Japan really is a magnificent country to tour by motorcycle, but navigating the roads and getting around the obvious language barrier can seem quite overwhelming for some travelers. To overcome these hurdles and to get the most out of your motorcycle tour, you may wish to select one of our GPS self-guided tours (SGT). To meet your needs we have three SGT options available: ‘Open Explorer’, ‘Scenic Explorer’ and ‘Custom Explorer’. Please see below for more details...

Open Explorer

includes GPS navigation unit preloaded with JBR sightseeing POIs

An Open Explorer SGT is for adventurous riders who prefer to plan their own trip. The GPS comes loaded with Japanese maps, and has English menus and turn­-by-­turn English audio. For your navigating ease, we have also preloaded the GPS with hundreds of JBR custom POIs (Points Of Interest), such as temples, shrines, castles, recommended beaches, lakes, rivers, volcanoes, etc. Simply select a POI from the JBR POI booklet and click 'go'. Use the paid highways to get there fast or deactivate toll roads if you wish to take it slow. The GPS won’t find the most scenic roads, but it will get you from A to B.

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Scenic Explorer

includes GPS navigation unit pre-programmed with JBR scenic riding routes + hotel bookings

The Scenic Explorer SGT is for those wanting a more hassle­free touring experience. Scenic Explorer customers will be riding Japan's best roads, taking in magnificent sights on route, and staying overnight at a variety of towns and villages specifically chosen for their cultural significance. Enjoy the added convenience of pre­booked accommodation. Select the class of accommodation that best suits your budget, and we will book accordingly. We confirm all reservation details with you prior to your trip. Four grades of accommodation are available: Economy (8000 - 15,000yen/person/night), Mid-range (15,000 - 25,000yen/person/night), Deluxe (25,000 - 40,000yen/person/night) and Super Deluxe (40,000yen/person/night on up). *Please note, we usually do not require prepayment for hotels. You simply pay for each hotel directly at time of check-out each day.

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Custom Explorer

includes GPS navigation unit with custom designed riding routes + hotel bookings if required

The Custom Explorer SGT is for those who already have a specific riding route in mind. Perhaps there are particular ryokan or onsen that you would like to visit, or maybe you have friends you want to see along the way. Let us know these locations (provide us with addresses if possible), and we will design a scenic riding route that intersects with these points, creating the perfect trip specially for you. Please note JBR recommends riding about 200km/day. If using the paid expressways, you can naturally cover more distance, but we prefer to put you on smaller and more interesting local roads (with lots of twists and turns). We will consult with you regarding your proposed route and offer suggestions to make your trip as realistic and as enjoyable as possible.

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Scenic Explorer SGT Demo

Mt. Fuji/Hakone 2-day tour

Below you will find an example of a ‘Scenic Explorer’ SGT. The daily itinerary is given below.

Itinerary:

Tuesday: Meet at the JBR office for a one 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. The next 3-4 hours 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 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 6 hours. Enjoy the winding curves and fantastic views as you ride into Hakone via the Hakone Skyline. 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 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!