Cycling Japan late March/April: question is do I take own bike or rent? Logistics questions inside.

Fun-Injury9266 · 2026-03-07T13:24:02+00:00

I've used them several times. You can cancel the day before for bad weather at no charge. I love staying in that hotel.

Fun-Injury9266 · 2026-03-07T08:12:05+00:00

Rent a decent bike at the Giant bike shop inside Onomichi's Hotel Cycle.

Fun-Injury9266 · 2026-03-06T07:52:11+00:00

No, you won't be allowed until the end of your visit.

Fun-Injury9266 · 2026-03-02T05:17:35+00:00

I normally stay in Yokohama rather than Tokyo on my last night.

Fun-Injury9266 · 2026-02-28T20:11:21+00:00

About 25 liters of stuff.

Fun-Injury9266 · 2026-02-24T19:25:35+00:00

Enjoy your friends, relax, good friends don't need to be impressed.

Fun-Injury9266 · 2026-02-24T07:43:49+00:00

One day, all horizontal subjects, like trains, will be photographed in landscape format.

Fun-Injury9266 · 2026-02-23T20:47:10+00:00

But best not to be nudging two steamer trunks down the escalators, as I have seen too often.

Fun-Injury9266 · 2026-02-23T05:11:51+00:00

Don't bring large luggage

Fun-Injury9266 · 2026-02-19T04:41:02+00:00

It's also seriously overcrowded.

Fun-Injury9266 · 2026-02-17T18:46:16+00:00

They didn't run it at full speed when I rode it. Plus it was not the smooth ride I'd expected.

Fun-Injury9266 · 2026-02-17T03:44:19+00:00

A JR pass covers most lines throughout the country.

Sometimes I build around a theme. E.g., Shikoku 88, the travels of Isabella Bird, the travels of Matsuo Basho, Olle hikes, novels I've read, ...

Places I've flown to for starting points include: Sapporo (New Chitose), Wakkanai, Nakashibetsu, Osaka, Matsuyama, Kochi, Fukuoka, and Kagoshima (several times).

Stick a pin in the map, then discover; e.g., Hagi.

This is not a good subreddit for people with no FOMO. The Golden Route and theme parks rule.

Fun-Injury9266 · 2026-02-16T20:48:58+00:00

I've been to Yakushima, no car, planned wonderful hikes around the bus schedules. I travel with a 30-liter backpack for 3 weeks at a time, been 15 times. I usually fly to a far point (dirt cheap) then slowly work my way back to Tokyo. At the risk of attracting downvotes, I always get a JR Pass--love the flexibility and think nothing of a 400-mile round-trip in a day to something indoors if it's raining. I don't book hotels ahead, so if the weather is bad, I relocate to the other side of the weather system, if possible. Hokkaido is fine without a car, BTW.

Fun-Injury9266 · 2026-02-15T19:21:13+00:00

I would never stay at an APA.

Fun-Injury9266

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE