*Would YOU Cycle through Tokyo?* Let me know below!! -- PS - my camera is (affiliate) linked in the description and below (cuz I know there will be questions lol) Get Exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ nordvpn.com/tokyolens Tokyo Lens Affiliate Link for the camera that I used for this vid: www.insta360.com/sal/x4?INRJDY8 (pretty sure there's like 15% off the X4 until christmas and my affiliate link helps me, AND gives you an extra gift!!)
really appreciate this video! I've been waiting for someone to properly explain the rules. I cycle everyday in Tokyo, but mostly on the west side. It is interesting (and i guess obvious) to note that cycling conditions differ greatly depending on where in Tokyo you are
We have something similar to those 二段階右折 in Melbourne, Australia called 'hook turns'. They are used for regular cars and motorbikes though due to the trams running through the middle of the road.
I know that maneuver as the "Copenhagen Left". It's not legally required anywhere in the USA that I know of, but I've taught my kid to do this where appropriate as a safety measure.
Easily one of the best, unique and informative vids for the busiest areas of Japan. The camera is the super hero too! Again, love your content Norm..❤🧠
u just love it that Norm shows us again parts of Tokyo and of the daily life in Japan we would rarely if ever get to see and experience as tourists. such videos turn Japan from a simplr destination into a place worth considering to move to maybe and to call it home.
In the UK cycling on the pathment or sidewalk as you call it is actually against the law. People still do it, but when i cycle most weekends I stay on the road as much as possible. When in Tokyo over Christmas 2023 I was run down by a cyclist who shouted at me (my japanese is pretty good) and got called a "stupid foreigner" for walking on the pathment (sidewalk) in Shibuya. I got shouted at for using the path with 2 teenagers coming at me fast and I did not move out the way quick enough. Its a double edge sword with cycling in japan. When I go back in October 2025, I want to rent a bike and cycle everywhere I can but will stick to the roads as "UK" people usually do as I don't want to impeed or get in the way of japanese folk on the pavement.
8:15 I noticed this when I was in Tokyo as well but it's insane how wide and empty a lot of these streets are and yet there are no dedicated bicycle lanes.
In the bigger cities in Denmark - It can be a little risk at junktions in rush hour, BUT typically it's 95% safe to use a bicycle no matter were you are - in the city or the countryside. We also have a lot of thefts of bicycles and also lock your bikes with a lock installed on the bike or with a chain lock in addition. Edit: Last thing; That mount with the 360 camera is very cleverly done. 😃
Eh, I've biked all my life and never felt it risky. We're all taught common sense and safety on biking as kids after all. #1 Eyes. Use them. Just watch your shoulder and keep your distance when trucks are involved. #2 Don't be a ***** or an ******. That's it. 'Sides, we've designated bike lanes absolutely everywhere, countryside too, I don't even remember the last time I had to bike on the road... maybe as a kid, I dunno...
Hi Norm. Great video and advice. Riding bikes really can be dangerous. I lived in Toledo Ohio pop. 325,000 and I was in 5 bicycle accidents. I hit 3 cars and actually knocked the door clean off one , I took a big tumble but only got a few scrapes and a bent front wheel. I was also hit 2 times but nothing serious for me , just bent bike parts. So you see population size really does not matter. Stay safe.😊
I once had a childhood dream to travel all around the world by riding a bicycle with my best friends 😅 Over time I forgot about it as I got busier with my studies. But after deciding to enroll in a Japanese university and watching your videos, I really want to fulfill that dream and travel across Japan. I hope I make it 💪🏻✨
I used to bike commute in the US, and I have to say that car size in Japan would also be a plus. One of my last commutes I remember a truck pulling in behind me and it's hood was taller than my head. That was about when I decided to not bike anymore
I ride my bike around a 10 kilometer round trip through the major streets in Asakusa and Akihabara maybe 3 days per week and that’s more than enough adrenaline for me, I don’t know how you ride 20 kilometers 5 to 7 times per week. The lack of bike lanes and the amount of trucks and cars that are parked on the side of the road (which are technically parked in the already basically non existent bike lanes but I guess that’s just not a problem in Japan) causing me to have to swerve into traffic on busy roads makes me hate riding my bike in Tokyo. There could be such better bicycle infrastructure but I really don’t see it being implemented for a long long time on most roads. The sidewalks are usually too small and busy with people to ride on and the main roads are always so busy with cars, so unless you’re riding on side streets biking in most Japanese cities is not the best experience in my opinion.
