Japan

I was told that one of the Tokyo Keirin Stadiums does do track sessions for non Keirin, but I got the impression it would be a nightmare to try and get on for a non local.

Like people have said - AFAIK Track Cycling isn't popular like it is here, and Keirin is very regimented. Email a few of the shops and ask maybe? I think Blue Lug had photos up of their staff riding track.

Thanks

Yeah. Also probably a nightmare not knowing the language especially if it isn't a popular activity.

There are twice/three time yearly events run by the guys at Tempra Cycle (good friends of mine I ride with pretty regularly and good guys as elluded to by @Elra ).

Language is less of a barrier than you'd imagine but you do need to know the right people to get information etc.

It is in Kawasaki so really easy to get to from Tokyo (30 minutes or so)

There is a Facebook page (just search 'BANK' in capitals) for those events and I tend to go each time (I have been twice and ridden - once to spectate).

PM me any more questions about Tokyo if you need some help (I live here permanently and speak Japanese (not that well but I get by)).

PMd

I found this pretty useful, especially on how to fill in a betting slip, when I went to Seibuen Velodrome a few years ago.
Bit of a grotty velodrome, and it was a drizzly day. Still fun though.

http://bg.keirin.jp/en/abcs/index.html

As they don't dig up the road to repair and replace cables, the road surface is very good.

It seems to be quite popular to cycle from Onomichi to Shikoku. I saw a number of people doing that.

You can take a bike on a train, but it absolutely has to be in a bag. I'd suggest taking the front wheel (at least) off and attempting to make the whole thing smaller.

In a lot of trains, inc. shinkansen, there is a nice bike sized storage location behind the last row of seats in each carriage. (note that train seats face the direction of travel) Otherwise, I think most trains don't have great storage space.

Visiting cities (like Kyoto, Tokyo) is awesome on a decent (non mamachari) bike. They are usually fairly flat and the drivers are generally competent and considerate. The alternative is generally a bus / underground / walking all of which are usually a bit slower.

There are lots of rules that are actually written down covering the use of bicycles in Japan, but they are generally ignored. There are some shopping streets in Kyoto, for example, where you're not supposed to park your bike, but if you do, all you get is a sticker.

I just booked flights to Tokyo next May, the rough plan is to cycle along the coast for a bit then head to Kyoto followed by Osaka then bullet train back to Tokyo. 3 weeks, 500-700km.

Longer than 700km if you do all of this but perhaps something along these lines - get out of tokyo one way or another and down to the izu peninsula for it's great coast line, maybe go all around or maybe just a part of it.

Whilst going through izu/shizuoka try to stay at a hotspring resort, it's famous for them. A lot of the rest of the coast through shizuoka over to nagoya is built up, less views to take in - perhaps go in land cutting across the bottom of the southern japanese alps - harder but more picturesque, across to lake biwa, kyoto, nara and then osaka.

would be a shame to miss mt fuji up close, the great lakes on the north side ought to be a good ride if you can fit it in (perhaps tokyo-fuji-then the coast?), this year's (and next year's?) japanese eroica did a route around those lakes.

Great, thanks for the suggestions. I haven't put any time in to researching routes so appreciate the input. Nothing is fixed yet other than our flights in and out of Toyko.

If you're going to cycle Izu, take the train to Mishima, then cycle out to Numazu and stick on route 17 all the way down the West coast. Stop at the clifftop onsen at Dogashima for a soak en route then ride round the bottom or cut the corner at Matsuzaki for some great climbs on very quiet roads. You can then either bail at Shimoda and get the train (or just spend a night at the beach) or ride back up the East coast (which has much busier roads and a lot of tunnels).

Anybody been to Okinawa? We're going there late april but have no idea what part to stay in etc.

What are you suppose to do?

I were there in July and did then stay in the northern part and its more calm. Had my bike whit me so i did ride around a lot. Its a nice place anyhow!

Could recommend hotel Four rooms but its is really out in the country!

Thanks.
Just there for the weather and chill with the family (incl 5yo and newborn) so calmer sounds better.

Since it isnt so much to do even in Naha and the country side is just 10-15 min on the otherside of the island.

Have a look around in Nanjou area. Could really recommend Hotel Hyakunagaran. Its really nice and then do you have just 10 min to go in to Naha if you would like to have some action.

Hope you like Mangos and Passionfruits since they are the best in the world over in Okinawa.

Here's a question. Japan has been at the top of my places to visit list for a long time.

HOWEVER, I am allergic to fish (and also nuts to a lesser extent). Would I struggle to eat, and/or would I struggle to work out what I could and couldn't eat?

Being allergic isnt just something the Europeans are blessed with. But i Japan it could be hard for you to tell the chefs that since not so many knows English so good.

But if you have an Japanese written down a note there it explains what your issues are im sure it wont be any problem!

The good news is that allergy is just aregi.

Just got back from an awesome few weeks in Japan.

In Tokyo we hired Tokyo Bikes (naturally) from theshop in Yanaka. Best cheap hire bikes ever and really well maintained. The area is great to mooch around - lots of coffee shops, bakeries etc (incuding this one)

Also did the Onimishi to Imabari route across the islands, cycling from island to island across amazing bridges, with great cycling infrastructure. We passed up the opportunity to hire pinarellos from our slightly pretentious but very nice cycling hotel and did it on 8 gear town bikes. Imabari is a dump, but worth doing the whole route to go over the 4k bridge at the end and look down at the whirlpools.

Also hired bikes in Kyoto, but despite having a reputation as a cycling city we didn't really warm to to it. Loads of hire places though.

Oh and went to the Kinfolk Lounge. https://kinfolklife.com/tokyo/ A few very expensive frames and filled up with expats, but friendly bar staff who mixed negronis on request.