Tokyo needs more than Mario karts to amuse tourists

Tokyo needs more than Mario karts to amuse tourists
(Image: Getty)
Bloomberg
By Gearoid Reidy They’re the scourge of Tokyo’s streets: bright-red go-karts driven by foreign tourists waving and clad in cartoon costumes.The providers of these personal transporters, colloquially known as Mario karts, once dressed riders as characters from Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros before putting them on the roads. Now, after a company lawsuit that went all the way to the Supreme Court, some websites warn that their street karts are “in no way a reflection” of the video game maker. But the damna...

More Tourism

How Te Arai Links became a South Pacific golfers' paradise
The Life

How Te Arai Links became a South Pacific golfers' paradise

The resort's two 18-hole golf courses feature breathtaking views of the coast.

Duncan Bridgeman 19 Jan 2025
The ‘humble’ NZ tourism tech company making millions
Technology

The ‘humble’ NZ tourism tech company making millions

Tourplan was founded in 1986 and may be looking to sell for $150 million.

Ben Moore 17 Jan 2025
International visitor numbers stuck at 85% of pre-covid levels
News in Brief

International visitor numbers stuck at 85% of pre-covid levels

Overseas visitor arrivals were 240,200 in October, an increase of 14,200 from October last year but 15% down on pre-pandemic levels.Stats New Zealand figures show the annual arrival total to October was just over 3.2 million, down around 17% on the bumper 2019 year and just ahead...

Staff reporters 13 Dec 2024
Wellington's blue sky boondoggle
Infrastructure

Pattrick Smellie: Wellington's blue sky boondoggle

Is the capital's airport serious, or is Infratil just trying to pump value?

Pattrick Smellie 22 Nov 2024