yes,i have cycled in tokyo with no problems. was a while back though. best places to cycle where at rivers like the arakawa river. no cars come there,and on sundays you can take a break at any sportfield enjoying a match of baseball or soccer ,if you encounter them.
That's actually an interesting point about the drivers and red lights, when pedestrians are notoriously so obedient. I mean it makes sense you don't want to take any extra risks on foot if you know cars are that unpredictable, but it's interesting the general adherence to rules doesn't seem to apply behind a wheel.
As an avid cyclist I loved this! I would definitely use a bike in Tokyo (or anywhere in the world), it's so much faster than other transport. Loved your helmet thingy, too and the camera set up is so cool!
Did do a lot of cycling on a farm stay, and did leave them unlocked all the time, but that was 20 years ago in Isumi. These days I would not want to cycle in Tokyo or any other city for that matter, too much traffic for my taste.
We cycled in Japan for 19 days and found it being a lot easier than expected. There were a lot of great cycle lanes or space made for cycling. I took a couple of days to get used to the way traffic work in Japan and get used to driving on the "wrong side" compared to home. But all in all a fantastic way to explore Japan. Found some really great roads when we cycled into Tokyo at the en of the tour.
We were amazed at how many people cycle on the pavement in Tokyo - and Osaka was worse! and at speed too! Those sight assist curb stones are a nightmare, I hit one in London last year and got thrown into a lamppost and have destroyed my Rotator Cuff tendon in my shoulder (just diagnosed with 80% loss of the tendon) all thanks to those ridges 😒
I like how the situation is sorta similar to the UK there, how you can choose to go on the road or pavement as long as you're doing it safely. technically, the law in the UK says bicycles should be on the road when it's a public highway, but police generally look the other way as long as any cyclists on the pavement are going slow and are not a danger. It's one of those minor laws that get's mostly ignored.
I'm a part time food delivery guy on bicycle in Tokyo so I know way too much how the small streets with little or no visibility are the most dangerous. Also when cars turning left at a big intersection have to yield to the crossing pedestrians/bicycles. Make sure you they are stopped or that they see you by making eye contact, especially if you were too tempted to cross when the little green man was blinking (meaning it's turning red soon). There's sooo many accidents caused by this particular situation. And yes, taxis are the worst. But I understand that after spending 8+ hours on the road (they're notoriously overworked) that some people aren't as courteous behind the wheel, especially to those pesky cyclists who also don't always follow the rules lol Also impounded bicycles are sometimes sent to developing countries for cheap. That's how I ended up on a rented Japanese bicycle with a Kyoto registration sticker in... Sri Lanka of all places 😂
I grew up in and still live in Canada. When I was a kid we rode our bikes all over. On weekends and in the summer we could spend all day exploring feeling like it was a huge adventure to see places we've never seen before. I live in a city that has long winters but has invested a lot in cycling infrastructure (dedicated lanes and lots of signs). There are some die-hards here who will cycle no matter how cold it gets (-30 to -40 will happen once or twice a season). I love seeing our beautiful bike paths and river valley trails being used from sun up to sun down when the road conditions and weather are good. Some vehicle drivers here are oddly hateful towards bicycles so it can be very dangerous to ride on the roads. I see many riding on the sidewalk but as long as they're not running into kids and animals, I'd rather see them there being safe than risking death on the roads.
