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Touring Chiba Japan -

Old 05-24-14, 10:27 PM
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Touring Chiba Japan -

Air Canada in June, with bicycle in hard case. Understand i should not lock bicycle case but should strap the case, with something.

Narita arrival, friends car to small for bicycle case, need to ship to his home near Unga Station, What service and how much? does anyone have current info.

Want to ride to Tokyo bay from Unga station, also Pacific Ocean from Unga station does anyone have a suggested route i can copy on Mapmyride and download.

I use Linux and not Microsoft operating system, so I can not use the Garmin Connect software.

Do I need to register my bicycle with friends name, and how do I accomplish that in case I am stopped by local police.

JR
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Old 05-25-14, 02:12 AM
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I've ridden bikes all over japan, not touring style, but just ridden. You are not likely to get stopped by Japanese police while on your bike unless you're being stupid. But they do have 'meter maids' that go around and check for the registration stickers when bikes are parked. Just ask your friend where to get it registered. I bought a cheap bike from a store and it came registered. And make sure you park in designated areas, or you will get a ticket. It's a sticker and a pain to get off. I never paid them, but they didn't know who I was anyway.

I don't know much about the Kanto region either, but I did a mini tour (3 days) across Hiroshima on a used kids bike that I bought for $15 at a recycle (pawn/second hand) shop. I was originally going to set out on the main highway, which I think it illegal and some drunk old guy advised me to take the secondary highway instead. Much safer, and better scenery. Glad I took his advise. Kinda the equivalent of Route 66. Take the non-tolled highways in Japan and you should be able to travel efficiently from point a to b, with safety and great scenery. If you'll be travelling over the course of a few days, bring a tarp or tent. Depending on the season you are going, I would advise you to be aware of rainy season in Japan. A month or so of almost non stop rain.

and if you're bike is too big for the car, consider asking your friend to skip the car and take the train with you and help you carry your luggage. There is the Narita express (slightly more expensive than the regular train), which hits all the major way points to transfer and get you anywhere you need to go in the Tokyo region and beyond.

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Old 05-25-14, 07:02 AM
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Seven years of cycling in Japan...

Tokubin and other delivery services are available just outside of baggage claim at Narita. Probably a 3000 yen charge for next day delivery. Offer to have your friend meet you at Narita by train - easier for everybody.

Just get on your bike and ride. Police will avoid you and nobody will care that your bike isn't registered. Make sure you lock it though, because borrowing bicycles is sorta not considered a big deal in Japan. Also lock it where there are other bikes, not just "barra barra". The borrowers will take the ones that aren't locked.

As far as routes go, stay off the highways and just follow your nose. If you can't read kanji, then maps are useless. My guess is that after a while you'll start using local trains like everyone else.
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Old 05-25-14, 11:01 AM
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Very good point about making sure your bike is locked. Bike theft is very common in Japan, and the police don't know if a bike is stolen or not when they see someone on it, so it's not a very good chance of getting it back. and use a good lock. the generic lock they use in Japan is very easy to pick.
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Old 01-27-15, 08:01 PM
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Many months after my visit to Japan.

The rain prevented me from riding with family and friends as much as I anticipated, I always seem to visit during rainy season. I did a number of solo rides from Unga station on the very clean bicycle trails, but did not get to ride to Tokyo Bay or the ocean this year.

I left the 1981 59CM Bianchi Nuovo Touring bicycle in Japan, so I accomplished the one way shipping task trouble free. $50 for a Serfas bicycle case at the Henderson bicycle Swap meet. Air Canada charged me $50 to take the bicycle in the case as my second piece of luggage. I then used a delivery service at the Narita Airport $45 to deliver the bicycle to relative's home in Nagareyama. I have registered it under my relative's name and I carried a letter of permission to ride the bicycle to prevent problems if I was stopped by the police for any reason.

My Garmin 200 worked on and off when it became extremely wet one morning in the driving rain, after the trip it finally dried out in our extreme Southwest heat and low humidly, it again works as a backup gps ride recorder.

This method of getting my bicycle to Japan was far cheaper than I had imagined, and I will always have a decent bicycle that fits to ride in japan. A well spent $145, to enjoy myself with the many early morning misty/wet rides and an occasional warm Sunny day on an amazing bicycle as I explored the Chiba area on their properly manicured bicycle paths (I have never seen glass, metal, trash or broken pavement on a Japanese bicycle path). Several times there were many crows perched on signs, trees and wires along the fields that did not move when approached, I had mental visions of Hitchcock's "The Birds" movie playing in my head...

Last edited by Namida12; 01-27-15 at 08:04 PM.
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