Blog
Practical guides for riding and walking in Japan.
28 October 2026 · 6 min read
Nijo Castle's Nightingale Floors: How They Work, and the Ninja Myth
Why the floors of Nijo Castle's Ninomaru Palace chirp like birds, how the clamps and nails make the sound, what the castle says about the story that they were built to catch ninja, and how to hear them: tickets, hours and closed days.
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27 October 2026 · 8 min read
Visiting the Kyoto Imperial Palace: Hours, Tours and What to See
How to visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace: free entry with no booking, opening hours and closed days, free English tours, what you see on the route, the rules, how to get there, the Sento Palace and Kyoto Gyoen, and how to pair it with Nijo Castle.
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27 October 2026 · 9 min read
The Best and Worst Times to Ride a Motorcycle in Japan
When to ride a motorcycle in Japan, month by month: why autumn and spring are best, why the rainy season, August heat, typhoons and winter ice are worst, the holidays to avoid, and how the seasons change from Hokkaido to Okinawa.
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24 October 2026 · 9 min read
Uji Matcha Guide: Where to Drink, Taste and Buy Tea in Uji
Why Uji is the home of matcha, the teas you'll find there, the best tea houses and cafés, where to try a tea ceremony or grind your own matcha, how to buy matcha to take home, and how to plan a day in Uji from Kyoto.
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24 October 2026 · 9 min read
The Most Popular Motorcycles in Japan, and Why Riders Choose Them
Why Japan is full of 250cc and 400cc bikes: how the licence tiers, shaken inspections and taxes shape what Japanese riders buy, plus the current best sellers from the Honda Rebel 250 to the Kawasaki Z900RS and what it means for renting as a visitor.
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19 October 2026 · 10 min read
Motorcycle Accident in Japan: What to Do, Step by Step
What to do after a motorcycle accident in Japan, whether you crash alone or with another vehicle or person: the legal duties, who to call, what to say to the police, getting medical care as a visitor, and how rental and travel insurance pay.
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19 October 2026 · 9 min read
Stopped by the Police in Japan on a Motorcycle: What to Do
What happens when Japanese police pull you over on a motorcycle: what to do at the roadside, the documents to show, blue and red tickets, how visitors pay a fine before flying home, checkpoints, rental bike parking tickets and what to do if it is serious.
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19 October 2026 · 10 min read
How to Rent a Motorcycle in Japan: A Guide for Visitors
Everything you need to rent a motorcycle in Japan as a visitor: the documents shops check, where to rent, what it costs, insurance and the NOC, ETC toll cards, fuel and the road rules that catch foreign riders out.
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16 October 2026 · 9 min read
How to Get an International Driving Permit for Riding in Japan
Planning to ride a motorcycle in Japan? Here is how to get the right International Driving Permit (1949 Geneva Convention) in the US, UK, Europe and Australia, plus what to do if your country uses a Japanese licence translation instead.
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