Norm i love this kind of video cause its open a new perspective of how to explore japan with bike thanks for the vids norm i never got bored of watching your video otsukare
Most cyclists are super crazy here in Japan especially when turning left or right they often don't look at all and don't even slow down Also the police told me its okay to use the sidewalk but only if there aren't many people walking so its kinda gray zone. And bicycle lanes are often used by people walking and vice versa ... super bad
Heh, your ball cap helmet looks useful. I suppose the skinny-tires warning is well-taken, I generally much prefer those. Once upon a time I was a Boston bike messenger, so the traffic doesn't scare me, at least once I got a sense of the patterns and when people are breaking em.
The name of that floor block at 12:30 are Tactile Floor. They are very useful for blind people and to avoid slip while you are walking in rainy days. But it can be also very dangerous for bikes if your wheel get stuck in one.
Thank you for such an informative video, Norm! Just used 'Hello Cycling' rental bike last week,and I had a great time cycling Mama Chari in Tokyo. Great information about the traffic rules for future cyclers in Japan!☺️👍🚲
As a bicyclist of sweden with alot of dedicated bicycle lanes Tokyo feels a bit unsafe during day with the heavy traffic, then again when I visited Kyoto it never felt unsafe when bicycling. Amazed at how often bicyclist was on the sidewalk in Tokyo, that also felt unsafe at first but I only saw one accident in my seven days there and that was a pedestrian on a dedicated bicycle lane. Next time i visit I will definetly try to bicycle instead of walking everywhere in Tokyo.
It's funny as each time when I'm in tokyo I asked myself that exact question. I was probably just too intimidated by left hand traffic and the amount of cars
I live near a pretty busy street with bike lanes, but 9 our of 10 people still ride their bike on the (pretty narrow and bumpy) pavement. A thing I noticed a lot in Japan... people usually don't use their bike bell? I had people snailing behind me without ringing, and I didn't notice them for a couple of minutes lol (then on the other hand you got a jiisan ringing like a pro from 50 meters away)
I lived for a year in Aoba-ku which is very flat and I bought the cheapest single speed bike available to use as a beater. I rode it along canals and rivers into Yokohama and back, to visit Jomon archeological sites, on pub crawls and shopping trips. I wasn’t especially fit and the heat in the summer discouraged over-exertion, but averaging 10 mph you can still cover a lot of ground on your days off. I never took it into Tokyo, the rules around bikes on trains seemed pretty restrictive, but many of my favourite memories begin with me wheeling that bike out of the share-house parking lot.
5:20 in Melbourne, Australia the CBD (Central business district) has these turns that we call hook turns all over the city centre dedicated for cars. Same as the bike the cars wishing to trun right will sit in the far left lane, move to the centre of the intersection at a green light and wait till traffic has cleared before making a turn
I had a bit of a fun philosophical sidebar in my head when Norm was saying he's so thankful to live in such great tech availability times. I can literally imagine Norm w/ an old camcorder strapped to the handlebars saying the same thing back in the 80's if that was our timeline😅. I think for tech people the "new" is always amazing and you want to experience, experiment and see how far you can go with it. Like when cell phones first came out and people were super excited to carry a brick around. Thanks as always for the fun video!! Really makes things fun for those of us that can't explore always for health, budget or other reasons. ✨✌️✨
The two step turn is law in Denmark for turning left at traffic lights. There are a few exceptions, but it's better to be safe than sorry. The two step left turn in fact means we have booths painted in the corner of some traffic lights for the left turning cyclists - especially if the road has a dedicated bike lane.
Nice one Norm, always good to see Japan cycling content. I experienced almost every kind of cycling situation there and can vouch that cycling in Tokyo is way more pleasant than Kyoto. Always looking for an excuse to do another tour if you'd like to tag along! 😁
It's been a dream of mine for many years now to live somewhere that I can ride my bike everywhere I need to. It's just so much easier getting around by bike versus a car, and not to mention vastly cheaper too!
While I lived in Japan, I was hit by a car on my bike twice. Both times were at intersections where the stop sign was far back from the intersecting road and buildings blocked me from the driver's sight. Luckily both times the cars were going pretty slow and besides a few scratches on my hands, I was completely fine. There was a huge bike parking lot at the local train station, but there were so many abandoned bikes in the lot that it was always hard to find space. I wouldn't have been surprised if at least a quarter of the bikes there were abandoned. They never got removed!
