JJapan Trips

How accessible is the whole of Japan by bike?

Hello!

I’m looking at taking a tour of Japan once travel opens up, and would like to jump between hostels from the north of Hokkaido all the way down to Kagoshima. And while the trains seem like a great way to do things, I’m likely to take my time and while away the 90 day visa period in certain locales that catch my fancy or are super dense with interesting spots like Tokyo. While looking at the map of hostels across Japan, it struck me that it might be super cool to try making a bike tour, maybe 40 to 50 miles a day, staying at camp grounds in between cities on longer stretches, maybe even on an e-bike, laws (and stamina!) allowing. But other than one prospective map which basically charted a route along the northern edge of the country, I havent seen any charts showing what trails or roads allow bikes. I’m sure I couldnt be on major roadways, but it’s still a cool idea! Does any one have any info on how accessible the country is between cities by bike? I’d really appreciate it and it would help me with planning! Thank you!

37 comments

  2. This YouTuber called Abroad in Japan did a mini series of him biking across Japan. Maybe check it out.

  5. In general, aside from highway network and certain toll roads, bridges and tunnels, Japan is very accessible to being biked in with a major caveat that unless you take the main routes (Tokaido + along Seto Inland Sea), you will be dealing with substantial elevation gains.

    Even when taking main routes (like Sapporo – Muroran – Hakodate – Oma – Hachinohe – Morioka – Sendai – Utsunomiya – Tokyo – Shizuoka – Nagoya – Kyoto – Osaka – Okayama – Hiroshima – Shimoneseki – Fukuoka – Kumamoto – Kagoshita), there are stretches in Hokkaido, Tohoku and Chugoku (between Shimoneseki and Iwakuni), where you may want to pre-plan your accommodation – in fact if you want to bike from Kagoshima to Hokkaido, you will be probably better off taking a ferry from Beppu to Yawatahama and going via Shimanami Kaido, then via main coastal route.

    Your main concern might be with parking your bike as in most major cities, finding a place to park your bike within a vicinity of the attraction might be a challenge (and bikes are regularly towed away).

    Note that if you are considering an e-bike – you will most likely be better off with renting one in Japan as importing one is a significant challenge.

  7. Search this sub – someone did an extensive bike tour maybe two years ago and posted a lot of details.

  9. I’m fairly certain he himself posted here at one point, but there’s a guy who did cycle across japan and documented it on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMYS0W_P0U8McJm2sCrXSRMJZvOvuPGkW

    He also has a specific video with tips for bike touring in japan. I really enjoyed watching his videos and hopefully they’ll be of help to you as well!

    EDIT:
    I found his original post, should be a good read! https://old.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/8he26n/a_different_way_to_see_japan_last_year_i_cycled/

  11. You can watch NHK world online or on an app. They have a lot of episodes of Cycle Around Japan. Quite slow paced, but should help with research.

  12. Honestly, I saw bikes EVERYWHERE I went in Japan. Actual mountains might be one of the only exceptions

  13. Shortly, anywhere people can walk would allow you ride a bike.

    Good luck and hope I can see you passing me someday in Ibaraki ken!

  14. My cousin did this about 10 years ago. I think he hopped on a boat to Vietnam at some point.

  15. Check out the Shimanami-Kaido. I did it two years ago and it was glorious. Also, Cycling Around Japan (NHK World) is an awesome program that you can watch for free. They showcase tons of bike friendly towns, cities, and regions all over Japan on bicycle!

  16. When i was in to competition cycling i did 560mils a week about 80 miles a day average.
    That is a crazy amount of time on the bike.
    But i recon i got better weather and not so much hight difference.
    If you are aiming for 40-50 in probably much warmer weather and more mountains an valleys.
    Ill think you are aiming a bit high.
    Do 50 miles a day for a week at home first to try.
    You are going to tools and spare parts on your journey.

  17. guy living in japan here: japan is a bike-accessible country, you can go around here and enjoy the view.

    just stay off the road, use the appropriate bike lane, and you’ll be fine.

  20. I remember seeing something about YouTuber John Daub (Only in Japan) riding the length of Japan on a mamachari (cheap singlespeed city bike) when he was with his former channel but maybe I’m misremembering or maybe the videos are gone now?

    Based on my limited experience riding around central/west Tokyo I can only offer the advice to not put too much faith into routes that Google Maps suggest since they may take you through some needlessly crowded/hilly areas. Thankfully, even on busy roads full of semis, the drivers are generally good about giving cyclists enough room (compared to the carnage that are American roads anyway).

