How to Get to Ebisu Circuit's Drift Taxi from Tokyo (Without a Tour)

The short version

You sit in the passenger seat while a pro drift driver takes you around Ebisu Circuit in Fukushima. No license or experience needed. JNTO says the drivers are D1 drivers from Team Orange.

Bookings were closed when I last checked. On 27 October 2026, the official booking screen said bookings were currently suspended, although another official page says "Bookings can now be made". Fukushima's tourism site says the ride cannot be booked in the winter months because of snow (Fukushima Travel), so it may reopen in spring. Check the booking page before you plan the trip.

What you actually get

The official page lists a 3-course drifting experience and a rented helmet. Sessions start at 9:00, 11:00 and 14:00. It runs every day except Wednesday. The page's own timing is unclear (it mentions a 15-minute safety briefing and a 45-minute session, but also an overall duration of 45 minutes), so ask the circuit how long your slot lasts.

How to get there from Tokyo by public transport

1. TokyoTohoku Shinkansen to Koriyama, 1h21 (JNTO) to 1h39 (fare guide). Allow for the slower one.
2. KoriyamaJR Tohoku Line to Nihonmatsu, about 20 minutes (JNTO)
3. NihonmatsuFukushima Kotsu bus to Safari Park-mae, about 28 minutes (JNTO). The city says about 30.
4. Ebisu CircuitCall 0243-24-2972 before you rely on the bus. I found no timetable or taxi time.

Shinkansen fares: a fare-guide site lists about US$57 for a reserved seat and US$54 unreserved from Tokyo to Koriyama, one way, and warns the figures are indicative. Check the live fare when you book. The official page also sells a taxi shuttle between Fukushima Station and the circuit: ¥18,350 for 1 to 3 people, ¥27,650 for 4 to 8.

Rough cost for a day trip

Add insurance (¥500 each), the local train, the bus or taxi, and food. The Shinkansen column is a rough conversion of the fare-guide figure, not a quote. The City of Nihonmatsu's tourism page still lists ¥30,000 per car; the circuit's booking page showed ¥50,000 when I checked (21 October 2026), so go by the booking page.

Cancellation

On the official page: free until 17:00 five days before; 50% until 17:00 two days before; 100% after that. Check the weather forecast before the 50% deadline.

DIY or a tour from Tokyo?

Go DIY if you are comfortable with trains and want the cheapest way in.

Take a tour if time is tight, you do not want to coordinate transfers, or you want a guide. One Viator listing, "Drifting experience with private transport from Tokyo, Ebisu Circuit", is priced at ¥229,999 (Viator's data, 27 October 2026; ¥200,000 on the operator's own site) for a private tour of about 12 to 16 hours, including hotel pickup in Tokyo's 23 wards and the circuit admission ticket. It is a passenger ride: the operator's own site says guests do not drive, and the Ebisu tour takes one guest (checked 26 October 2026). Viator lists free cancellation up to 24 hours before (27 October 2026), while the operator's own site lists a full refund only 7 days or more before, 50% from 7 days to 48 hours, and nothing after that (26 October 2026). Check the terms on the page where you book.

• Viator: Ebisu Circuit Drift Experience (private, from Tokyo)

What to wear

The official page does not say. As a precaution, long sleeves, long trousers and closed shoes are a sensible choice; this is my suggestion, not a rule from the circuit. A helmet is provided as a rental.

FAQ

Book the official Drift Taxi

Bookings were suspended when I checked on 27 October 2026.

Fukushima Travel: Drift Taxi Experience

Sources: Fukushima Travel (booking page), JNTO, City of Nihonmatsu, GoAsia fare guide, Viator listing (linked above), the tour operator's own site (JDM Drift Tours).