It makes me happy how much of the area you biked in I recognize! Also, that triangle stop sign thing really messed me up the first time I drove in Japan... For biking - absolutely. It seems less insane than my city, plus Tokyo is much flatter.
Those blue arrows are new to me. I've cycled tens of thousands of kilometers in Japan and especially in Tokyo. Best way to get around. The only problem is very hot summers and cold winters.
I brought my bike with me to Japan for a trip a few years ago. Defnintely pretty chill riding in Tokyo, but obviously need to be super attentive of cars/pedestrians. Also coming from riding on the other side of the street than I normally do took a minute to get used to, but not bad. Defnitely worth it imo if you're in to cycling, especially making it out of Tokyo into some of the mountains.
As always, great video! Thanks for this! I am going back to Japan this summer, with my family for the 3rd time, and am looking for new things to do, and was wondering about renting some bicycles, so, this is great info.... I loved Sherri's cameo. That was funny!
For our second time in Japan we are planning to take some bikes :) Thanks cause You took out of my shoulders a lot of research that I was wasn't looking forward too :)
Hey Norm, nice vid once again. I've done the Shimanami Kaido before and it was probably the best sights I've seen in Japan however the cycle was really tough. Anyway I was wondering whether is it a good idea to take on of those LUUP bike or scooter to explore at night in Tokyo ? I've seen you did a small portion of it in one of your previous video.
That two part turn at lights is called a Hook Turn here in Melbourne, Australia. There are a handful of intersections in/around the CBD where cars are required to Hook Turn so they don't block tramlines while waiting. Cyclists are allowed to do them at any intersection though, I do one every time I cycle to my local shops!
Me, who's never been to Japan and never learned to ride a bike, watching this video; Interesting, interesting....😅 Love the lore of younger Norm hahaha. I always wondered what those textured strips were on sidewalks and came to the conclusion that they must be for visually impaired people. You're the first person to ever talk about them and I can't believe I was right! Great video as always, love watching these explore/explain videos!
In Australia, in Melbourne city centre, there are plenty of the ‘left hand, right hand turn, where you have to ‘veer’ left, wait until the light turns red, then proceed to tern right from the extreme left. In Melbourne city centre, it’s been like this for a while at most intersections in Melbourne City. Also, Australia drives on the left, like Japan.
Hi from Canada Norm! I'll be there in a few days (first time), I am BUSTING with excitement lol. I'm looking forwards to renting a bike or a scooter, and I was a little freaked out about it. This video really helped get me prepped for that. Hope to see you on the street!
as for cycling on the side walk, someone told me it is allowed when there is a certain sign on that side walk saying you are allowed to cycle there. which actually is on almost every side walk. Atleast here in Osaka
English person here: I'd never even heard of those inbuilt, on-bike wheel locks until I went to Japan last year. every bike had them, and it seemed so blindingly obvious a thing to have that I couldn't believe they weren't a thing back home. Definitely getting a pair on my next bike.
They've been around across the channel for decades ;) All major bicycle lock brands have them and most bikes you can buy support them. Some even allow for an optional chain that you can push into the lock to tether the bike to something and unlock it with a single key.
During my recent stay in Tokyo I used Docomo's bike share and had great fun at very low cost to explore Tokyo by electric bike. Like in your video it felt secure most of the time but I took the walkways along the busy roads. I also believe Tokyo recently made it mandatory to wear helmets.
Cycling is something I'd like to attempt, probably with a rental ebike, but I'd want more accurate knowledge of all the ebike racks. It'll make planning my sightseeing much easier. Thanks for the useful cycling information 🤙🏽
So jealous of your lack of potholes! NYC is horrendous in that sense, but biking around with a certain level of caution plus not giving a f is glorious.
