Easiest way to travel across Japan without public transport or drivers license?

23 comments

1. Or just rent a bicycle at the closest spot?

2. Foldable e-Bike with carry bag so you can take it on the train?

3. Are trains not public transport anymore? If you want to get around without public transport, a drivers license, or a bicycle then you better get those lallies moving.

4. So no cars, no buses or trains, no renting a bike. Good luck with that. Get some good shoes

5. A very surface level google search tells me most e-scooters have a max 2h ride time and take at least twice that to recharge. Doesn’t seem like a feasible way to travel any significant distance.

6. Walk. Run to travel faster then walking pace.

   Buy a bike. Use to travel 4 hours, cry, throw in river, take trian home.

7. Scooter without driving license and helmet starts from July 1st this year. And I do not think scooters compliant with rules are being sold yet. So I guess you will have to wait.

   Foldable electric bicycles, even smallest and lightest one, are pain in the ass to carry to the train. I would prefer sub-8k road bicycle instead, but even those will have limitations – you can not get into crowded trains and usually pick 1st or last car for riding.

8. I wonder if riding a horse around needs a license

   Edit: [apparently somebody already had that question 13 years ago](https://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+74328)

9. lol

10. I don’t understand why wouldn’t you take public transport in a country where public transport is very extensive.

    >long distance around the country

    Okay,

    >E-scooter that is light enough to lift and fit in some sort of backpack

    Uhh…

    >max 20km an hour

    Tokyo-Osaka *straight line* is 400km. Good luck, I guess?

11. “輪行” is the major method in that case.Take the bike apart or put the folded bike in a bag and bring it to the train. It is convenient to buy a special bag.

12. Surfing. Rafting. Parachuting. Hang gliding from the summit of Mt.Fuji.

13. *”without public transport”*

    *”…it won’t fit into trains.”*

    Does not compute. *Abort. Retry. Fail?*

14. Hitchhiking 👍

    Tell em’ Large Marge sent ya!

15. Skateboard?

    I’d also second hitchhiking, as already mentioned.

    *Edit:*

    By ship? Cargo or otherwise…

16. Taxi

17. I drive a lot around Japan. I see a lot of hitchhikers. Go that route. But from what I’ve heard it’s a bit harder to get a ride if you don’t look Japanese.

18. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how far you can get with public transport. Local bus firms run routes deep into the inaka. You might find yourself waiting a few hours for one to come along though. Where the bus routes run out, your best bet is probably just to go on foot. Even with a small folding bicycle or electric scooter you might find it more inconvenient to lug it about from town to town and then find a place to stow it when you are on foot over rough terrain than it would be to just plan on hiking all the time.

19. If you can’t rent a car you’re basically screwed once the train tracks end. There is some charm to taking the local buses that only run twice a day, but it’s a helluva inconvenient way to travel.

20. I take my gravel bike on trains no problem. Just get any ebike that is normal.

21. Have you tried skipping?

22. You could try /r/remoteviewing

23. Japan has bears waking up from hibernation right about now…