Oliver and I rested up, then dosed up on cough and flu medication, and headed up to Kanda to do our Japan Kart tour.
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It was dire weather - driving rain, freezing cold - and when we got there, the operator offered us the choice of a credit, or to reschedule... or to ride.
We chose ride.
I can't tell you how professional these guys were; we got to put on wet weather riding pants and overcoats, then our costumes if we wanted. Is it really an unofficial Mario Kart tour of you don't dress up in this-is-definitely-not-a-Niontendo-costume? Latex gloves, the woollen gloves, clear goggles, and a heat pack for the small of your back.
We were ready!
You get a safety video, and then are taekn down to the garage where they run through operating a go-kart. I'd never driven one before, so it was a bit to take in, but they are clear with what to do, and there's escort cars in front and back of the pack of karts, so you never dont feel safe.
The next two hour were amazing! Around the Imperial Palace, thru Shibuya Scramble, across to Tokyo Tower, and then back to Kanda via Marounouchi and Tokyo Station. We were freezing. We were soaked, even with all that gear on, your hands and feel are just icy. When the rain got heavy, it was like hail on your face. Cars passing by in lanes either side of you. Hectic mayhem.
But ear to ear grins from every single participant.
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The dire weather actually made it feel very special - and the way Tokyo Tower disappeared into the mist was just beautiful. Racing thru tunnels and across some of the overpasses, and speeding down into Shibuya in and exposed go-kart was an incredible adrenaline rush.
Tired but happy it was around 11pm when we headed home, and the rain was still going strong - I did manage one more shot of the sakura on the street our hotel is in, before having a much needed hot shower and calling it a day.
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