Cycling in Gifu
Introduction
For commuting to and from work, if you live in the Seino or Gifu City regions, you will most likely use a bike to get to work. This guide will aim to help you obtain a bike, register it, maintain it, understand the laws, safety and more. This guide is written from the point of view of an ALT living in Ogaki. Some things may not apply to those living in the Hida, Chuno and Tono regions. |
Getting a bike
There are plenty of bike shops scattered around the prefecture. If you are looking for anything to get the job done you will have no issues finding a bike for a good price. For more mid to high end bikes, going to Nagoya or shopping online is a better option. Electrical assist bikes are available but can be very expensive.
If buying a bike second hand, make sure that the chain and frame has no rust or cracks.
General extras: When purchasing a bike make sure to buy some spare inner tubes for when you get punctures. I also recommend buying a bike lock even if your bike is cheap. The risk of a bike being stolen in Japan is very low but not impossible so do not take the risk. Another important thing is a mounted front light and a back light for cycling at night, in the rain and in other low light conditions.
There are plenty of bike shops scattered around the prefecture. If you are looking for anything to get the job done you will have no issues finding a bike for a good price. For more mid to high end bikes, going to Nagoya or shopping online is a better option. Electrical assist bikes are available but can be very expensive.
If buying a bike second hand, make sure that the chain and frame has no rust or cracks.
General extras: When purchasing a bike make sure to buy some spare inner tubes for when you get punctures. I also recommend buying a bike lock even if your bike is cheap. The risk of a bike being stolen in Japan is very low but not impossible so do not take the risk. Another important thing is a mounted front light and a back light for cycling at night, in the rain and in other low light conditions.
Bike features
When choosing a bike, you must think of what you will use it for. If you are purely commuting with your bike, it is very easy to find one. If you also want to use it for cycling trips on weekends or for long distances it becomes more difficult. There are three main classifications for bikes: road, mountain and commuter. There are more types of bikes now with options such as gravel, endurance and cross bikes becoming more popular. |
For the majority of people reading this you will need a commuter. These bikes are very easy to find as they are the most common. When purchasing one of these you will most likely want a basket to hold groceries and other items. You also want to look if it has a chain guard to protect your trousers from grease and mud guards to block splash from the road when wet. If you want comfort, look into the suspension on the bike and the type of seat. Sometimes these bikes will come with inbuilt lights.
If you are looking to use your bike not just for commuting, I recommend a cross bike. These bikes are road bikes but with a more relaxed riding position and flat handlebars. These bikes generally have mounting points for mud guards and cargo racks if they are made from aluminium. They will also have mounting points for bottle holders as well, as all bikes should.
Mountain bikes also make for good commuters due to comfort and will handle better in wet conditions. They also have good front suspension.
If you are looking to use your bike purely for exercise and travel, a road bike is best. If you like cycling offroad, then a mountain bike is best, especially with all the mountains in Gifu. There are many options for road bikes so I recommend doing your own research. If I had my time on JET again, I would have bought a gravel bike due to the shocking condition of many of the roads here. If you purchase an expensive bike, I recommend getting insurance for the bike in case of theft or a crash.
For an example of a bike used for commuting and exercise, I’ll list my own gear. I use a Canyon Roadlite 7 cross bike. I can attach a luggage rack above the back wheel and two bottle holders below the top tube. I use a saddle bag and a top tube bag to store tools, spare inner tubes, phone and other items. I have a front light and back light. To keep water away in the rain, I wear a waterproof jacket and pants and use an ass saver which is a mud guard that is attached to the saddle.
If you decide to purchase a more expensive bike, I highly recommend to never use your apartment bicycle parking and to store it inside your apartment.
If you are looking to use your bike not just for commuting, I recommend a cross bike. These bikes are road bikes but with a more relaxed riding position and flat handlebars. These bikes generally have mounting points for mud guards and cargo racks if they are made from aluminium. They will also have mounting points for bottle holders as well, as all bikes should.
Mountain bikes also make for good commuters due to comfort and will handle better in wet conditions. They also have good front suspension.
