11 SIMPLE Tips to RIDING MOTORCYCLES in Japan

Japan is a popular destination for many due to how safe, clean and beautiful of a country it is. But Japan also has a language barrier as few even among the younger generation are able to converse in basic English, and is a country full of quirks and cultural differences unique to it. I present to you a few basic tips from gaijin (外人) to gaijin on how to navigate the fascinating land of Japan on a motorcycle.
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[@bobbincat]

Moving to Japan for work next year, this is invaluable! Excellent video thanks so much!

[@ZAIBYR]

I’m trying to study Japanese, and have daydreamed a little about riding in Japan or even other countries. I never expected to see such an insightful guide in English. Thank you for that bit of inspiration.

[@EmceeChoo]

Quite a comprehensive guide! Maybe a break down of fares like rental would entice some of us to try touring around Japan on a motorbike in future!

[@ReizePrimus]

Sure! I could check in with friends on that and cobble up another video for that!

[@houseofintent]

I'm starting to plan my motorbiking trip through Japan. This was really helpful. Thanks!

[@HexaDecaHelix]

This video is GOLD. Thank you! Now...to figure out where to find motorcycle parking for all the places i'll be lol

[@ReizePrimus]

You’re welcome! Google streetview also is pretty helpful if you’re in Tokyo btw. As if Tokyo isn’t already confusing enough.

[@arthurdanielles4784]

As an international rider on road and OFF ROAD, Semi professional inter city COURIER for over 2 years with ALL year round, ALL weathers experience. I have to congratulate you on a decent video. Key points are well covered. HOWEVER you Gaijin, foreigners must also remember to ALWAYS carry YOUR PASSPORT and other essential documentation such as MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE, LIABILITY INSURANCE with language and personal support included so that in the event of an accident situaiton someone will come to your aid and assist you, protect YOUR interests and help make sure that NO misunderstandings occur that could land you in the 'nick'. When you are behind vehicles in traffic and etc ALWAYS stick to the RIGHT of a vehicle in front so the DRIVER cannot miss you in his MIRROR. FACT. In Japan as you rightly point out, they drive the same as ie in the UK. Always remember that other road user, vehicles et are potential KILLERS! Make no mistake re this, in Japan like many other countries ie EUROPE, LORRY drivers et are potential KILLERS. FACT. They are looking at their mobile phones, not concentrating and YOU are about to be badly injured or KILLED. DO NOT ignore the stupid, careless, idiots in cars et either! On THEIR MOBILE PHONES or watching a programme on their screen display! Stay safe.

[@FirdausAmir]

Thanks for complete explanation

[@KokoroDenshin]

Keep in mind 50cc bike not allowed into highway road. You must briefly stop before railway track and safety check before proceed.

[@slyisdaname]

btw quick question what cc level bikes are allowed in the highway?

[@mamutero21]

​@@slyisdaname in japan 125cc+

[@slyisdaname]

@@mamutero21 thx i really needed that info👍

[@mamutero21]

@@slyisdaname No problem, please note first that its not only cc but also must be above 1kW of power and second the restriction is not only on highways, there are places where you can ride with less than 125cc and suddendly not, of course it has signs indicating that.

[@mamutero21]

@@slyisdaname i would say better rent one if you are a tourist, i dont know the process/cost of importing a bike+rules+taxes and how to deal with the mandatory insurance and highly recommended a second private insurance, not counting the problem finding parts for it. So yeah, rent one. If in the other hand you are planning to live for some years here you can exchange your license to a japanese one, the cost is not high and saves you from dealing with the japanese tests. Besides that you can use an international driving license for one year in japan, the uk license i think have no use except for exchanging it. Make sure you owned the license for more than 3 months to be able to exchange it in japan (only if you want to live some years here since tourist cant exchange). I can ask about it at the prefecture or the police station if you want but other prefectures may have different rules and also for sure they will not know about importing your bike, check this link from the JAF: english.jaf.or.jp/use-jaf-more/bringin Also i dont know the types of license in uk, but here for bikes is 49cc, 124cc, 399cc and 400+, so there is a chance you cant ride the bike you want if you exchange your license.

[@eller1066]

What a great video. Thank you for all the information.

[@stephenrevering1662]

This is very helpful! Lots of very good information. Thank you 🙏

[@nyrussell]

Be very careful "lane splitting" As if you cross the white line... oops. And they do have times where they go after riders on scooters for running up the left shoulder.

[@iliogonzalez]

Great video!

[@jaisabai4155]

Very useful, thank you 🙏

[@Theseanbei]

Hi Bro, great video. I have a Class 2A license, do you know if I would be able to rent a 400CC bike with less than 1 year of experience?

[@ReizePrimus]

@@Theseanbei if you are 25 years old and older and have an IDP. Its not an issue in almost any country part of the IDP program.

[@KeViNMCMXXCIX]

Informative!

[@hajiben5179]

Hi, any tips and advice riding in yamanashi? as a fellow Singaporean

[@ReizePrimus]

@@hajiben5179 can’t say there would be any special advice for that place as I haven’t been there.

[@EvenFive]

Going to Japan in 2 days, renting a Honda Trail, wish me luck.

[@ReizePrimus]

Good luck! Don’t worry mate, its not a hard place to get around :)

[@evanever]

Must have been cool, how'd it go?

[@abdulraufsaharudin9859]

hey bro! can i ask about the license requirements? For example will a 2B holder in SG be able to rent more than a 200CC bike in Japan?

