I am planning on going to Osaka from Tokyo by road bike next week. I just wanted to know should I be scared of bears in the path? Also is there any other thing which I should be scared of or have to keep in mind?
What you need to be worried about it being on crowded roads breathing exhaust fumes all day long. I imagine you will take the coastal route. It will only be fun if you love traffic and tetrapods.
Not sure if the link will work but you should use google maps walking direction and stay inland.
You may want to check a couple of my bike tour vids on youtube (waddo) and see how great it can be if you stay away from main roads.
Are you aware that it’s 500-550 kms from Osaka to Tokyo?
I need pictures 🙂 thats like a dreamy trip. If you can that is 🙂
Won’t it be wet and wintery? Like, there must be a better week.
I think you may run through on Route 1. If so, You don’t need to care about bears. But if you will take some mountain road, you may see bear warning signs.
Wow, thats so cool!! plz keep sharing your experiences with us!!
That’s so interesting and definitely a bucket list trip idea (although mine would include the inland sea further south).
The thing that would make me most nervous would be the terrain. I feel like all uphill/downhill would be killer
Not sure how experienced of a rider you are but just wanted to state the obvious and make sure to pack a lot of tubes, spare tires, a blinking light, appropriate tools, and energy gels. Not sure about the road conditions.
Hopefully the roads are relatively clean so you don’t have to replace too many tubes and patches. Can you share which route you’re planning to take?
Check out the journey across Japan series. Chris Broad does that exact stretch.
If you have time, don’t ride on the main, national roads (unless they are really rural). There is usually another road, sometimes displaced by less than a kilometer from the main road, and yet the difference is hell vs heaven and pure bliss. Most Japanese riders you will meet are students on limited break time whose only goal is to connect the dots, and whose journeys are utter hell. It’s a beautiful country, but just 300 meters removed, you won’t see that beauty, but only pachinko parlors and cheap chain gyudon restaurants and lots and lots, so many, exhaust pipes and haggard distracted mothers trying to drive the kids to juku and almost hitting you in the process.
Hey there! I did this exact trip. Make sure to reserve ryokans in advance if you’re planning on staying at one(would highly recommend you do). Also, never saw a beer the whole time I was there, but be ready to see some golden weaver spiders. Hotels and accommodations were pretty expensive on average if I recall ($30-$50). It’s sort of a cultural thing in Japan to love travelers, so folks will be very friendly, but I found almost no one spoke English so having a phrase book or learning some phrases beforehand would be helpful. Have fun! Check out the video “Kintaro walks Japan” to get excited!
Enjoy mate!!
I rode from Hiroshima to Cape Soya via Tokyo in March 2018-June 2018.
My recommendations are to buy a Rinko bag in case you have issues. Theyre about 4000¥. Most of them fit in a drink bottle holder and are super lightweight, but in the event of an emergency can be the difference between leaving your bike on the side of the road and getting it home. Can also be handy if the weather turns sour.
Also check along your intended route to make sure there isn’t tunnels as some tunnels do not permit cyclists. Also be wary if there is a tunnel bypass road, it will generally be windy/steep and often gravel.
My trip planning involved a lot of “what-ifs” but ultimately the stretch from Tokyo to Osaka is an easy one and I think if you manage to do it you’ll have a great time.
I also recommend going via Kyoto on the way down, the river stretch between Osaka-Kyoto is amazing (although there is bike gates every few km to prevent cars using the path that can be a bit obnoxious).
Dm me if you want any other route specific advice as I have the route saved.
I’m planning to do the same thing! (on a folding bike, don’t ask why). It looks like route 1 along the south coast is more flat, but you will be alongside highways for a big section. And the climb along Hakone is supposedly hell.
I heard that the road inland is much more beautiful, so I will probay take this road. Be sure to get a fully enclosed bike cover so you can take your bike into the train when something goes wrong.
I’d recommend the Shimanami Kaido if you have time.
get out of here, Chris ~~Abroad~~ Borad. 😉
Good luck lol
Thanks a lot everyone. Will surely write a post if I successfully complete it:)
18 comments
What you need to be worried about it being on crowded roads breathing exhaust fumes all day long. I imagine you will take the coastal route. It will only be fun if you love traffic and tetrapods.