    Two Wheel Cruise might also be worth checking out since he’s a Nagoya-based cyclist YouTuber with videos on gear and things to keep in mind while riding in Japan?

  21. I think that accessibility is not much of an issue, you would mostly have to avoid highway. When it will be time to cross between islands, you will have to either do it on some of the bridges or by ferry.

    One thing to consider is how much stuff you want to carry on the bike. If you set on camping, then it mean you have to carry more gear (unless you always manage to rent camping gear), and if you are conscious about not breaking the law, then you only want to camp in official camping sites. So while some people pointed Chris Broad video, there is things to keep in mind, like he did not have to carry any luggage (he had a team in a car moving it for him), but he was still mentally and physically exhausted at the end of the trip.

    Not sure what you used for map of hostel, but I’ve found that there is different hostel associations, so I’ve never seen a perfect map of hostels. While I am mostly staying at hostels, I would usually just plan out where I want to stay and look for the accommodation in the area after, either on booking website that also list hostel or even straight on Google maps and you
    can even add airbnb that sometimes have good deal even if just a room for one in a house. In some more rural area, I ended up staying in cheap ryokan or even tiny room in ryokan with onsen that would be between the price of hostel and business hotel, also got in one place that I thought was a hostel but ended up being a small capsule hotel.

  26. You should read the Roads To Sata and Looking for the Lost, both by Alan Boothe. The Englishman chronicles his treks by foot from the north of Japan to the South. Great writer, funny, and fascinatingly insightful.

  30. [cycle around Japan, on NHK](https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/cycle/) A nicely-paced view of Japan with some really interesting interviews and viewpoints.

    Example episode summary:

    Selected moments from past trips to Japan’s smaller islands, exploring their unique cultures and ways of life. Riding a scenic cycling route spanning the Seto Inland Sea, we learn how an island community’s hopes for the future rest on the students of their tiny school. On the Oki Islands off Japan’s west coast, we stand atop its awesome cliffs before getting hands-on in an island sumo ring, and on southern Miyakojima, we taste the ocean in the local tofu and the island’s history in its traditional music.

  32. I rode from Tokyo to Osaka then ferry with bike to Miyazaki, rode around Kyushu for a bit then got another ferry to Shikoku. Rode around Shikoku for a bit before heading back to Tokyo by train.
    The whole time traveling I camped on riversides, parks and beaches. Staying only at a friend’s place in Kyushu and another in Shikoku.

    Traveling by bike is very doable but I was much more flexible with where I camped every night. If you are going to be staying at hostels and what not, you’ll have to plan out the distances per day between each hostel/hotel. Some routes may not be doable for you.

    I traveled without any reservations and found campsites to be closed… had to ride well into the night once because I couldn’t find a suitable place to camp before setting tent on an intersection island!

    It was great fun, luckily timed it well with Hanami and rice planting.

  33. It’s be tough but if you watch AbroadInJapan on YouTube he did a pretty large cycle around japan in a series called journey across japan, shows you some stops you might want to make!

  34. Riding a bicycle across Japan is a very good idea. I envy you. It’s not easy to do even if you live in Japan.

    By the way, Japan is a country with many more mountains than you think. The roads are full of steep slopes, which can cause unexpected wear and tear. There are times when a road is labeled as a road, but it is actually a stairway – oops, there is only one place in Japan where this happens! Check out the Stairway National Highway in Aomori Prefecture.

    Even if you use an electric bicycle, the battery will run out soon. There is still some time before the border opens. I think instead of worrying about the roads you should be flexing your muscles!

  35. Get a super lightweight carbon one so you can get up those hills easier. I recommend either a Pinarello Dogma F12 or a Canyon Ultimate CFR. They’re both pretty pricy, but they weigh practically nothing.

  36. Biking in Japan is great and Japan is safe. Often there are bike lanes along rivers like between Osaka and Kyoto though you will have to venture onto smaller roads from time to time. You also might want to take a train at times so you will need a bike bag or Rinko bag in Japanese. For more info see
    [https://globalwheels-japan.com/blogs/resources/how-to-take-bikes-on-train-in-japan](https://globalwheels-japan.com/blogs/resources/how-to-take-bikes-on-train-in-japan)
    I also highly recommend spending a night to 2 in a ryokan, minshuku, or shukubo for the cultural experience. It may blow your budget but it will be worth it.

  37. It depends on where you’re going. Kanto region is still pretty accessible (Shizuoka, Kanagawa), but it can get rougher on the southern side.

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