Frequently Asked Questions - The Sideways Experience Ebisu Circuit drift school

How do I get to Ebisu Circuit?

Car: If you're traveling from Tokyo, the drive will take approximately 3 hours, depending on traffic. Having a car will make it easier to get around Ebisu Circuit as it is a large complex! This is especially important during the drift matsuri time. Just make sure to have an International Drivers License. 

Train: If you prefer public transportation, you can take the Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Koriyama Station. Once you arrive at Koriyama Station, you can catch a local train to Nihonmatsu and then a taxi or the local bus to Ebisu Circuit. 

Our headquarters are located at North Course.

What types of drift cars can I hire from The Sideways Experience?

We offer an exhilarating range of purpose-built drift cars, including the Nissan 350z and Toyota JZX100. Each vehicle is designed to provide an unforgettable drifting experience on iconic tracks.

Can I have a drift lesson? 

Yes! We offer tuition, from beginners with zero experience, to those who have drifted in their home countries and are an intermediate to advanced level, and also those who compete! We will tailor the tuition around your skill level to ensure you have the best experience. 

The instructor will be in the car with you throughout the experience to ensure in car lessons and prompts to ensure you are always learning and improving. 

Can tuition be shared between people/cars? 

Of course! This is your dream Ebisu Circuit day. You are welcome to hire seperate cars, and the instructor can move between the two (or more) cars, or you can have an instructor each. 

How do I book a drift car experience?

Booking is simple! Either email us and we can answer any questions and create you an invoice or visit our website, choose your desired date, and select the car you want to hire. A 50% deposit is required to secure your booking, with the final payment due 14 days before your scheduled date for all hires.

For Daily Drift Car Hires - All Skills Welcome

For 3 Day Schools - Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced

7 Day Schools - Beginner

Do I need drifting experience?

No! We offer a range of services to suit your budget or experience. We can teach from zero knowledge through to advanced drivers, please let us know your skill level when booking using the following levels: 

Drift Skill Levels

Beginner 1 - Never driven a manual car or never drifted before

Beginner 2 - Donuts or wet skid pan only

Beginner 3 - Donuts and figure of 8s on dry both sides

Intermediate 1 - Confident donuts and figure 8s on both sides, handbrake entries.

Intermediate 2 -  Linking and transitioning on track.

Advanced: - all of the above plus Scandinavian flicks and initiations.

Can I get passenger laps at Ebisu Circuit? 

Yes! We offer hotlaps for those who want to experience Ebisu Circuit without hiring a car or joining a school. These allow you to sit passenger while our experienced driver takes you on hot laps. This is available on various tracks depending on availability.

Click here to see our hotlap experiences! 

Are there any age restrictions for hiring a drift car?

No, we recommend having manual experience but as long as you can reach the pedals, fit the harnesses and a helmet and are comfortable we can teach you! For people under 18 years old, we ask for presence of the parents and their signature. 

What should I wear for my drifting experience?

We recommend wearing long comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes (flatter bases are better). It's important to feel at ease while driving, so dress in a way that allows you to move freely. If you have a race suit and shoes you are welcome to wear those! 

Do you have helmets and gloves for me to use? 

We have helmets and hairnets available for all of our customers and their passengers. You can also bring your own helmet if you prefer to wear your own. 

We don't currently have gloves available. If you wish to wear gloves you will need to bring them with you or purchase from Ebisu Circuit's shop.

What tracks can I drive when hiring the drift car?

It depends on availability, but Ebisu has a total of 7 tracks, with 5 of them open for drifting. They are Kuru Kuru Land (skid pans), Nishi course, North course, School course and Touge course. 

If you wish to drive Touge Course, tandem or run the North Wall there will be an additional refundable deposit. If no damage incurred during the rental, this will be refunded in full. If damage occurs, the cost of the damage plus labour will be taken from the deposit.

How much will it cost to drift for the day? 

It all depends on what package you choose! Prices start at:

¥25,000 - ¥60,000 for hotlaps and ride and drive experiences. 

¥125,000 - ¥225,000 for a 1 day drift car rental

¥35,000 - ¥50,000 for tuition

¥550,000 - ¥860,000 for our 3 day, 7 day and advanced drift schools 

How many tyres will I go use during a drifting day? 

This is all dependent on the driver, their throttle control, the track they are on and how hot they get the tyres! If you spend time on wet kuru kuru land, the tyres will last longer as the wet surface will reduce tyre wear. Generally we will suggest people will need 2-3 sets (a set = 2 tyres) for the day. However, we have customers who can make 1 set last all day and others who want to just burn tyres for the ultimate drift experience! 

If you want to save on tyres, we recommend:

1. Wet kuru kuru land to start
2. every 2-3 laps do a cool down lap (this is also important for the car)
3. Hose them down each time you come in to cool them off

if you have any questions our staff can explain on the day how to make them last longer.

How far in advance do I need to book in?

For our 7-day experiences, we recommend booking at least 5-6 months in advance, as spots fill up quickly.

Our 3-day schools are regularly run, if you have a time period we can either book you into an already existing school or create a new one. They are generally run Thursday to Saturday. 

Our drift car hires are especially in high demand during April, May, and November, so we advise booking at least 3 months in advance to secure your spot. While we occasionally have availability closer to the date, early bookings provide greater flexibility and a wider choice of dates. If you're booking last minute, feel free to email us to check for availability!

If you're wanting tuition for the day, please book it in as soon as possible as many people book in for a lesson.

What happens if I damage the car?

Any damages caused to The Sideways Experience vehicles and/or property will be invoiced to the person(s) responsible for prompt payment. Charges will be calculated at the market rate, plus labor costs. We understand that accidents can happen, and we assess each incident fairly and transparently to ensure a reasonable resolution.

What happens if I need to cancel my booking?

Click here to access our cancellation and refund policy. Please note this may be subject to change without notice.

Can I change my booking date?

Yes! You can change your booking date once without any fees, subject to availability. If you need to change it again, a ¥10,000 change fee will apply. 

How long will it take to get my refundable deposit back?

Your refundable deposit will be processed within 21 days of your booking's conclusion, provided no damage has been sustained to the vehicle. If there are damages, the assessment may take longer.