Authored by Daniele Giannotta

Japan could easily be considered to be among the world’s most desired destinations. I mean, who hasn’t dreamed of watching the sun set over a tori gate, visit the thousands of shrines in Kyoto, or witness dawn from the top of Mt. Fuji?

And in terms of getting around, the country has one of the safest, cleanest, fastest, most efficient, punctual and convenient public transportation networks in the world. But while you might be tempted by the city subways, bullet trains, or even by catching a flight, we opted for an entirely different way of seeing Japan: by bike.

With considerate drivers, great infrastructure, and a well connected network of roads, Japan is a perfect destination for bicycle touring first-timers. We spent 3 months on our bikes exploring Kyushu, Shikoku, and Southern Honsu, but you still can easily cover a wide cross section of Japan in 7 – 10 days.

4 Reasons to Travel Japan by Bicycle

It’s Dirt Cheap 

Japan is certainly one of the most expensive countries in Asia, but what makes it so? Well, most of the expenses of a trip to Japan are accommodation and transportation. A 7-days railway pass costs 250$, the cheaper hostels are about 45$ per person, per night, while an average double room can easily go above 150$.

Traveling by bicycle can cut these costs to almost 0$, nil, free! It’s pretty obvious that you won’t spend any money on transportation since your legs will be your engine, and your food will be your fuel, but what about accommodation? The answer is pretty simple, wild camping!

Japan is one of safest countries in the world and it’s also incredibly camp friendly. You can camp everywhere in Japan; in public areas, on Shinto shrines grounds, and even in the center of Osaka! If you want to know more, check our full guide on how to travel Japan with less than 10$ per day.

Enjoy Japans Incredible Nature

Japan is mostly famous for its big cities. Tokyo is still the biggest urban area in the world and certainly has its fascination, and Kyoto is one of the most visited cities in the world, miraculously spared by the WWII bombing, a unique World Heritage site.

But what if I told you that the best of Japan lies beyond its iconic cities, that the real soul of Japan is in its beautiful nature. Well, I can guarantee it’s true; Japan has stunning landscapes, rich in volcanoes, waterfalls alpine forests, and jaw-dropping gorges. All of which you miss when traveling by train, bus, or plane. At best, you might catch a quick glimpse through a window.

Traveling by bicycle means diving into these landscapes with your whole self, enjoying every inch, and often sleeping in incredibly beautiful locations. You can have a look at our 2-months bicycle touring itinerary in Japan and get some inspiration, even for shorter trips.

Experience Japan Like a Local

The average tourist to Japan tends to stick to the classic triangle Tokyo-Osaka-Kyoto, maybe adding a day-trip to Hakone to see the Fujiyama. Few venture beyond that, and as a result, most of Japan is still very authentic.

Bicycle touring Japan allows you to see a lot of this beautiful country, and its off-the-beaten-path areas are those which truly left an impression on us.

In these destinations you can see the real Japanese culture, locals going about their daily life, and join in one of the many colorful festivals that constantly animate even the smallest of the rural villages (we caught the Sakè Festival in Shirakawa-go).

Make a Lot of Friends

In my experience, Japanese people have three layers: the first one is politeness; that constant smile on their face that can be quite irritating sometimes! The second is a layer is diffidence, a mix of shyness and inclination to preserve their private space. But the third layer uncovers their true nature; an authentic friendliness, a willingness to give and receive love, and to create a relationship based on truth.

It’s not easy to get through the first two layers, but if you do manage to, you’ll make some real lifetime friends. Despite the language barrier, there’s no other country where we made as many great friends as in Japan, and that’s mainly thanks to our bikes!

When traveling by bicycle you’re perceived as something quite different from the usual tourist, people are curious about you, they want to ask you questions and hear your stories, you will be invited for a meal, and even hosted for the night. What better way to experience the local culture than making local friends?!

OUR FAVORITE GUIDES TO JAPAN: CLICK PHOTO TO LOOK INSIDE↓

Lonely Planet Japan

DK Eyewitness Japan

National Geographic

SPREAD THE WORD! PIN THIS TO YOUR TRAVEL PINTEREST BOARDS ↓

While you might be tempted by the city subways, bullet trains, or even by catching a flight, we opted for an entirely different way of seeing Japan: by bike.

While you might be tempted by the city subways, bullet trains, or even by catching a flight, we opted for an entirely different way of seeing Japan: by bike.

Daniele Giannotta is the co-founder of Cycloscope.net, a blog about bicycle touring and adventure travel that aims to inspire people to fulfill their crazier dreams.

Together with his partner Elena Stefanin, they set off from Italy in 2014, cycling 25 countries and 25,000km before finishing their funds in Vietnam in late 2016. Since then they are living in China, working as ESL teachers and blogging. They’ll be on the road again in June 2018 for the next leg of their around-the-world bicycle tour.

Follow their bicycle tour by connecting on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or YouTube.