Experience supercar thrills on Tokyo's neon highways

When the sun goes down and the neon lights of Tokyo begin to glow, the city takes on a vibrant atmosphere, revealing the after-dark side of this sprawling megalopolis.

While it can be intoxicating enough exploring this city on foot, if you’re after something more thrilling, look no further than the exhilarating self-drive supercar experiences run by InsideJapan Tours.

With a bevy of stunning late model supercars, you’re able to drive through the pulsing streets and elevated highways of neon Tokyo and experience the city from a whole new perspective.

Even for novice drivers, the experience isn’t too daunting – after all, the Japanese also drive on the left side of the road, and most road signs are in both Japanese and English.

All you need is an International Drivers Permit ($39 and 3-5 business days to process) and you’ll be able to get behind the wheel of some of the planet’s most exotic cars.

In my case, I opted to try out the Aston Martin Vantage V12...

...and the Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 Avio.

Other cars available are the McLaren MP4 12C and several Ferrari convertibles, including the Ferrari 458 Spider.

The supercar experience is run as a convoy, with staff members in a lead car (in our case this was a Rolls-Royce Wraith) and a back car to keep the group together. This lets you focus on enjoying the driving experience, rather than worrying about where to go.

The tour leads from Ebisu (near Shibuya and Minato) to an artificial island named Odaiba in Tokyo Bay, driving via Japan’s elevated motorways and across Rainbow Bridge amongst a glittering backdrop of sea and lights.

Tokyo’s network of motorways means there’s not much stop-start traffic – which in turn means that you can experience these supercars the way they were meant to be driven. There are ample opportunities along the way to Odaiba to let the cars loose, and the staff encourage you to have as much fun as possible.

Once you reach Odaiba, you can switch cars for the return journey and take pictures, before heading back to the starting point.

All in all, the experience is thrilling and a unique way to experience Tokyo from a new perspective.

If you’ve got more time on your hands or want to explore further afield, InsideJapan Tours also a range of other tours and experiences throughout Tokyo and Japan - you can explore the options and book your experience here.

James Fordham

James has been interested in aviation ever since his first flight. When he’s not travelling, he’s still on the road indulging his motoring hobby, or trying a new whisky.