Uber is known for getting you from point A to point B. In Japan this summer, that point B is a drift circuit.
The company just launched Uber Drift, a limited-time experience that lets you book a professional drift session directly through the Uber app. It's running from June 3 to July 1, and if you're anywhere near Tokyo during that window, it's worth paying attention.
How It Works
The experience starts with an Uber Black pickup from your accommodation in Tokyo. From there, you're driven 90 minutes south to Mobara Twin Circuit, a tight, technical circuit that's well-suited for exactly this kind of thing.
Once you arrive, the circuit is yours. A Formula Drift-licensed professional takes you out in either an S13 Nissan 180SX or an S15 Nissan Silvia, both purpose-built drift machines. You get a set number of laps that your group can split however you want. The pro handles the wheel, and you ride shotgun through every slide.
Two cars go out at the same time, each with a pro driver, doing tandem drifts through technical corners. It's one thing to watch it from the stands, but being inside the cars is a big deal for any car enthusiast.
The whole thing wraps up with another Uber Black ride back to your accommodation in Tokyo.
What It Costs
Bookings open on the Uber app on May 27. The experience costs ¥30,000 (about $200 USD) per group of up to 4 people. Each day has limited slots, so availability will go fast.
This is part of Uber's broader "Go Anywhere" series, which has previously included safari tours in South Africa and hot-air balloon rides in Turkey. The drift experience fits the same mold: take a mainstream platform and use it to access something most people would never think to book on their own.
A No-Brainer for Car Enthusiasts
For any car enthusiast making the trip to Japan, this one is a no-brainer. Track time at a private circuit, pro drivers behind the wheel of two iconic JDM machines, and round-trip premium transport from Tokyo. The logistics are handled, and the cars are dialed in for the shenanigans. All you have to bring is the appetite for it.
Japan already has some of the best car culture in the world. Uber Drift just gives you a direct seat right in the middle of it.
Images: Uber