I used to like in London and was amazed how much easier it was to get around by bike than train, bus or tube. And cheaper too. I definitely give it a go in Tokyo if I was there for longer enough. We did hire bikes at Onuma Lakes and cycled around there for half a day, that was fun.
Yeah I cycle in Tokyo every day too. I choose my apartment because is like 4km to Asakusa, 8k to odaiba, 4km to Tokyo Station and between Sumida and Arakawa. There was a time I was cycling every night like 20 to 30km. And yep they already took my bicycle by parking in wrong place, but was ok to find, it was near to work so I knew there already. Yeah I already sawin the country side cars on and unlocked in conbinis, but bicycles they are almost always locked...
Yeh the silly right hand turn thing you were talking about has been in Melbourne for a long time..they call it a hook turn down here and it confuses so many people lol
After going to Japan a few weeks ago, the one thing that really stood out to me is how "free-for-all" bicycles seemed to behave. They were driving all over the place 😅
I have yet to cycle in Japan. I have noticed an increase in cyclists since my first time to the country now over 6 years ago and it makes me feel less safe as a pedestrian because so many cyclists are using the sidewalks when they should be and could be using the streets. Cities in Japan still have a lot of work on the infrastructure. I have seen cities with dedicated cycling lanes that just end at some point to then start again a few hundred meters down the sidewalk as well as cycling lanes that conflict with bus stops. People often say that we still need a lot of work on our cycling lanes in my country, especially compared to our neighbors of the Netherlands, but in the end, we are not that bad. And I do hope more and more cities around the world will start building out proper cycling infrastructure, because it makes city life so much better. If even cities like Dubai see the importance of it, I can only hope other major cities will follow. I've done 5500km myself this year on my bicycle, although it's a speed pedelec, so not that big of a challenge. The trip to work takes about 1h or 35km one way.
I plan to try biking in Tokyo next spring. Thanks for the tips! The bike friendly one-way roads and the 2 step left turns (right side traffic) both exists here in Budapest too.
I was talking to my friend about this a few months back. I cycle everywhere here in north Wales and it's generally safe wherever I go. He was telling me how accidents are common in Tokyo and mainly involving old people if I remember correctly. He gave me the impression it was a real issue.
Great vid! Glad to see someone sharing the experience of cycling out here, can be so fun but frustrating as well! Was wondering what mount you were using for you insta360 as well? Struggling to find a decent one myself 😭
With the frequency of motorbike scooters in Taiwan we have the same deal for nidankai usetsu. At the first queue you actually have a designated rectangle as well as the second which is often in front of the pedestrian cross walk. Often accdents happen with rogue riders/drivers and the queuing bikes. I guess in Taiwan it'd also be referred to as nidankai sasetsu since we drive on the other side of the road.
Having lived in Atlanta, Georgia for 8 years prior, I was fully prepared for, but completely surprised by, how horrendously traffic laws are followed in Japanese cities. Four years in Nagoya, and I swear it wasn't THAT bad when cycling. Four months in Saitama now, and I think I dodged an ER visit 1 or 2 times from people not stopping.
I agree with the Umbrella stealing, i had my umbrella stolen when i was in Japan last week, and i enjoyed staying in Sapporo for a few days before going to Tokyo :)
@@TokyoLens it was! We wanted to explore some more outside of tokyo, we’ll probably do that next time. :) Thank you for always making these wonderful videos :)
The one thing I will just never accept is that you have to pay to park your bike at most places. I take the bike to save money, if I have to pay I might as well take the train! Completely defeats the purpose. I usually get around it by parking at pachinko, the one place where police seems to let it slide. Also, that hat helmet looks really cool! Can it just fit inside any hat?
While far from the worst, it seems to me lots of improvements can be made to make cycling safer. After all, paint is not infrastructure. If there really is need for 6 or more lanes of traffic in an inner city (which is debatable), there is usually enough room for a separated bicycle lanes. That said, the low traffic back streets are perfect for cycling! There really is no need for stop signs at every small intersection though. Low maximum speed for cars and yield signs should be more than safe enough.
