Japan is truly a magnificent country to tour by bike. However, navigating the road system and getting around the obvious language barrier can seem quite overwhelming for many travelers. To overcome these hurdles and to get the most out of your motorcycle tour without the hassle of planning, you may wish to select one of our self-guided tours. These are pre-packaged trips, specifically designed around the season you intend to visit, the area of Japan you wish to ride and the length of your stay. To meet your needs we have three options available for you to choose from. Below is an explanation of each of these options. If one of these suits your needs, please ‘Add to My Trip’, by going to the booking section on the Bikes & Prices page of our website.
*Please note: One Bluetooth Helmet Intercom is included with the GPS navigation unit for all Self-Guided Tour options. This will allow you to utilize the GPS audio function. If you wish to communicate with your passenger or another rider, that person will need to rent another Bluetooth Helmet Intercom, which can be found in the 'Riding Gear' section of the Bikes and Prices page of our website.
Option 1 (includes GPS navigation unit preloaded with Japan maps)
Option 1 is for those adventurous types who want the convenience of a navigation unit, but don’t want to be told what to do or where to go. With this unit, getting around is easy. Navigating your way onto the highway, to the places you choose to go and then back to our office in Tokyo is easy. This Garmin Zumo comes loaded with maps of Japan in both English and Japanese and allows you to mark your destinations and build auto-generated routes. Naturally, it won’t show you the most scenic routes along the way, but it will get you there. If you wish to explore other roads along the way, feel free. It will automatically recalculate your route, meaning you’ll never get lost. Take the stress of map reading out of your trip with this handy little guidance tool.
*Please note that English version maps of Japan are produced by a 3rd party vendor. Although effective for navigating, the level of detail may be less than you are used to with English version maps of Europe and the US. Additionally, the search functions are restricted when in English mode. This is due to the fact that Japan uses a unique street directory system, which is incompatible with searches in English.
Option 2 (includes GPS navigation unit + custom designed route)
Option 2 adds a custom designed route to your navigation unit. By choosing this option you will ensure that you are always on the best roads and that you won’t miss any of the wonderful sites along the way. Japan Bike Rentals has spent a long time researching the country, finding the most scenic routes and most awe-inspiring points of interest (POIs). Avoid congested roads and built up areas. We’ll be taking you along roads it has taken us years to find, where the real Japan lies, off the beaten track. You’ll be riding through old villages, past beautiful rice fields, visiting exquisite temples and stopping off at just the right places; not to mention enjoying some great food at a few pre-selected restaurants en-route. As if that weren’t enough, you’ll find that POIs come pre-loaded with our own ‘tour guide’ audio files. As you ride, you’ll be getting some great factual and historical information, bringing each region to life. Please note that the Audio Tour Guide feature is only available for select routes. (Please enquire)
Option 3 (includes GPS navigation unit + custom designed route + hotel bookings)
If you prefer a hassle-free approach to your touring, then Option 3 is your answer. This option allows you to combine the convenience of custom designed routes with the added luxury of pre-booked accommodation. Prior to your trip, Japan Bike Rentals will ask you to select the class of accommodation which best suits your budget. We will then send you the accommodation information and upon your confirmation Japan Bike Rentals will make all the necessary arrangements. We offer 3 classes of accommodation: Standard (less than 10,000 yen/person/night), Deluxe (less than 20,000 yen/person/night) and Super Deluxe (price is
20,000 yen on up - you will be staying at Japan's finest hotels and ryokans). Payment for lodgings is the responsibility of the rider and passenger and should be made when you arrive at your hotel.
By having Japan Bike Rentals book all your accommodation ahead of time, you can sit back, enjoy the ride and rest assured that you`ll be staying somewhere with character and charm, and there will always be a wonderful meal waiting for you at the end of a long day`s ride. If you want to take the hassle of planning out of your trip, this option is perfect for you.
