Thrills and Tourism Challenges at Chiba Prefecture's Karting Capital

The Neo Speed Park in Yachiyo, Chiba Prefecture, is a popular destination for karting enthusiasts. The track, located about an hour's drive from Tokyo, is known as the "capital of karting" and attracts visitors from various locations. The circuit, which opened in 2010, features a 5-meter height difference, adding to the excitement for drivers.

The track is primarily frequented by motorheads, as it is somewhat off the beaten path in northwestern Chiba Prefecture. Anyone with a driver's license can participate, operating go-karts equipped with 5-horsepower engines and two pedals for acceleration and braking. The karts can reach speeds of up to 60 kph, providing a thrilling experience due to the low-to-the-ground seating position.

Fumitaka Takeya, the course record holder, is a passionate driver who discovered the track almost a decade ago. He was introduced to karting by Shigeyuki Tanaka. The park has become increasingly popular, attracting not only Japanese drivers but also a growing number of foreign visitors who have discovered the track through video-sharing websites.

The park can accommodate up to eight karts competing simultaneously, with a maximum of 500 people using the course each day. Foreign visitors, such as a group of Canadians, have expressed their enthusiasm for the track's unique layout, particularly the S-shaped downhill curve. One fan even translated a booklet detailing key points of the circuit into English.

The facility's manager, Makoto Tateno, highlights the track's unique feature of a significant height difference, which is rare for go-kart courses near Tokyo. Despite the park's appeal, the local municipality has yet to fully capitalize on its proximity to the capital for tourism promotion.

The Yachiyo city's tourism promotion office primarily focuses on cherry blossom viewing spots and farm stands, with limited information on other attractions. An official suggests that proper promotion of the Neo Speed Park could have a positive ripple effect. The lack of city-run information offices offering sightseeing tips has hindered the municipality's efforts to promote its tourism resources, leaving some areas undiscovered.

While neighboring cities like Funabashi and Ichikawa operate tourist information offices, they have yet to implement measures to attract tourists already visiting Tokyo. The Kashiwa city government, however, has reopened its tourist information office in anticipation of demand from inbound tourists.

Takeshi Sakimoto, a professor at Edogawa University, emphasizes the importance of collaboration among municipal governments to help tourists easily visit the various sightseeing spots in the Tokatsu-Katsunan area, which also includes attractions like the Ryutetsu Nagareyama Line, Nakayama-Hokekyoji temple, and the Funabashi H.C. Andersen Park.