Dragon Kart is not unlocked by default and the option will remain grayed out until players officially unlock it. The mode is not accessible simply by story progression and should be actively researched. We detail how to get you started on the road to glory.
How to unlock Dragon Kart
To unlock Dragon Kart in Yakuza: Like a Dragon, the player must first proceed to Chapter 4: Dragon of Yokohama. At this point, the substations begin to appear on the map of Yokohama. They can be identified by their double bubble text icons. Unfortunately for players wishing to get early access to Dragon Kart, the associated understory is located at the northeast end of Yokohama in Hamakita Park.
The journey to the edge of the map is paved with enemies above level 20, which is probably higher than what the Ichiban team were able to get in Chapter 4. The trick to unlocking Dragon Kart early is simply to avoid the gangs of wandering enemies. Keep an eye out on the minimap for hostile patrols and try not to get hit by cars while crossing busy streets and you should arrive without a scratch.
The destination should be obvious at this point, as there is a building featuring a 'Dragon Kart' logo accompanied by a blue dragon image and colorful karts up front. Launch the Welcome to Dragon Kart substation to initiate the humble beginnings of Ichiban's racing career.
Despite being in the early moments of the game, Ichiban can easily wipe out a handful of early races using the stock kart options. Get some experience under your belt, then return to the main game to start saving money for those expensive but crucial upgrades.
The racing option in Dragon Kart will now remain available, although completing the set of races requires noticeable story progression in later chapters of the game.