If you are looking to use your bike purely for exercise and travel, a road bike is best. If you like cycling offroad, then a mountain bike is best, especially with all the mountains in Gifu. There are many options for road bikes so I recommend doing your own research. If I had my time on JET again, I would have bought a gravel bike due to the shocking condition of many of the roads here. If you purchase an expensive bike, I recommend getting insurance for the bike in case of theft or a crash.
For an example of a bike used for commuting and exercise, I’ll list my own gear. I use a Canyon Roadlite 7 cross bike. I can attach a luggage rack above the back wheel and two bottle holders below the top tube. I use a saddle bag and a top tube bag to store tools, spare inner tubes, phone and other items. I have a front light and back light. To keep water away in the rain, I wear a waterproof jacket and pants and use an ass saver which is a mud guard that is attached to the saddle.
If you decide to purchase a more expensive bike, I highly recommend to never use your apartment bicycle parking and to store it inside your apartment.
Registration
Bikes in Japan must be registered to the owner. This is in order to find stolen bikes as well as impound illegally parked bikes.
Registration is easy to do, as long as the bike was not previously registered. When purchasing a bike from a store brand new they will register it for you. If you order online you will have to go to any bike shop and they can also do the registration.
General Laws and Regulations
Many laws and regulations regarding bikes are not thoroughly enforced in Japan but this does not mean that you should not follow them.
- Bicycle accident insurance is mandatory.
- Your bicycle must be registered.
- Helmet wearing is strongly advised but not mandatory. (Please wear one as it will save your life in an accident)
- No drinking and cycling.
- Cycle on the left side of the road never against traffic.
- You only ride on footpaths when designated. (In reality this is never enforced but I recommend cycling on the road)
- Do not listen to earphones or headphones while riding.
- Do not interact with your phone while cycling.
- Do not use an umbrella when cycling.
- Follow signage as if you are a motor vehicle.
- Use your lights on your bike in low light conditions.
- Use a bike bell (it’s easier to shout).
- You must use a rinko bag (bike bag) when bringing a bike on a train or bus unless it has special rules. (Please check before trying to bring a bike on a train without a bag).
- No cycling side by side.
- One cyclist on one bike.
- Make sure to park your bike in designated areas in busy places such as train stations otherwise your bike may be impounded.
https://www.pref.gifu.lg.jp/uploaded/attachment/3244.pdf - This page has a more detailed list with pictures of signage and other information.
Road Rules and safety
The most important thing to stay as safe as possible is being VISIBLE. Wearing bright colours and using your lights will reduce the risk of an accident.
When cycling in Japan the law states that you must cycle on the road keeping left. However, many people do not observe cycling laws and regulations. I highly recommend cycling on the road if you have the confidence as it is safer, the main reason being you are more visible to drivers if you are on the road. This means it is less likely for people to pull out in front of you. If you are cycling on the road, always ride on the left and NEVER into oncoming traffic. On the footpath, you also have to keep left.
Never hold an umbrella, use a phone, or use earphones/headphones whilst cycling as this hinders your handling of the bike and awareness of your surroundings. Knowing what other cyclists and drivers are doing is very important to avoid collisions.
Please buy and wear a bicycle helmet. Always buy one brand new and make sure it fits well. The price range does not matter as all helmets must meet the same minimum safety standards.
Not wearing a helmet can lead to severe brain injury or death even at slow speeds. Even if you are a confident cyclist, you never know about other people on the roads in cars or even fellow cyclists. I also recommend always wearing gloves as when you crash, your first reaction is to break your fall with your hands. If you slide, your hands can become very sore and bloody, but if you wear gloves, they will take the road rash for your hands. I also recommend wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes from bugs, stones and other flying objects. You can get clear lenses as well so you can wear them at night.
Make sure you are careful of blind corners and try to use the mirrors posted at intersections, but do not rely solely on them.
Cycling in Winter
When cycling in winter, always be careful about being visible and keeping a look out for ice on the road. Cycling at night is highly discouraged if it is snowing or has snowed heavily.