Self-Guided Tour Demo (Mt. Fuji/Hakone 2 day tour)
Below you will find an example of one of our custom designed self-guided tours. A rough summary of the itinerary is given below. On the map you will see the tour starts and finishes at our Japan Bike Rentals office in Tokyo. We have included just a few of the POIs that are included in the real tour, along with small images of these POIs (mouse over the highlighted text in the itinerary below). Additionally, below the itinerary there is an MP3 audio file, which demonstrates the audio tour function you will hear at selected POIs. We hope this demo gives you a feel for the convenience and value this service offers.
Itinerary:
Tuesday
Meet at the JBR office for a 1-hour orientation session. Suggested time of departure 11am. Head out of Tokyo on the Chuo Expressway. After about an hour, take the Katsunuma exit and prepare for some great Japan riding. 3-5 hours of country riding, will take you through old villages, by rice fields and temples and down and around the Fuji 5 lakes. Magnificent views of Mt. Fuji await you. Pull into your Japanese Ryokan (Inn) any time after 3pm. Dinner is at around 6pm. Before or after dinner, enjoy this Ryokan’s lovely onsen and if it’s still light you might be treated to some magnificent views of Fuji disappearing into the sunset.
Wednesday
Breakfast is from 7am-9am. Today you will be semi-looping Mt. Fuji in a counter-clockwise direction. There will be some wonderful scenery along the way and great views of Fuji, weather permitting. Estimated travel time is between 4 to 7 hours; depending on how often you stop off along the way. Enjoy the winding curves and fantastic views of Mt. Fuji as you ride into Hakone along the Hakone Skyline Drive. Check into your stately hotel in the forested Gora area of Hakone any time after 3pm. Dinner is at around 6pm. If you’re feeling adventurous head back down the road to the fabulous outdoor onsen overlooking Lake Ashinoko. Allow plenty of time to just soak and think back on a great day of riding.
Thursday
Breakfast is served from 7am-9am. Estimated ride time back to Tokyo is about 2 hours. If you’re an early riser and want to get one more scenic ride in, why not loop the lake and enjoy the exhilarating Hakone Skyline Drive one more time before heading back to the big city. We’ll be expecting you at the Japan Bike Rentals office at around 11am. Enjoy the ride!
Option 1 is for those adventurous types who want the convenience of a navigation unit, but don’t want to be told what to do or where to go. With this unit, getting around is easy. Navigating your way onto the highway, to the places you choose to go and then back to our office in Tokyo is easy. This Garmin Zumo comes loaded with maps of Japan in both English and Japanese and allows you to mark your destinations and build auto-generated routes. Naturally, it won’t show you the most scenic routes along the way, but it will get you there. If you wish to explore other roads along the way, feel free. It will automatically recalculate your route, meaning you’ll never get lost. Take the stress of map reading out of your trip with this handy little guidance tool.
Option 2 adds a custom designed route to your navigation unit. By choosing this option you will ensure that you are always on the best roads and that you won’t miss any of the wonderful sites along the way. Japan Bike Rentals has spent a long time researching the country, finding the most scenic routes and most awe-inspiring points of interest (POIs). Avoid congested roads and built up areas. We’ll be taking you along roads it has taken us years to find, where the real Japan lies, off the beaten track. You’ll be riding through old villages, past beautiful rice fields, visiting exquisite temples and stopping off at just the right places; not to mention enjoying some great food at a few pre-selected restaurants en-route. As if that weren’t enough, you’ll find that POIs come pre-loaded with our own ‘tour guide’ audio files. As you ride, you’ll be getting some great factual and historical information, bringing each region to life.
If you prefer a hassle-free approach to your touring, then Option 3 is your answer. This option allows you to combine the convenience of custom designed routes with the added luxury of pre-booked accommodation. Prior to your trip, Japan Bike Rentals will ask you to select the class of accommodation which best suits your budget. We will then send you the accommodation information and upon your confirmation Japan Bike Rentals will make all the necessary arrangements. We offer 3 classes of accommodation: Standard (less than 10,000 yen/person/night), Deluxe (less than 20,000 yen/person/night) and Super Deluxe (price is