Some of the best times I had in my recent trip to Japan, were cycling to and from destinations. Roughly following the map app I use, but more often then not seeing something interesting and just wondering off the set route to explore. Like a moth to a flame, some of the best things I experienced were spontaneous excursions on my bike. Can't recommend it enough if you get the chance to visit and have access to a bike.
*Would YOU Cycle through Tokyo?* Let me know below!! -- PS - my camera is (affiliate) linked in the description and below (cuz I know there will be questions lol)
Get Exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ nordvpn.com/tokyolens
Tokyo Lens Affiliate Link for the camera that I used for this vid: www.insta360.com/sal/x4?INRJDY8
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I would if I lived or stayed there for an extended time.
YES, very much so!
i wish content creators would more into nord vpn before taking sponsorships. nord vpn isnt secure they give your information to the government
yup ☺️
dangerous enough that skateboarding isn't even legal.
The "dramatisation" of your bike crash was hilarious 😂😂
took longer to shoot that than it should have lol
The slo-mo really captured the trauma 😅
For the Oscars 😉😆
@@TokyoLensit was worth it 😂
Lots of informative information that should be shared with those who cycle in Japan! Loved you and Sherry’s drama too! Teally well made😆
haha thanks Yuka San - That shot with Sherry took WAYYY too many attempts haha
I think she had too much fun filming that one 😉
@@Hans-gb4mvhehehe
Yay you noticed me😆
really appreciate this video! I've been waiting for someone to properly explain the rules. I cycle everyday in Tokyo, but mostly on the west side. It is interesting (and i guess obvious) to note that cycling conditions differ greatly depending on where in Tokyo you are
We have something similar to those 二段階右折 in Melbourne, Australia called 'hook turns'. They are used for regular cars and motorbikes though due to the trams running through the middle of the road.
cool!!
Yet, the way norm explains them - makes them sound really easy (because they are) but people who come to melbourne freak out about them! :D
I know that maneuver as the "Copenhagen Left". It's not legally required anywhere in the USA that I know of, but I've taught my kid to do this where appropriate as a safety measure.
1:53 that shot looks so cool especially with the lady riding the bike showing the angle the camera is actually capturing
wild, right?!
Remarkable how clear the audio is when you think about you are riding a bike next to traffic
It looks like he has a wireless lav mic with a small wind muff on his backpack, but yeah remarkably clear
I was stunned by the audio. His voice is so clear compared to everything else
Tokyo looks so fun to explore on bike! I grew up cycling in the countryside in america so ive even gotten to bike in a city
it's an absolute blast!
Motorised electric suitcase 😂😂 why does that sound so funny.
wild, right? lol
@TokyoLens ʕ•ٹ•ʔ
Lived in tokyo over 5 years, never once seen a Japanese person follow any rules regarding cycle usage.
10/10 accurate comment
Japanese police wont follow a single rule, but will stop you for every chance to pocket some coin lol
Easily one of the best, unique and informative vids for the busiest areas of Japan. The camera is the super hero too! Again, love your content Norm..❤🧠
Sherri with Her big grin helping with your dramatization, was pure GOLD.
u just love it that Norm shows us again parts of Tokyo and of the daily life in Japan we would rarely if ever get to see and experience as tourists.
such videos turn Japan from a simplr destination into a place worth considering to move to maybe and to call it home.
Thanks for showing your camera setup. I was wondering how you were filming this.😊
still just so grateful that this tech exists now and makes filming so easy lol
In the UK cycling on the pathment or sidewalk as you call it is actually against the law. People still do it, but when i cycle most weekends I stay on the road as much as possible.
When in Tokyo over Christmas 2023 I was run down by a cyclist who shouted at me (my japanese is pretty good) and got called a "stupid foreigner" for walking on the pathment (sidewalk) in Shibuya. I got shouted at for using the path with 2 teenagers coming at me fast and I did not move out the way quick enough.
Its a double edge sword with cycling in japan. When I go back in October 2025, I want to rent a bike and cycle everywhere I can but will stick to the roads as "UK" people usually do as I don't want to impeed or get in the way of japanese folk on the pavement.
