Road

Last updated on Apr. 02, 2006

road01m.jpg road03m.jpg road02m.jpg

Rules

  • Keep left.
  • Signal is same.shingo.gif f^_^;
  • Front light and rear reflector are duties in law.
    In fact, there are many places with no streetlight. Don't forget bright light and reflector.
  • Of course, you cannot ride on a bike with drunkenness.
  • There is very few bike lane. So you must ride on bike by car lane. Take care of cars.
  • Tandems are illegal.
    In Japan there is a simple law that you cannot have two people on a bicycle. So one can not sit on the rear rack, but also two people cannot ride on tandems bike. But there are few prefectures you can ride on tandems bike, but it is still very few.

Customs

icon_14.gificon_10.gifBicycle tourists themselves and moterbike tourists in Japan are very friendly. When we pass each other, we exchange thumb up or victory sign.
In the case of moterbike tourists takeovering bicycle tourist, they thumb up. They are watching back mirror and waiting cyclist thumbing up.
If you are in these cases(find bicycle or moterbike with bags), please thumb up! (But please take care.)
But riders not in touring (both bicycle and moterbike) don't do that.
And recently, touring riders not to thumb up are incleasing. I feel sad... (;o;)


Road Signs

r_sign00.jpgr_sign2m.jpgr_sign3m.jpg
r_sign10.gif Destination and Direction

They have note in alphabet.
Green note r_sign04.gifmeans express way(driveway: Bikes cannot go on).
r_sign02.gifr_sign11.gif Natinal Road
<triangle>

There are over 400 national roads.
r_sign01.gifr_sign12.gif Prefectural Road
<hexagon>
r_sign09.gif Destination and Distance

They have note in alphabet.
r_sign06.gif Area Sign
rs_logo.gif Road Station (Drive-in Shop, Rest-house)
"Michi no Eki"

Road Station: "Michi no Eki"

michist2.gifThere are food & souvenir shop, information center, restaurant, toilet and telephone etc. in it.
It is good for taking a rest and reserving inn(Hotel, Japanese Style Hotel:"Ryokan", Tourist Home:"Minshuku" etc.) for the night.
There are 830 Road Stations mainly along national road.(on 30th Mar. 2006)
If you find the road sign, please visit.
And If you have Japanese Road Map, like "TOURING MAPPLE", you can find them easily.
Road Station "Michi no Eki"

page by "Road Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport"
Information about Road Station is in only Japanese. But there is a map in the top page. If you click the map you can see where Road Stations are.
www.mlit.go.jp/road/station/road-station.html
Road Station "Michi no Eki"
[site in Japanese]


www.michi-no-eki.net/Riyosha/R-001.php
 
Links to Website of Road Station of each area
Most of them are in Japanese, but you can see where Road Stations are in Map page.
Road Station "Michi no Eki" - Hokkaido

www.hkd.mlit.go.jp/zigyoka/z_doro/station/eng
Road Station "Michi no Eki" - Tohoku
[site in Japanese]

There is a map in the top page. If you click the map you can see where Road Stations are.
www.thr.mlit.go.jp/road/koutsu/roadstation/
Road Station "Michi no Eki" - Hokuriku
[site in Japanese]

Map page is here. (It is in Japanese but you can see where Road Stations are.)
www.hrr.mlit.go.jp/road/miti_eki/
Road Station "Michi no Eki" - Kanto
[site in Japanese]

Map page is here. (It is in Japanese but you can see where Road Stations are.)
www.ktr.mlit.go.jp/kyoku/road/eki/
Road Station "Michi no Eki" - Chubu
[site in Japanese]

There is a map in the top page. If you click the map you can see where Road Stations are.
www.cbr.mlit.go.jp/michinoeki/michinoeki.html
Road Station "Michi no Eki" - Kinki
[site in Japanese]

There is a map in the top page.
www.kkr.mlit.go.jp/road/michi_no_eki/
Road Station "Michi no Eki" - Chugoku
[site in Japanese]

There is a map in the top page. If you click the map you can see where Road Stations are.
www.cgr.mlit.go.jp/chiki/doyroj/station/station.htm
Road Station "Michi no Eki" - Shikoku
[site in Japanese]

There is a map in the top page. If you click the map you can see where Road Stations are.
www.skr.mlit.go.jp/road/rstation/eki.html
Road Station "Michi no Eki" - Kyushu
[site in Japanese]

There is a map in the top page.
www.qsr.mlit.go.jp/n-michi/michi_no_eki/
Road Station "Michi no Eki" - Okinawa
[site in Japanese]

There is a map in the top page.
www.road.dc.ogb.go.jp/michieki/


Cautions(?)

  • Japan is a mountainious country. Don't plan to ride so much distance in one day.
  • Tunnels are especially dangerous. Because most of them are narrow and are not made for bikes. The shoulder of the road in tunnel is muddy and easy to slip. If you find a sidewalk in a tunnel, go on it. If you cannot find sidewalk, but find bypass, I recommend you to go bypass, even if it is a hard couse.
tunnel.jpg a safty tunnel with sidewalk