Cycling on the road is safer than cycling on the footpath as the roads are usually clear of snow compared to the footpath (Ogaki).
Make sure to also stay warm when on the bike wearing thick socks and gloves.
Bike Maintenance
For general bike maintenance, the most important thing is to always keep you chain clean and lubricated to avoid rusting and general wear. Learning how to repair a flat tyre is a very useful skill especially if you are stuck away from home.
I recommend videos on YouTube on how to do things as well as learning other ways to maintain your bike. GCN (Global Cycling Network) has a bike mechanics YouTube channel which gives many tutorials on how to care for your bike.
If you are not confident to do these things yourself, you can always reach out to other JETs or go to a bike shop.
Recommended Bike Shops
For Sports Bikes http://jitensha-uesaka.sun.bindcloud.jp/index.html The owner can speak a bit of English. Located in Ogaki.
https://bic-velo.com/shop03.php Has a staff member that can speak English. Located in Gifu City.
Tips (Some of these may have already been mentioned)
Places to go cycling
Cycling is a great way to experience Japan. When cycling, you better appreciate the scenery and natural beauty of Japan. Below are some cycling routes you can find within Gifu Prefecture and within Japan as a whole.
Most popular routes will have bike rental places but make sure to book well in advance.
Places within Gifu:
Nagara River Route - https://www.pref.gifu.lg.jp/uploaded/attachment/256406.pdf
https://visitgifu.com/see-do/hida-satoyama-cycling/
https://visitgifu.com/see-do/rail-mountain-bike-gattan-go/
https://visitgifu.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ff874aff-nakasendocycling2020.pdf
Places outside of Gifu:
Outside of Gifu there are three major cycling routes that are very popular. The closest is the Lake Biwa route and can be done in 2-3 days (or one day if you’re keen enough). More information for all these routes can be easily found online.
Lake Biwa https://en.biwako1.jp/basic/route/
Shimanami-Kaido https://shimanami-cycle.or.jp/cycling/en-02.html
Toyama Bay Route https://cycling-toyama.jp/en/
About the Author: Matthew Beaven
Matthew is an Ogaki ALT who is a seasoned cyclist. This guide uses what he has learnt as well as information from his cyclist father, the Ogaki cycling community and information from handguides on cycling found online. He hopes this guide will be useful for new JETs or those looking to enhance their cycling experience in Gifu.
Bikes in Japan must be registered to the owner. This is in order to find stolen bikes as well as impound illegally parked bikes.
Registration is easy to do, as long as the bike was not previously registered. When purchasing a bike from a store brand new they will register it for you. If you order online you will have to go to any bike shop and they can also do the registration.
General Laws and Regulations
Many laws and regulations regarding bikes are not thoroughly enforced in Japan but this does not mean that you should not follow them.
- Bicycle accident insurance is mandatory.
- Your bicycle must be registered.
- Helmet wearing is strongly advised but not mandatory. (Please wear one as it will save your life in an accident)
- No drinking and cycling.
- Cycle on the left side of the road never against traffic.
- You only ride on footpaths when designated. (In reality this is never enforced but I recommend cycling on the road)
- Do not listen to earphones or headphones while riding.
- Do not interact with your phone while cycling.
- Do not use an umbrella when cycling.
- Follow signage as if you are a motor vehicle.
- Use your lights on your bike in low light conditions.
- Use a bike bell (it’s easier to shout).
- You must use a rinko bag (bike bag) when bringing a bike on a train or bus unless it has special rules. (Please check before trying to bring a bike on a train without a bag).
- No cycling side by side.
- One cyclist on one bike.
- Make sure to park your bike in designated areas in busy places such as train stations otherwise your bike may be impounded.
https://www.pref.gifu.lg.jp/uploaded/attachment/3244.pdf - This page has a more detailed list with pictures of signage and other information.
Road Rules and safety
The most important thing to stay as safe as possible is being VISIBLE. Wearing bright colours and using your lights will reduce the risk of an accident.
