Motorcycle Travel Guides
JAPAN

Budget

Cheap: £20-£50 per day
Mid: £50-£100 per day

Money: Card is accepted but cash is king. ATMs are found in 7-Elevens and Family Marts.

Currency: Yen ¥

Food: Cafe £6. Restaurant £22.

Accommodation:
Plenty of government run free campsites. Paid campsites are £10 – £15. Dorms £22. Business hotel double room £75

Petrol: £1.11 litre

When to go

Blossoms: April-May
Autumn: Sep-Nov

High: Apr and May is cherry blossom season and peak travel time. Sights are more crowded, accommodation is more expensive and usually fully booked. Mountainous regions are popular in August.

 

Mid: Jun-Jul and Sep-Nov. October is our favourite time to travel because of cooler temperatures. Autumn is gorgeous but draws big crowds.

 

Low: Dec-Mar. Sights are quiet and accommodation is at its cheapest (except ski resorts). Many businesses close over the New Year period (end of Dec to early Jan).

Paperwork

Visa: Free on arrival 90 days
Carnet required: Depends

Visa: Many countries are offered a free visa on arrival for 90 days. 

Carnet: You need a Carnet if you enter/exit via shipping or freight.

Temporary Import: You can use a TIP instead of a Carnet if you enter/exit with a ferry.

Carnet vs TIP for Japan Guide

International Driver’s Permit: Compulsory. You must have an IDP to operate a vehicle in Japan. 

Insurance: Compulsory. You must have insurance to operate a vehicle in Japan.

Japan Paperwork Guide for Motorcycle Travellers.

Facts

Capital: Tokyo
Country code: +81

Emergency: 119 – fire and ambulance. 110 – police

Language: Japanese 

Time: GMT/UTC + nine hours

Land Mass: 377,915 km²

Don't miss

Hokaido: Wild West
South: Stunning nature

Hakuba is incredible for biking and known as Japan’s Little Switzerland.

Hokaido is Japan’s wild west. 

A Big Four Museum Tour is a must for bike fans.

Kochi and Kumamoto are beautiful places to ride too.

Getting in/out

Ferry: SK or Russia
Shipping: Worldwide

As Japan is an island, your only options for entering are via ferry from either South Korea or Russia; or shipping your motorcycle from another country. 

If you’re flying in and renting a bike then check out our Motorcycle Rental and Tour Companies page for recommended options in Japan.  

Japan is a phenomenal blend of culture, architecture, stunning scenery and fascinating ancient history. And riding a motorcycle through this incredible country is the best way to explore it and uncover its hidden gems. Japan is seriously addictive and you’re going to love it. 

Japan Motorcycle Travel Guide and Paperwork

Japan Motorcycle Shipping

Japan Travel Blogs

We found a beautiful balance of culture, stunning scenery and history. But Japan also has a weird side and it’s addictive

Japan Motorcycle Rentals, Tours and Museums

Things to do in Japan on a Motorcycle

The Ritsurin Garden is the most famous and beautiful garden in Japan. Here’s what you need to know before you go.