Not sure if the link will work but you should use google maps walking direction and stay inland.
[https://goo.gl/maps/YTCatDTQtfYif1cY6](https://goo.gl/maps/YTCatDTQtfYif1cY6)
You may want to check a couple of my bike tour vids on youtube (waddo) and see how great it can be if you stay away from main roads.
Are you aware that it’s 500-550 kms from Osaka to Tokyo?
I need pictures 🙂 thats like a dreamy trip. If you can that is 🙂
Won’t it be wet and wintery? Like, there must be a better week.
I think you may run through on Route 1.
If so, You don’t need to care about bears.
But if you will take some mountain road, you may see bear warning signs.
Wow, thats so cool!! plz keep sharing your experiences with us!!
That’s so interesting and definitely a bucket list trip idea (although mine would include the inland sea further south).
The thing that would make me most nervous would be the terrain. I feel like all uphill/downhill would be killer
Not sure how experienced of a rider you are but just wanted to state the obvious and make sure to pack a lot of tubes, spare tires, a blinking light, appropriate tools, and energy gels. Not sure about the road conditions.
Hopefully the roads are relatively clean so you don’t have to replace too many tubes and patches. Can you share which route you’re planning to take?
Check out the journey across Japan series. Chris Broad does that exact stretch.
If you have time, don’t ride on the main, national roads (unless they are really rural). There is usually another road, sometimes displaced by less than a kilometer from the main road, and yet the difference is hell vs heaven and pure bliss.
Most Japanese riders you will meet are students on limited break time whose only goal is to connect the dots, and whose journeys are utter hell. It’s a beautiful country, but just 300 meters removed, you won’t see that beauty, but only pachinko parlors and cheap chain gyudon restaurants and lots and lots, so many, exhaust pipes and haggard distracted mothers trying to drive the kids to juku and almost hitting you in the process.
Hey there! I did this exact trip. Make sure to reserve ryokans in advance if you’re planning on staying at one(would highly recommend you do). Also, never saw a beer the whole time I was there, but be ready to see some golden weaver spiders. Hotels and accommodations were pretty expensive on average if I recall ($30-$50). It’s sort of a cultural thing in Japan to love travelers, so folks will be very friendly, but I found almost no one spoke English so having a phrase book or learning some phrases beforehand would be helpful. Have fun! Check out the video “Kintaro walks Japan” to get excited!
Enjoy mate!!
I rode from Hiroshima to Cape Soya via Tokyo in March 2018-June 2018.
My recommendations are to buy a Rinko bag in case you have issues. Theyre about 4000¥. Most of them fit in a drink bottle holder and are super lightweight, but in the event of an emergency can be the difference between leaving your bike on the side of the road and getting it home. Can also be handy if the weather turns sour.
Also check along your intended route to make sure there isn’t tunnels as some tunnels do not permit cyclists. Also be wary if there is a tunnel bypass road, it will generally be windy/steep and often gravel.
My trip planning involved a lot of “what-ifs” but ultimately the stretch from Tokyo to Osaka is an easy one and I think if you manage to do it you’ll have a great time.
I also recommend going via Kyoto on the way down, the river stretch between Osaka-Kyoto is amazing (although there is bike gates every few km to prevent cars using the path that can be a bit obnoxious).
Dm me if you want any other route specific advice as I have the route saved.
I’m planning to do the same thing! (on a folding bike, don’t ask why).
It looks like route 1 along the south coast is more flat, but you will be alongside highways for a big section. And the climb along Hakone is supposedly hell.
I heard that the road inland is much more beautiful, so I will probay take this road. Be sure to get a fully enclosed bike cover so you can take your bike into the train when something goes wrong.
I’d recommend the Shimanami Kaido if you have time.
get out of here, Chris ~~Abroad~~ Borad. 😉
Good luck lol
Thanks a lot everyone. Will surely write a post if I successfully complete it:)