Japan | Motorcycle Travel Guide
Best Roads, Motorcycle Camping, Paperwork, Budget, and Travel Tips for exploring Japan by motorcycle — and not getting lost in translation.
Quick Links & Info
🛵 How to Get a Bike
Getting a Motorcycle ->
📄 Paperwork
🗺️ Where to Ride
Top 20 Motorcycle Roads in Japan ->
Best Roads in Hokkaido ->
📅 When to Ride
Spring (March–May) and Autumn (September–November) are ideal.
🏕️ Accommodation
Cheap or free campsites. Avoid wild camping. Affordable business hotels and rider houses.
Camping Guide ->
💰 Budget
Expect $50–120 USD/day per person. We averaged $75/day for two people. Does not include bike rental, flights etc.
Average prices & expenses ->
Motorcycle Roads in Japan
Below is a Map of the Best Motorcycle Roads in Japan that we made after riding over 25,000 km through the whole country.
– Red Roads are our favorite ones.
– Blue Roads are other scenic and famous rides.
Camping & Accommodation
- Paid Campsites from 7 USD
- Cheap Hotels from around 30 USD
- Free Designated Campsites
- Watch out for bears
- Confusing bookings for some campsites
Japan offers a variety of camping options, from affordable paid sites to free designated areas. Keep in mind that some campsites require advanced booking, and in certain regions, you’ll need to stay alert for bears. Simple hotels are also available if you want more comfort, but your budget isn’t ready for the traditional Japanese inns.
Paperwork
- Visa on Arrival for most nationalities (90 days)
- Carnet de Passages is Required for Import BUT...
- No Carnet Needed if Coming by Ferry
- Possible to Buy a Bike in Japan as a Tourist
- International Driving Permit Required
- Riding on the left side
You can import your bike to Japan, but the procedure is somewhat tiresome. We did it once, but with the regulations constantly changing, we would recommend either buying or renting the bike in-country. You need the Geneva Convention International Driving Permit. Third-party insurance for any vehicle is mandatory.
Budget
- Our daily costs for two people averaged to ~75 USD (11,500 JPY)
- Drom/Capsule Hotel ~25 USD (4,500 JPY)
- Cheap Double Room ~50 USD (7,900 JPY)
- Cheap Restaurant 4-5 USD (600-800 JPY) per meal
- 1.1 USD (170 JPY) per liter or 4.25 USD (640 JPY) per gallon
Accommodation will be your biggest expense in Japan, but there is a range of free and inexpensive campsites as well as simple hotels to help you lower the costs. Fuel remains affordable, leaving more room in your budget for any paid attractions or treating yourself to some exquisite food.
Travel Tips
- Many unspoken rules
- Expensive highways
- Always carry some cash with you
- Limited English outside of key tourist spots
- Low speed limits
- Scarce parking in big cities
- Best Seasons: Spring & Autumn
Japan’s unspoken rules and customs might catch you off guard, so be observant and mindful. To keep costs down, avoid highways when possible and opt for more scenic, slower countryside roads. Always carry cash, easily withdrawable from ATMs at 7-Eleven stores. Download Japanese for offline use in your Google Translate app to avoid getting lost in translation. Parking in big cities is a nightmare—spaces fill up fast and are often expensive, so aim for hotels with parking.
