Motorcyle Rentals in Japan
Both of us have Japanese licenses and bought
our bikes here in Japan, so we don't know
too much about international licenses or
bike rentals for foreigners.
We get a lot of questions about bike rentals
in Japan, and never have much information
for people, so if anyone finds a good rental
shop, please let us know and we'll post it
here.
This is what we do know:
Some franchises of the ubiquitous Red Baron
chain of motorcycle shops rent out bikes,
but policies differ from franchise to franchise.
*****
The following links are from "Yoshiki"
on the Tokyo Riders newsgroup.
Thanks to Soren for passing on the information.
Hokkaido (Sapporo): Eagle http://www.eaglejp.co.jp/m_rental.html
Ameya Motorcycle http://www.ameya.co.jp/topright.html
Throttle Sounds RIKUOH http://www.rikuoh.com
Rental-Bike Shop PRIME http://www.mmjp.or.jp/jb-net/
Tokyo: M-1 http://www.h3.dion.ne.jp/~m-1/m-1_001.htm
Bike Rental Shop Route7 http://www.j-bike.com/route7/
SCS Motor Club http://www02.so-net.ne.jp/~scs/
MSL Monitor and Rental http://www.msl-japan.com/msl/frame01.html
KOKUBO Motors http://www.kokubomotors.co.jp/
Kanagawa: Motoshop GANZ http://www.motoshopganz.com/
Wakayama: Harley-Davidson WAKAYAMA http://www.tsugawa.net/
Fukuoka: Amber Light WEB http://www.amberweb.co.jp/indexB.html
Nagano: Motoshop HAMA & ZEUS http://www.clio.ne.jp/~mshama/index.htm
Ehime: Rental Bike Shop SHIMANAMI http://www.bike-simanami.com/
Shizuoka: YSP Shizuoka http://www.ysp-shizuoka.co.jp/rental/index.html
Okinawa (Ishigaki) Autoland http://www.hoops.ne.jp/~autoland/
Kyoto: Bike Shop Sashu http://www.sashu.co.jp/
Aichi: Bike Rental Wing Owarikomaki http://www.bikerental.jp/
Non of the above are in English so you might
expect to see some deficulties if you didn't
speak any Japanese.
*********
The following information on shops that rent
in the Tokyo area was provided by Alan Keel:
1) SCS motor cycle sports shop
Toll free ph no.: 0120-055-819 (10:00 - 20:00)
- English speaking staff is available.
Website in Japanese: www.scs-tokyo.co.jp
There are several branches across Tokyo area
(but not in Akasaka, Shibuya area)
Membership based to rent motorcycles (no
sign up and membership fee)
Things needed;
Valid international driver's license for
motorcycle (there is a combined one for car
w/ motorcycle or motorcycle only)
Alien registration card.
Passport
e.g.:
CRM 250/ Lanza/ KDX220SR (250 cc sized):
6,400 JPY (max of 8 hours), 9,800 JPY per
day, 16,200 JPY for 2 days, and weekly rate
and longer term are available.
CB400Sf-V/ ZRX400/ FZ400 (400 cc sized):
8,800 JPY, 13,500 JPY, 22,300 JPY, and more.
W650/ Silver Wing/ Zepha750 (750 cc sized):
9,400 JPY, 14,500 JPY, 23,900 JPY, and more
and 1000 cc, 1100 cc, 1300 cc,1400 cc, and
1500 cc
*additional cost for insurance 900 JPY to
3,500 JPY per day, helmet, boots,
and gloves.
2) Route - 7
Ph: 03-3316-0305 (9:00 - 21:00) - no English
speaking staff is available
Website: No
Closest station: Koenji on JR Chuo line (4
stations from Shinjuku)
Membership based to rent motorcycles (1,000
JPY for sign up fee and 2,500 JPY for annual
membership fee)
Things needed;
Valid international driver's license for
motorcycle (there is a combined one for car
w/ motorcycle or motorcycle only)
Alien registration card.
Passport
Paper document that states the name of the
company he or she work for Japanese person
who signs for the person (guranter)
e.g.:
250 cc sized: 4,700 JPY (max of 6 hours and
mileage meter 200 km), 8,700 JPY per day,
17,400 JPY for 2 days, and weekly rate and
longer term are available.
400 cc sized: 3,800 - 4,500 JPY, 9,500 -10,200
JPY, 19,000 - 20,400 JPY, and more.
750 - 1000 cc sized: 5,500 JPY, 12,000 JPY,
24,000 JPY, and more
*additional cost for insurance 1,000 JPY
to 4,000 JPY per day, helmet, boots, and
gloves.
In Kyoto, thereis a rental bike shop called
AUTO SALON YOSHIDA phone number 075-611-5822
.
They have large size bikes, but no Harleys.
Their website is http://www.asy.co.jp/index2.html (in Japanese only)
(Thanks to TAKU for the Kyoto information)
There's also a bunch of links about rentals on this posting on the Gaijin Riders forums, where all sorts of useful information on riding in Japan can also be found.
Mark in Kyoto sent us new information on 2006/5/15:
Try this site located in Kyoto ,owned by a Gaijin [Eng/Jpns OK]. And not expensive. they`ll also put you in touch with somewhere ifyou want to rent a bigger bike!
http://www.kyoto.zaq.ne.jp/rental-scooter/
The continuing adventures of a couple of American bikers
in the Land of the Rising Sun
