Checking bikes on ANA / JAL?

10 comments

1. I don’t ride but I checked ANA’s site and they will check bikes for free as long as you’re within your checked bag allowance. So if you get two checked bags; the bike can count as one. There are some caveats and it’s on you to package it properly.

   https://www.ana.co.jp/en/us/travel-information/baggage-information/checked-baggage/

2. If it helps with your logistics, many train/Shinkansen stations have lockers for stowing baggage. Incredibly convenient for day ventures into the city or over the course of a few days, but that would mean needing to return to that station at some point during your travels. You can also arrange for baggage to be sent to your destination city. It takes a bit of reorganizing of clothes and essentials, but may be worth looking into to help lighten your load.

3. About rebuilding the bike, how much do you plan to take it appart and are you not able to re-build it yourself ?

   What I’ve seen is a bag called “not a bike bag” that is not a hard bag, but is way lighter and you could go under the weight limit and not have to pay extra. [https://black-star-bags.myshopify.com/products/not-a-bike-bag](https://black-star-bags.myshopify.com/products/not-a-bike-bag)

   I would check general biking sub to see what is the people experience about carrying bikes in airplane.

   As for moving bikes around, yes a car could be an idea, but it depend where you want to go. If you want to focus biking in the Tokyo area, it could make sense, but if you do Kyoto or Tokushima, those are longer distances and you cannot bring bikes in train (they have to be in close container), doing it by car can be long and expensive (wit toll) and you have to pay extra if you do not return the car in the same location.

   You could use a company to send the bike to the next location, but this would mean putting it back it the in your bag, not shipped as is (so you need to be able to take it apart/rebuild it yourself). And they do have weight limit of 25kg at Yamato Transport, so check to get a much lighter bag, [https://faq-en.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/app/answers/detail/a_id/2863/~/how-do-i-send-a-bicycle%3F](https://faq-en.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/app/answers/detail/a_id/2863/~/how-do-i-send-a-bicycle%3F)

   ​

   Technically, bikes need to be registered in Japan (I have no idea how the police would react to tourist riding bikes purchased abroad, if you have proof of purchase, might as well have it on hand) and I think that now Tokyo require some sort of insurance when riding a bike (no idea how it work when a company rend a bike, if they have the insurance or if the rider need it).

4. I brought my carbon road bike from Japan in ANA. Exactly for free.
   ANA and JAL handles such oversized luggage very carefully, so you don’t have to worry so much as far as you pack it suitably.
   For packing, I used Scicon soft case with casters, just detaching both wheels and pedals.
   I took it in Shinkansen and local train, and had no problem.

   If you use rent a car, it will be much easier to carry such large one, but you can use public transportation by packing your bike into the case.

5. I once biked up to the curbside at Wakkanai Airport literally 15 minutes before the departure of the last flight to Tokyo, without a ticket, and my bike and I made it on the plane in time. Japan rules.

6. What you’re describing is possible, but it’s kind of a major pain in the ass–especially if you don’t feel comfortable enough with bike mechanics to be able to dissemble and reassemble your bikes yourself. For most people I would think that renting bikes locally would be much less hectic.

   Alternatively, have you considered getting folding bikes like a Brompton or Bike Friday? I’ve traveled all around Japan and internationally with my Brompton and it really couldn’t be easier. Works great on public transit so I don’t have to think about renting a car, can be checked as standard sized baggage without even disassembling it, and can be brought into restaurants and hotels for security and convenience.

7. Thank you so much for the award stranger!

8. Bicycles in Japan are supposed to be registered and in many municipalities, including Tokyo, you are required to have liability insurance. I’m not sure how these rules impact foreign tourists who bring in their own bikes to use temporarily in Japan though. Most people rent (or buy) a bike once in Japan and then the rental company would provide the necessary registration and insurance as part of the fee.

   There are some cycling groups in Japan that you could maybe contact and ask their advice as they may be more clued in to how/if these regulations apply to tourists who brought their own bike with them to Japan.

   – [Metropolis: Beginners Guide to Cycling in Tokyo ](https://metropolisjapan.com/a-beginners-guide-to-cycling-in-tokyo/)
   – [National Cycle Routes ](https://www.mlit.go.jp/road/bicycleuse/good-cycle-japan/national_cycle_route/english.html)
   – [Japan Cycle Tourism ](https://cycletourismjp.org/cyclingguide/)

9. Done both ANA and JAL.

   Checked in as oversize luggage, picked up from oversized pickup. Super easy.

   Done in a box, done in a bike bag. No damages. Depending on your bike cost, double check if insurance on it is for you.

   I would just bring a torque wrench and do the assembly myself.

   Also used Takuhaibin services to move it around in Japan no issues.

   Depending bike weight and bag, where you are going, I would just lug my bike and have a backpack.

   Done car rentals in Japan where rail is not convenient. Is great. Just depends.

   I much prefer having my own bike.

   Takuhaibin luggage hotel to hotel and cycle to your accommodation can work depending on itinerary.

10. Looks like your questions have been fairly well covered so this is more confirmation…

    * Done it using a EVOC bike bag (rented from a LBS here in the UK) and flew with NH.
    * Didn’t use a shop – with most bikes including mine, you just need a decent set of torx wrenches & a pedal spanner to get the bike sorted for travel. May help to mark out seat heights, etc so you can reassemble it. No damage.
    * Takkyubin will deliver your bike – but it’s worth noting that due to the dimensions, takkyubin may take an extra day. Ran into issues in inaka as wasn’t aware of this and decided to wheel the bike bag around myself on some trains. A bit of a pain, but not too bad.

    I note some mention of registering bikes- I didn’t bother. (I figured if there were any issues, I could plead tourist ignorance). Looked into rinko bags as well but unfortunately as my bike had 700c wheels, no QR axles nor easily removable pedals, this was frustratingly not really an option for me – too big a bike.

    Hope that helps!