Our Route

• Use a good GPS map App.  We used Mapout which was great to find the best routes through the towns.
• Most campsites have onsens (public baths).  They are actually great.
• Plenty of convenience stores eg Lawsons, 7-Eleven and Family Mart. One stop shops.
• Public toilet are plentiful, clean and many have heated seats.
• “Gomi” – rubbish in Japanese, no rubbish bins anywhere.  You can dispose of your rubbish at the convenience stores.
• Camping grounds are open for only 2 months (June, July).  Camping wild is done in many places.

Touring in Japan is a great experience, a huge culture difference which should be respected.

One of the most popular cycling routes is the “shimanami-kaido” which we loved.

Very safe all over Japan, bike theft is minimal, we felt at ease at all times.

Japan has many tunnels and bridges. Most have footpaths, which we used if we felt unsafe cycling with the traffic.

Ferry are easy to use and you simply book on arrival.

We were in Japan from April to June, their spring, so had some rain but overall the weather was fine.  Autumn is probably the better time to cycle in Japan,

Population: 123 million
Language: Japanese
Capital: Tokyo