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7-7-3-101
Akasaka, Minato-ku,
Tokyo 107-0052
Telephone
+81-3-3584-5185
Fax +81-3-5875-1135 |
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Access to the Japan Bike Rentals office
The Japan Bike Rentals office is conveniently
located in the heart of Tokyo, in Akasaka,
near the entertainment district of Roppongi.
We are close to a large number of hotels and
easily accessible from 6 different subway
stations; Aoyama-Itchome, Akasaka-Mitsuke,
Nogizaka, Tameike-Sanno, Roppongi and the
closest, Akasaka Station. If using Akasaka
Station, please use Exit 7. Click 'PLAY' on
the flash movie below for more details.
To see a printable version of this page, click
the link below the movie.
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| To
see a printable PDF version of this page click
here |
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| FAQs |
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Q: Did the earthquake and tsunami (March 11th, 2011) affect your business? And has it affected
riding in Japan?
Q: What is the best season to ride in Japan and where is the best place to go?
Q: Are you open 12 months of the year? Is it possible to ride in winter?
Q: Is the language barrier going to be a big problem?
Q: Is crime a problem in Japan? Should I worry about personal safety?
Q: Are ATMs readily available throughout Japan and can I use my credit card everywhere?
Q: Should I tip in Japan?
Q: Is there a consumption tax in Japan?
Q: What kind of license documentation do I need in order to ride in Japan?
Q: Is motorcycle insurance optional?
Q: Can I rent a motorcycle that's not listed on the Japan Bike Rentals website?
Q: Do you have a branch in Hokkaido?
Q: Can I drop off the motorcycle at a location other than the JBR office in Tokyo?
Q: What if I want to extend my trip?
Q: What if I have to end my trip early for unforeseen circumstances?
Q: What if I’m late to pickup or drop-off my motorcycle?
Q: What if my bike is stolen? Do I get my money back?
Q: Do bikes come with side cases, top box and tank bag?
Q: What if there is a typhoon on my day of pickup?
Q: If I forget to bring something, can I rent your equipment at time of pickup?
Q: Can I leave some bags at your office while I'm out touring?
Q: Can I ride with a passenger? And what is the minimum age for a passenger?
Q: Is it possible to arrange a Japan tour by car instead of by motorcycle?
Q: Can you recommend any good maps?
Q: Is online payment secure?
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Q: Did the earthquake and tsunami (March 11th, 2011) affect your business? And has it affected
riding in Japan?
Japan Bike Rentals was not directly affected, and we are operating as usual.
The tragic events that took place in March 2011 certainly affected the lives of many Japanese
people in the northern Tohoku region. The areas directly affected by the tsunami were the coastal
regions of Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, and Ibaraki prefectures (these prefectures face the Pacific
ocean on Japan's northeast coast). We recommend not visiting these areas for a while, as 'the cleanup'
will take months or perhaps years and there is still much work to be done.
That said the rest of Japan is very much running normally. Many tourists have steered clear of Japan
recently, and therefore hotels, restaurants and other businesses have suffered as a result. The best
way to support Japan in the aftermath of the disaster is to come and visit. The locals will be more pleased than ever to greet visitors from overseas. |
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Q: What is the best season to ride in Japan and where is the best place to go?
Japan is a long country that stretches from north to south some 2000km, which means it is possible
to ride at just about any time of the year.
- Late March / early April is 'hanami' cherry blossom season and a popular time for touring.
- From late April to mid-June, conditions are ideal (mild temperatures and lots of sunny days).
- Mid-June to mid-July is Japan's official rainy season. Although often not so noticeable, the
probability of rain is higher at this time than at other times of the year.
- From Mid-July to mid-September temperatures are generally high. This is a great time to explore
the mountainous regions or head north to Hokkaido.
- October/November is another great time to ride. Autumn brings with it a gorgeous array of colors
and it is generally a mild and dry time of year.
- December is also a good month to ride, but expect it to be a fairly cold ride. This is when you get
the best views, especially around Mt. Fuji. |
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Q: Are you open 12 months of the year? Is it possible to ride in winter?
We are ‘officially’ only open for 9 months of the year, March 15th through December 15th. We are closed for
the winter months. However if you are interested in a winter ride, please
contact us and we may be able to make the necessary arrangements.
