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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: 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: Is motorcycle insurance optional?
Q: Can I rent a motorcycle for more than 13 days?
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 ride with a passenger? And what is the minimum age for a passenger?
Q: Can you recommend any good maps?
Q: Is online payment secure? |
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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. Hokkaido in the north is best traveled in the summer and Kyushu in the south is best traveled in the colder months. |
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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 10 months of the year, March through December. We are closed for the winter months of January and February. However if you are interested in a winter ride, please contact us and we may be able to make the necessary arrangements. November/December can be a little chilly and there are fewer daylight hours, however these months are generally very dry, clear and crisp and can make for fantastic riding. |
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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: 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 for more than 13 days?
A rental period is limited to 13 days under Japanese law. However, if you wish to tour for longer than 13 days, all you need to do is return to the Japan Bike Rentals office for a day. We will make sure the bike is serviced and an oil change is done. You will then be able to leave again the following day. You will need to make two separate bookings if you wish to do this. |
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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 to 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. Some motorcycles, such as the Harley Davidson Road King come with pre-fitted side cases. In such a case these are included in the listed price. |
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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 1 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 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: 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. |