When cycling in Japan the law states that you must cycle on the road keeping left. However, many people do not observe cycling laws and regulations. I highly recommend cycling on the road if you have the confidence as it is safer, the main reason being you are more visible to drivers if you are on the road. This means it is less likely for people to pull out in front of you. If you are cycling on the road, always ride on the left and NEVER into oncoming traffic. On the footpath, you also have to keep left.
Never hold an umbrella, use a phone, or use earphones/headphones whilst cycling as this hinders your handling of the bike and awareness of your surroundings. Knowing what other cyclists and drivers are doing is very important to avoid collisions.
Please buy and wear a bicycle helmet. Always buy one brand new and make sure it fits well. The price range does not matter as all helmets must meet the same minimum safety standards.
Not wearing a helmet can lead to severe brain injury or death even at slow speeds. Even if you are a confident cyclist, you never know about other people on the roads in cars or even fellow cyclists. I also recommend always wearing gloves as when you crash, your first reaction is to break your fall with your hands. If you slide, your hands can become very sore and bloody, but if you wear gloves, they will take the road rash for your hands. I also recommend wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes from bugs, stones and other flying objects. You can get clear lenses as well so you can wear them at night.
Make sure you are careful of blind corners and try to use the mirrors posted at intersections, but do not rely solely on them.
Cycling in Winter
When cycling in winter, always be careful about being visible and keeping a look out for ice on the road. Cycling at night is highly discouraged if it is snowing or has snowed heavily.
Cycling on the road is safer than cycling on the footpath as the roads are usually clear of snow compared to the footpath (Ogaki).
Make sure to also stay warm when on the bike wearing thick socks and gloves.
Bike Maintenance
For general bike maintenance, the most important thing is to always keep you chain clean and lubricated to avoid rusting and general wear. Learning how to repair a flat tyre is a very useful skill especially if you are stuck away from home.
I recommend videos on YouTube on how to do things as well as learning other ways to maintain your bike. GCN (Global Cycling Network) has a bike mechanics YouTube channel which gives many tutorials on how to care for your bike.
If you are not confident to do these things yourself, you can always reach out to other JETs or go to a bike shop.
Recommended Bike Shops
For Sports Bikes http://jitensha-uesaka.sun.bindcloud.jp/index.html The owner can speak a bit of English. Located in Ogaki.
https://bic-velo.com/shop03.php Has a staff member that can speak English. Located in Gifu City.
Tips (Some of these may have already been mentioned)
- A saddle bag is good for carrying spare inner tubes and other tools. It is also a good idea to keep a spare 1000 yen just in case.
- Taking bikes on trains or busses requires a bike bag or rinko bag. These cover the entirety of the bike. Some trains at certain times do not require a bike bag such as the Yoro Line on weekends.
- You can buy phone mounts for your bike to assist in navigation instead of using a cycle computer.
Places to go cycling
Cycling is a great way to experience Japan. When cycling, you better appreciate the scenery and natural beauty of Japan. Below are some cycling routes you can find within Gifu Prefecture and within Japan as a whole.
Most popular routes will have bike rental places but make sure to book well in advance.
Places within Gifu:
Nagara River Route - https://www.pref.gifu.lg.jp/uploaded/attachment/256406.pdf
https://visitgifu.com/see-do/hida-satoyama-cycling/
https://visitgifu.com/see-do/rail-mountain-bike-gattan-go/
https://visitgifu.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ff874aff-nakasendocycling2020.pdf
Places outside of Gifu:
Outside of Gifu there are three major cycling routes that are very popular. The closest is the Lake Biwa route and can be done in 2-3 days (or one day if you’re keen enough). More information for all these routes can be easily found online.
Lake Biwa https://en.biwako1.jp/basic/route/
Shimanami-Kaido https://shimanami-cycle.or.jp/cycling/en-02.html
Toyama Bay Route https://cycling-toyama.jp/en/
About the Author: Matthew Beaven
Matthew is an Ogaki ALT who is a seasoned cyclist. This guide uses what he has learnt as well as information from his cyclist father, the Ogaki cycling community and information from handguides on cycling found online. He hopes this guide will be useful for new JETs or those looking to enhance their cycling experience in Gifu.