I’ve lived in Japan for about 15 years now, teaching English at my language school in Hyogo. But it’s the time on two wheels that really shows me this country.
The Roads Tell Stories
Japan’s roads aren’t designed for speed – they’re designed for the landscape. Every curve follows a coastline, every switchback respects a mountain. You’re not fighting the terrain; you’re flowing with it. That’s a fundamentally different experience from riding in most other countries.
Discovery at Motorcycle Pace
Car travel is too fast. You blow past the small details. Walking is too slow – you can’t cover enough ground. But on a motorcycle? You’re moving at exactly the right speed to notice:

The tiny roadside shrine you’d miss in a car
The smell of the ocean mixing with mountain air as the road climbs
The local restaurant with three parking spots and no English sign
The way the light hits rice fields in the late afternoon

Accessible Adventures
Here’s what surprised me most about motorcycle touring in Japan: you don’t need to travel far to find something incredible. Within 90 minutes of my home in Hyogo, I can reach:

Coastal roads with Pacific views
Mountain passes that challenge and reward
Historic castle towns
Fishing villages where they still pull in the morning catch
Hot spring towns built into hillsides

The density of experiences here is remarkable.
The Practical Side
Japan is also genuinely excellent for motorcycle travel:

Roads are well-maintained (mostly)
Gas stations are frequent enough
Parking is manageable on a bike
The country is safe – I’ve never worried about my bike or gear
Vending machines everywhere (crucial for hydration stops)

Why Now?
After 15 years here, I finally decided it was time to document these rides properly. Not just for others who might be interested in touring Japan, but for myself – to remember these roads, these moments, these unexpected detours.
Like buying oysters in Ako and having to abandon all your plans because they need to stay cold.
That’s the kind of story that deserves to be told.
Next Up
I’ll be sharing routes, restaurant discoveries, maintenance lessons learned, and probably more stories of plans that didn’t quite work out as expected. Because that’s real motorcycle touring – beautiful, unpredictable, and always worth the ride.