[@ReizePrimus]

If you get your International Driving Permit, the mark only specifies motorcycles. The rentals will agree to rent any class of motorcycle to you everywhere, subject to the rental’s own individual rules.

[@VroomVroomzzz]

Hi! thanks for your super informative video. I'm going to japan end of this year, how's the motorcycle lot availability in japan? Are there many around ?

[@ReizePrimus]

@@VroomVroomzzz they arent plentiful, and they are usually in pretty obscure locations, within cities. If u leave Tokyo or any major city, official parking is just as scarce, but “illegal” parking enforcement is also more lax. Of course, if u are at any major attraction, parking isnt an issue.

[@VroomVroomzzz]

@@ReizePrimus thanks for ur help :) i see, then would it be inconvenient to ride in Japan?

[@ReizePrimus]

@@VroomVroomzzz if you stay at a hotel with parking, and go out of the city a lot, its not inconvenient at all! Its expensive though! For expressway tolls and parking.

[@VroomVroomzzz]

@@ReizePrimus i see, thats nice. but how about moving around the city with a bike as well. Will that be tough? From what i researched, parking for bikes is way more afforable than for cars haha

[@ReizePrimus]

@@VroomVroomzzz might be confusing but with Google Maps its not hard. Alot of streets are pedestrian only. Within the city if you dont spend money on highways, there are a lot of traffic lights and it takes very long to go anywhere. Parking is definitely cheaper, buy expect around 200 yen per hour and cap at 1000 yen per day.

[@kwanwaileong3608]

Fellow sgrean here! Planning a cross-japan trip soon. Can I ask which rental companies are recommended for use? I realised that bike rentals are kind of expensive, even more so than some car rentals 😢

[@ReizePrimus]

You can try contacting Rental819! Find them on Google. I highly recommend thrm. Bike rentals in developed countries are always expensive no matter where u go because of insurance. No 2 ways around it! Enjoy your trip!

[@BooLee01]

This was very informative. I have been thinking of getting a small bike for the purpose of doing errands and for going to camping. The rules differentiating between Gentsuki, 125, 250, 400 and larger are very confusing. Some bikes you can ride on the highway and some you can't. Some bikes you can ride tandem (i.e. with passenger) and some you can't. Some have a maximum speed limit and require you to do a specific kind of right turn and some don't. Any chance of you doing a video covering the different classes of bikes and the rules that accompany them?

[@ReizePrimus]

I am by no means an expert on Japanese traffic law, nor am I a resident in Japan proper, but I definitely wouldn’t mind doing some research on the topic and provide everyone with the information in English!

[@pb6839]

@@ReizePrimuswould be great I don’t know what type of bike I want to get because the rules are so confusing

[@3TQHAJSHNQ]

Did you not blow that red light at 1:31 ??? Im so confused!

[@ReizePrimus]

Tokyo has directional lights. At certain large intersections, there will be a red to halt all directions except if travelljng in the direction of the green arrows. Straight ahead in my instance.

[@3TQHAJSHNQ]

Thanks so much for the reply! So who has the red in that case? People turning right?

[@ReizePrimus]

@@3TQHAJSHNQyup, no right turn unless the main, round green light comes on.

[@steve00alt70]

Meanwhile in India an automatic bike is rare. Duke 390 is pretty popular.

[@ReizePrimus]

Yup, I see a lot of 390 and 125 KTMs from Indian content creators! I have a friend that used to ride one too!

[@jhunyortega9023]

is pillion rider allowed in japan

[@ReizePrimus]

Anything in the Kogata (50-124cc) class and above can take passengers, but only Oogata (>400cc) can take passengers on expressways. You can refer to motorcycle license categories in my video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqTVd4Zmqpl8m9U

[@JinKazama92]

brooo what happened to the rock intro in your vids!!!!

[@ReizePrimus]

Copyright ah bro.

[@Tiax776]

What's the point of having the u at the end of tsukaimasu if you're not pronouncing it? Just a waste of a letter.

[@sweetsweet3753]

hi there.. gr8 video and thanks... I am looking at hiring a 125cc scooter (i dont like big bikes) and riding it from Kagoshima to Wakkanai and then back to Kagoshima. 6000km in 30 days.. (i can knock out 250+km/day on a scooter easy enough in places like Indo/Thailand etc) i cant take the expressway with a 125cc. my google maps/maps.me has 'no toll road options' so i assume route planning etc will be easy enough by avoiding expressways/tolls. if i go into the more tourist locations like nara / kyoto / osaka i assume finding short term parking is easy enough? i will skip tokyo as been there many times. i will camp in most places so i dont have to worry about expensive overnight parking / accommodation : anything to be aware of with above approach? thanks a lot

[@ReizePrimus]

If you pick no toll road options, it will serve you quite well in making sure your 125cc avoids places you aren't allowed to go, not an issue. Parking in the old capital area (Kyoto etc) is going to be pretty expensive and well enforced, and packed as hell. I'd avoid riding around the Kansai region within cities and near attractions if possible. As for camping, do remember you can't camp willy nilly in Japan, you have to camp at specific paid campsites, do check if the campsites allow free parking or not, but they are usually pretty cheap anyway if they do charge anything beyond the camping fee.

[@sweetsweet3753]

@@ReizePrimus hi thanks for above and the quick response.. much appreciated... i am an ex singapore annnnnng mo for 20years now living in thailand.. Singapore is awesome..

[@johnphantom1344]

The sportster 883 is perfect for Japan.

[@aluisious]

Why ride a Harley in Japan...???