* JBR will be closed from Dec 15th, 2011 -- March 15th, 2012 |
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Q: Is the language barrier going to be a big problem?
Expect to struggle a little with communication. The people in the countryside generally do not
speak English as well as people in the city. A phrase book will come in handy, as will your best
gesturing skills. The locals are extremely hospitable and will go out of their way to make you feel at
home, so no need to worry too much…it’s all part of the adventure. |
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Q: Is crime a problem in Japan? Should I worry about personal safety?
Japan is one of the safest countries on the planet. Theft is extremely rare and there is virtually no
need to worry at all about your personal safety. Women walk alone at night without any problems,
and there is really no need to worry like in most other countries. However, naturally there is no
guarantee, so use common sense. |
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Q: Are ATMs readily available throughout Japan and can I use my credit card everywhere?
ATMs are plentiful throughout Japan and can be found at most convenience stores and of course
banks. These machines will accept most major credit cards, so make sure you know your credit
card’s PIN number. Credit cards can be used at most major hotels and gas stations as well as many
restaurants. However, to be on the safe side, we recommend going to a bank while in Tokyo and
taking out enough cash to last you a few days. |
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Q: Should I tip in Japan?
No. There is no tipping in Japan. Even at fine restaurants and five-star hotels there is no need to tip.
In fact, offering a tip can often create an uncomfortable situation, so best just to forget about tipping
completely while you are in Japan. |
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Q: Is there a consumption tax in Japan?
Yes. There is a 5% consumption tax in Japan. However, all prices listed in the Bikes & Prices page
of our website are inclusive of consumption tax, so there will be no additional tax to pay. Hotels,
restaurants, and gas stations all charge 5% consumption tax. This charge may be shown as an extra
charge on the receipt or just included in the price. |
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Q: What kind of license documentation do I need in order to ride in Japan?
This is a very important question. Because without the correct documentation, you will not be able
to ride in Japan. The rules regarding licenses depend very much on the country where your license
was issued. For more information on license documentation, please check this link carefully...
http://japanbikerentals.com/license_requirements.html |
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Q: Is motorcycle insurance optional?
No. All motorcycle insurance is mandatory. All prices listed in the Bikes & Prices page of our
website include top-of-the-line full and comprehensive insurance. Please see the Insurance section
of the JBR Rules for more details about coverage. Our insurance offers some personal coverage,
however we highly recommend you look into additional personal health insurance that will cover
you in the case of a motorcycle accident. In addition, we also recommend you take out some
independent travel insurance, so that if you are forced to cancel your trip for any reason, you will be
covered. |
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Q: Can I rent a motorcycle that's not listed on the Japan Bike Rentals website?
All the bikes available for rent are listed in the Bikes & Prices section of the Japan Bike Rentals
website. In some rare cases, we will be able to arrange for alternate bikes, however this is generally
only possible for group bookings of 10 days or more. If there is a particular bike that you are
interested in renting, please let us know, as all future motorcycle purchases are based on customer
demand and interest. We are always pleased to hear from you. |
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Q: Do you have a branch in Hokkaido?
No, we do not have a Hokkaido branch at this time, so all our rentals start and finish in Tokyo. We
do have a lot of people who travel up to Hokkaido though, particularly in July/August. Most people
opt for the ferry up to Hokkaido and then ride back down south again. This is a fantastic trip and
comes highly recommended.
The overnight ferry leaves from Oarai (a 2hr ride from Tokyo) and arrives in Tomakomai, Hokkaido
the following day. You will want to have at least 7 days in Hokkaido, before heading back south
again. As for the return trip, we recommend taking the westerly route through Tohoku (Aomori,
Akita, Niigata and Nagano, and then finally down into Tokyo). The west side of Honshu is less
populated and has a wide selection of fantastic roads (the northern Niigata coastal road is a personal
favorite). We would recommend at least 3-4 days to ride from Aomori to Tokyo.
For more information, please feel free to contact us. |
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Q: Can I drop off the motorcycle at a location other than the JBR office in Tokyo?
No. All rentals with Japan Bike Rentals must start and finish at the JBR office in Akasaka, Tokyo. |
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Q: What if I want to extend my trip?