8:15 I noticed this when I was in Tokyo as well but it's insane how wide and empty a lot of these streets are and yet there are no dedicated bicycle lanes.
Loved it, hope to see more content with cycling around Tokyo with that camera setup. Great pace, good visual angles and scope.
Norm: "You must always cycle on the left". My British brain: "YES!"
In the bigger cities in Denmark - It can be a little risk at junktions in rush hour, BUT typically it's 95% safe to use a bicycle no matter were you are - in the city or the countryside.
We also have a lot of thefts of bicycles and also lock your bikes with a lock installed on the bike or with a chain lock in addition.
Edit: Last thing; That mount with the 360 camera is very cleverly done. 😃
Eh, I've biked all my life and never felt it risky. We're all taught common sense and safety on biking as kids after all. #1 Eyes. Use them. Just watch your shoulder and keep your distance when trucks are involved. #2 Don't be a ***** or an ******. That's it. 'Sides, we've designated bike lanes absolutely everywhere, countryside too, I don't even remember the last time I had to bike on the road... maybe as a kid, I dunno...
@@FromDkWithLove Not all have been taught "common sence" in the big cities 😂 But yes, not many places left without a byciclelane 😊
Hi Norm. Great video and advice. Riding bikes really can be dangerous. I lived in Toledo Ohio pop. 325,000 and I was in 5 bicycle accidents. I hit 3 cars and actually knocked the door clean off one , I took a big tumble but only got a few scrapes and a bent front wheel. I was also hit 2 times but nothing serious for me , just bent bike parts. So you see population size really does not matter. Stay safe.😊
thats a lot!!
@@TokyoLens Yes sir. And the amazing thing is these all happened around 50 years ago and 2 were in the winter time. As you can see I am still kicking.
I once had a childhood dream to travel all around the world by riding a bicycle with my best friends 😅 Over time I forgot about it as I got busier with my studies. But after deciding to enroll in a Japanese university and watching your videos, I really want to fulfill that dream and travel across Japan. I hope I make it 💪🏻✨
I used to bike commute in the US, and I have to say that car size in Japan would also be a plus. One of my last commutes I remember a truck pulling in behind me and it's hood was taller than my head. That was about when I decided to not bike anymore
This is such a fun video!!
Amazing camera, great info❤
Thank you Norm~
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Yay Notification squad!
That's the coolest helmet hat I've seen
love it!! took a bit of searching
but I am glad I found it~
@@TokyoLenswhere can I find it?
I ride my bike around a 10 kilometer round trip through the major streets in Asakusa and Akihabara maybe 3 days per week and that’s more than enough adrenaline for me, I don’t know how you ride 20 kilometers 5 to 7 times per week. The lack of bike lanes and the amount of trucks and cars that are parked on the side of the road (which are technically parked in the already basically non existent bike lanes but I guess that’s just not a problem in Japan) causing me to have to swerve into traffic on busy roads makes me hate riding my bike in Tokyo. There could be such better bicycle infrastructure but I really don’t see it being implemented for a long long time on most roads. The sidewalks are usually too small and busy with people to ride on and the main roads are always so busy with cars, so unless you’re riding on side streets biking in most Japanese cities is not the best experience in my opinion.
took a while to find a safe route - but once I locked into one, I stick with it for the most part!!
yes,i have cycled in tokyo with no problems.
was a while back though.
best places to cycle where at rivers like the arakawa river.
no cars come there,and on sundays you can take a break at any sportfield enjoying a match of baseball or soccer ,if you encounter them.
That's actually an interesting point about the drivers and red lights, when pedestrians are notoriously so obedient. I mean it makes sense you don't want to take any extra risks on foot if you know cars are that unpredictable, but it's interesting the general adherence to rules doesn't seem to apply behind a wheel.
yeah they can be pretty crazy here~
That was such a fun vicarious Tokyo bicycle ride!
Thanks for the awesome (and fun and informative!) video!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for tagging along!!
