Bicycling in Japan: How to Travel and Sightsee on Two Wheels

Large cities in Japan, like Tokyo and Osaka, have amazing public transportation. But you can’t see much from a train. Consider getting around on a bicycle instead. Bicycling in Japan is a great way to see more of your surroundings while also working off that huge yakiniku dinner you had last night. Here are some tips on how to rent a bike and some simple rules to follow for getting around.

The benefits of bicycling in Japan

The major benefit of bicycling in Japan is that Japan is beautiful! Riding in the spring or (early) summer means you can immerse yourself in the country’s natural surroundings while on your way to the next stop on your itinerary.

Additionally, you can discover things riding a bike that you never would have riding on a train. A city like Tokyo is full of side streets and alleys packed with wonderful restaurants and little shops.

Finally, bicycling in Japan is pretty easy. Cycling isn’t just a sport here – it’s a mode of transportation. Train stations and large shopping areas often have multiple official bicycle parking spots, many either free or cheap.

Is bicycling in Japan safe?

My own personal experience is yes. Cities like Tokyo may not have the same infrastructure for bicycling as some other cities. What they do have is a strong bicycling culture that regards biking as an equal form of transportation with driving and walking.

Everyone from parents to business people use bikes to run errands and commute to work. Mothers towing around their kids in car seats on the fronts and backs of bikes is so ubiquitous that there’s a word – mama-chari – for that specific style of bicycle. Even when there aren’t clear markings for bicycles on the road or sidewalk, everyone’s mindful that these are spaces shared with cyclists.

I moved to Tokyo from Seattle. In my last 10 years in Seattle, the city and surrounding suburbs spent a lot of time and effort creating dedicated bicycling lanes to keep cyclists safe. However, even with that infrastructure, I always felt that most “bikers” in Seattle were “cyclists” – i.e., people dressed in head-to-toe spandex who spent their weekends racing. Culturally, “biking as transportation” still hasn’t caught on the way it has in bicycling capitals like Copenhagen or Amsterdam.

This lack of a bicycle culture makes cycling on roadways in America feel inherently unsafe. I always felt a barely suppressed rage from US drivers that they were forced to share the road with bicycles. In some cases, that rage spilled out into honking, shouting, and aggressive driving.

I don’t experience that aggression here. Sure, there are exceptions. However, for the most part, I feel drivers are cautious and mindful of my presence whenever I’m on the road.

And yes, “I don’t feel drivers want to run me over” is a low bar to hurdle. But I’m from America, where the bar’s set so low you can’t even limbo under it. I’ll take what I can get.

Renting a bicycle in Japan

How do you bike in Japan if you’re visiting? Fortunately, renting a bike here is easy. There are numerous app-based bicycle rental services that inbound visitors can use.

The most ubiquitous service is Docomo Bike Sharing Service. You can download the app on your smartphone and register for the service. Using the app, you can find a nearby station and unlock a bike. (You can also pay with an IC transportation card.)

You can rent a bike with Docomo for 165 yen (USD $1.08 at today’s very favorable exchange rates). Or you can buy a day pass for just 1,650 yen ($10.08) to ride as long as you like.

There are also other rental services you can use, such as Hello Cycling, which has around 2,000 stations around

How to bike in Japan

What are the rules for biking in Japan? Well, there are two answers to this question. There’s what the law is and then there’s what people actually do.

The law

When on the road, the rules are pretty simple. Japan drives on the left, so that’s where you should ride when possible. If there’s a dedicated bicycling lane on the sidewalk, use it. If there isn’t, there are usually sharrow marks (“shared arrows”, or “paint on the road”) indicating that an area of the leftmost driving lane is intended for cyclists.

No matter where you bike, obey signs and traffic laws. In particular, stop at all red lights and don’t proceed until the light’s in your favor. “Turn on red” isn’t a thing here, so wait until the light turns green in all circumstances.

