantasy. This brand new adventure opened on 1 September 2016 in Naha and has already drawn a lot of attention. Imagine dressing up in a costume of your favorite game character and cruising down highway 58 in tuned up Go Karts capable of highway speeds. Since these karts are made for public roads, you will need a valid Japanese driver’s license, International Driving Permit or a US Forces Japan SOFA license.
Not only are these karts fast, but there are also a bunch of other great additions to make this an unforgettable ride. A navigation system keeps you on track and Bluetooth speaker systems and headsets allow you to communicate with other drivers. Action cameras are also available to record your excursion from the driver’s helmet.
Your experience would not be the same without renting one of their many costumes such as Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Toad, Princess Peach and Bowser from Mario Karts or for all those Super Hero fans they also have Superman, Spiderman, Ironman, Captain America, Batman and a whole lot more.
This is an absolute must-do while here in Okinawa. A friend and I rented Go Karts for 2 hours and cruised around Naha, Kokusai Street and then out to Senaga Island. We had an absolute blast! You get a lot of attention cruising the streets in these amazing little vehicles. The karts take off quick and cruise at highway speeds, so you will not interfere with everyday traffic. Even though these karts are tuned for highway driving, they are surprisingly quiet even at full throttle. We made our reservation via the Facebook page a few days earlier, but they have enough karts that you could take a chance and just show up without a reservation. To book a reservation, please click below
Mari-CAR Go Karts
Phone: 090-8899-8899
Website: https://okinawa-maricar.jp/
Hours: Open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Payment: Yen or Credit Card
Address: 〒9000034 沖縄県Naha city, 7-1-2 Higashi-Machi
GPS Coordinates: 26.213140, 127.674467
Directions: If you are coming from the Camp Foster commissary gate, head south on highway 58 for 13.7km. You will then come to an intersection that is 330 if you go left and 390 if you go right. Turn right onto highway 390. After a short drive, you will see Monaco Cafe / Pachinko Parlor on your right, turn right at the next intersection. Drive straight past 3 intersections and Maricar will be on the right – you cannot miss it since the parking lot is filled with go-karts.
I went with my brothers and mother while visiting over christmas break. It was much more fun than my family or I had expected. The costumes are clean as well as their facilities. The employees have great attitudes as well.
Although driving around and seeing the city is great (it really is a substantial tour, even if you don’t know what you might be touring), by far my favorite part was driving through the tourist areas.
I recommend going at a time when people will be out. The kids love the costumes and Karts. We had people waving at us from cars, sidewalks, buses, and sometimes people would walk into the street during a light to take a picture with us.
Oh, and you get a drink at the end. (Bonus!)
Overall I had a great time and would definitely recommend going.
We just did this today and it was one of the most fun things we have ever done in Okinawa. People were taking our pix like we were celebrities and smiling and waving. The guide (Hiro) took fabulous pictures and gave them all to us at the end. We are already planning our next trip. SUPER FUN! Highly recommend!!
We had a similar experience but we went driving without a guide. We drove out to Senaga Island and Kokusai Street. It was one of the most fun experiences I’ve ever had and we can’t wait to go again!