Cycling in Japan: routes, ride days, rental and the riding climate.
Every route here is routed over OpenStreetMap and measured for distance, climbing, wind and the stops along the way, with a GPX to take with you. Ride days pair a route with lunch and dinner and a swim or a sight between them, and the rental and transport pages say where a bike can travel.
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Guides
Before you ride
Can you do the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage by bike?
Yes. The temples' association lets pilgrims choose how they travel and in what order, and riders follow the roads round about 1,400 km of island. Arrive at each temple as a pilgrim: bow at the gate, worship before the stamp and leave the camera away while people pray.
Can you take a bike on the Shinkansen?
Every Shinkansen takes a bike packed as rinko, wheels off and fully bagged, up to 250 cm and 30 kg. West of Tokyo you should book the seat with the space behind it, and north of Tokyo there is nothing to book.
How do you cycle Japan end to end, from Cape Soya to Cape Sata?
Japan's National Cycle Routes stop well short of joining the northern and southern capes, so riders link them with ordinary roads. Ride Hokkaido covers the island, this guide picks you up at Aomori, and the season decides the direction.
How do you stay safe on a cycling trip in Japan?
Heat sends far more people to hospital than anything with teeth, so the heatstroke alert is the first thing to read on a summer morning. After that come hornets and bears on forest roads, dark tunnels, typhoons from August, and what to do when the ground shakes near the sea.
How long does it take to cycle the Shimanami Kaido?
Most riders cross from Onomichi to Imabari in one full day. Split it with a night on Ikuchijima or Omishima if you want the islands, or take a sports e-bike and ride it in a morning, as long as it goes back before the terminal closes.
What are Japan's cycling rules and fines in 2026?
Since 1 April 2026 the police can hand any rider aged 16 or over a blue ticket with a fixed fine. Holding a phone costs ¥12,000 and a red light ¥6,000, and the rules apply on a rental bike the same as on your own.
Storage and rental