One important rule to obey is when turning right. Japanese law says that bicycles should stay on the left side of the road whenever possible. In other words, to turn right, you need to go straight ahead through the crosswalk, turn to the right, and go straight when the light turns again. Do not get into the right turn lane with vehicle traffic.

Be aware of posted signs that indicate areas where bicycles can’t enter. The most depressing example of this is the Rainbow Bridge in Odaiba. Bikes aren’t allowed on the bridge road and you can’t ride through the pedestrian walkway. You can only cross if you rent a set of platform riders on which to push your bike through. I know – lame.

(There’s one exception to this, by the way – the Grand Cycle Tokyo event in December. If you enter this event, you can enjoy a ride across the Rainbow Bridge and the Tokyo Bay Bridge on the one day of the year they shut the bridges down for cyclists.)

What people actually do

That said, if you pay attention to cyclists here for a few minutes, you’ll realize that what they actually do is…well, pretty much whatever they want. You’ll see people bicycling on both the left and right sides of the road, blowing past stop lights, and generally being menaces.

As a tourist or foreign resident in Japan, it’s tempting to 郷に入っては郷に従え (do what the Romans do). Resists the urge. Cyclists get away with this sort of rule-breaking only because the cops aren’t looking. If a police officer catches you, you’ll get a reprimand – and possibly a ticket.

Another area where the law and practice diverge is helmets. In Tokyo, helmets while cycling are now required by law. However, you’ll see few people wearing them. The law doesn’t carry a penalty for non-compliance, and police have been pretty lax in enforcing it. You, of course, should absolutely wear one, as they reduce the risk of serious injury by 60%.

Do you need to lock your bike in Japan?

Generally, no. To be sure, bicycle theft does happen. But for the most part, people leave their bikes unlocked even when storing them outside their apartments.

Parking your bike

Bicycle parking facilities (駐輪場; chuurinjou) are plentiful in cities like Tokyo and Osaka. You’ll find them outside of train stations and inside parking garages. Most are low-cost; Tokyo has many in areas like Shibuya and Gotanda that offer the first two hours free and a nominal fee of 100 yen (USD $0.65) for the rest of the day. You can usually pay this using an IC transit card like Suica or PASMO.

Where to bike in Tokyo

One of the problems biking in a big city like Tokyo is the traffic. There’s a lot of stop and go, which can make it challenging to put in serious miles (er, sorry – kilometers).

Fortunately, there are a few places around the city that have dedicated bike trails. If you want to both see some lovely scenery and also get a good workout, check out these locations. They all have bike rental stations, so if you don’t already have a bike, you can travel to the destination and rent one there.

Yoyogi Park

This beautiful park is a favorite among residents and tourists during cherry blossom season. For cyclists, it sports a short but effective 1.6km loop where you can whizz around unburdened by vehicular traffic.

Komazawa Olympic Park (駒沢オリンピック公園総合運動場)

Another good option close to Minato City and the heart of Tokyo, Komazawa sports a 2.1km loop for getting in a few extra kilometers.

Wakasu Seaside Park (若洲海浜公園)

Wakasu is a good 19km outside of midtown. If you’ve already rented a bike, you can make the approximately 1 hour and 15-minute trip down and then enjoy a scenic seaside ride along Tokyo Bay on the park’s 6k dedicated bike loop. This one is popular among cyclists and you’ll likely see a competitive group or two getting in some practice here.

The entire Tokyo Bay area from Toyosu on down is a great place to ride, as much of the area sports dedicated bike lanes separated from both vehicular as well as pedestrian traffic.

Showa Memorial Park ( 昭和記念公園)

This one may take some additional effort to reach, as it’s far on the west end of Tokyo near Hachioji. But besides being beautiful, it also sports some of the area’s best cycling, with a 14km dedicated route. Veteran cyclists can challenge themselves by biking the 38km out from midtown Tokyo and back (!). The rest of us can take a train and rent a bike from the park.

Sources

初めてのサイクリングを楽しもう！東京のおすすめサイクリングロードもご紹介. Fuji Film Square