This will depend entirely on availability of motorcycles. If the motorcycle you are riding is not
booked by another customer immediately after your drop-off date, we may be able to offer you
some extra days. Payment will be called into our merchant vendor Worldpay and payment will be
charged to your credit card. Alternatively, if we have another motorcycle available, you may wish to
come back into the JBR office, pay for a different motorcycle and be off again the same day. Again,
it will depend on availability. |
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Q: What if I have to end my trip early for unforeseen circumstances?
Refunds will not be provided on the day of pickup or at any time during your rental period. Please
check the Refunds section of the JBR Rules for more details. We highly recommend that you look
into travel insurance, so that you are covered in the event of any unforeseen circumstance that
forces you to cancel your trip prematurely. |
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Q: What if I’m late to pickup or drop-off my motorcycle?
We recommend that you are not late for your pickup, because the clock will be ticking so to speak.
Keep in mind that there is a compulsory orientation session, which will take about 1 hour, so make
sure you are at the JBR office 1 hour prior to your departure time. If you are running late on your
return, please call the JBR office to inform one of our staff. Charges will be incurred for late
returns. Please see the Additional Charges section of the JBR Rules for more details. In the case that
a motorcycle is not returned on time and no contact has been made by the rider, JBR will contact
the police and register the motorcycle as lost or stolen. Depending on the circumstances, this may
become a criminal case. |
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Q: What if my bike is stolen? Do I get my money back?
No. We do not provide a refund in such a case. Please see the Refunds section of the JBR Rules for
more information. Once again, we strongly recommend taking out some good travel insurance so
that you will be covered in such a case. Always lock your motorcycle when parked and choose your
parking area carefully. Theft in Japan is very rare, however professionals as well as joy riders do
tend to target nice looking motorcycles like the one you will be riding. |
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Q: Do bikes come with side cases, top box and tank bag?
This depends on the make and model of motorcycle you rent. Most JBR motorcycles do not come
with any storage. If you would like side cases, top box or tank bag, or any other extras, please go to
the Bikes & Prices page of our website and add the necessary items to your trip. |
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Q: What if there is a typhoon on my day of pickup?
In the event of foul weather, JBR offers a 24hr grace period. Foul weather does not mean a normal
rainy day, but rather a typhoon or freak snowstorm. In such a case, JBR will allow the rider to start
24 hours later. If your motorcycle is booked to another customer immediately after your drop-off
date, then you will have the option of receiving a 1-day refund. Alternatively, if the motorcycle is
not booked immediately after your drop-off date, you may leave and comeback one day later and no
changes to payment need be made. |
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Q: If I forget to bring something, can I rent your equipment at time of pickup?
Yes, but this will depend on availability. If the equipment you need is in stock and not pre-booked
by another customer you may rent the item. Payment will be made at time of pickup and payment
will be charged to your credit card or you may pay in cash. Only Japanese yen is accepted. |
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Q: Can I leave some bags at your office while I'm out touring?
Yes, you are welcome to store any extra luggage at our office while you are out on the road. |
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Q: Can I ride with a passenger? And what is the minimum age for a passenger?
Yes, you may ride with a passenger and the good news is the passenger gets a free ride. There is no
legal age limit for a passenger on a motorcycle in Japan, but use common sense. We generally do
not allow riders to take a passenger who is younger than 14 years of age.. |
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Q: Is it possible to arrange a Japan tour by car instead of by motorcycle?
Yes, this is possible. Please visit our sister site - Tripzone Japan for more information. |
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Q: Can you recommend any good maps?
We have maps for sale at our office in both Japanese and English. Japanese maps tend to have better
road information and sometimes also show scenic routes. These Japanese maps are difficult, but not
impossible to use for non-Japanese readers. |
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Q: Is online payment secure?
For your added security and payment protection, as well as ours, we use an internationally
recognized, third-party secure on-line payment provider, Worldpay. Worldpay is an important part
of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, the 5th largest banking group in the world. WorldPay
payment solutions are trusted by thousands of businesses, both large and small.
All information that is transferred between you and Japan Bike Rentals is encrypted using SSL
encryption. All credit card details are encrypted using a 40bit - 128bit SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)
Software. When you establish a secure connection, the downloaded web site sends a digital
certificate to your web browser. When the certificate arrives, it contains a public key, which
functions as a one-way encryption device. The browser then uses this key to scramble your personal
data (credit card information) before sending it over the Internet.
For more information on our secure transaction partner please visit Worldpay. |