Love your videos. They're like my comfort vids that I watch before going to bed. Never been to Japan but feels like I have through your videos 🥹
As an avid cyclist I loved this! I would definitely use a bike in Tokyo (or anywhere in the world), it's so much faster than other transport. Loved your helmet thingy, too and the camera set up is so cool!
Did do a lot of cycling on a farm stay, and did leave them unlocked all the time, but that was 20 years ago in Isumi. These days I would not want to cycle in Tokyo or any other city for that matter, too much traffic for my taste.
fair response lol
We cycled in Japan for 19 days and found it being a lot easier than expected. There were a lot of great cycle lanes or space made for cycling. I took a couple of days to get used to the way traffic work in Japan and get used to driving on the "wrong side" compared to home.
But all in all a fantastic way to explore Japan.
Found some really great roads when we cycled into Tokyo at the en of the tour.
We were amazed at how many people cycle on the pavement in Tokyo - and Osaka was worse! and at speed too!
Those sight assist curb stones are a nightmare, I hit one in London last year and got thrown into a lamppost and have destroyed my Rotator Cuff tendon in my shoulder (just diagnosed with 80% loss of the tendon) all thanks to those ridges 😒
I like how the situation is sorta similar to the UK there, how you can choose to go on the road or pavement as long as you're doing it safely. technically, the law in the UK says bicycles should be on the road when it's a public highway, but police generally look the other way as long as any cyclists on the pavement are going slow and are not a danger. It's one of those minor laws that get's mostly ignored.
Great video - both the info and the visuals. 👍
I'm a part time food delivery guy on bicycle in Tokyo so I know way too much how the small streets with little or no visibility are the most dangerous.
Also when cars turning left at a big intersection have to yield to the crossing pedestrians/bicycles. Make sure you they are stopped or that they see you by making eye contact, especially if you were too tempted to cross when the little green man was blinking (meaning it's turning red soon). There's sooo many accidents caused by this particular situation.
And yes, taxis are the worst. But I understand that after spending 8+ hours on the road (they're notoriously overworked) that some people aren't as courteous behind the wheel, especially to those pesky cyclists who also don't always follow the rules lol
Also impounded bicycles are sometimes sent to developing countries for cheap. That's how I ended up on a rented Japanese bicycle with a Kyoto registration sticker in... Sri Lanka of all places
😂
I grew up in and still live in Canada. When I was a kid we rode our bikes all over. On weekends and in the summer we could spend all day exploring feeling like it was a huge adventure to see places we've never seen before. I live in a city that has long winters but has invested a lot in cycling infrastructure (dedicated lanes and lots of signs). There are some die-hards here who will cycle no matter how cold it gets (-30 to -40 will happen once or twice a season). I love seeing our beautiful bike paths and river valley trails being used from sun up to sun down when the road conditions and weather are good. Some vehicle drivers here are oddly hateful towards bicycles so it can be very dangerous to ride on the roads. I see many riding on the sidewalk but as long as they're not running into kids and animals, I'd rather see them there being safe than risking death on the roads.
360 camera quality has become really good.
SOOOOO Grateful for that lol
Norm i love this kind of video cause its open a new perspective of how to explore japan with bike thanks for the vids norm i never got bored of watching your video otsukare
Thanks for the amazing videos and stories Norm! Always appreciate unwinding before the work week with your videos on a Sunday.
thanks so much for being here for it!
Most cyclists are super crazy here in Japan especially when turning left or right they often don't look at all and don't even slow down
Also the police told me its okay to use the sidewalk but only if there aren't many people walking so its kinda gray zone.
And bicycle lanes are often used by people walking and vice versa ... super bad
I have been cycling in London for about 6 months now and Tokyo looks far more relaxed!!
london felt like I was risking my life lol
Notification sauad checking in! Love city videos and I've been interested in learning more about biking through Tokyo, so I cant wait to watch!
You're in for a treat! Hope you enjoyed this one!
Heh, your ball cap helmet looks useful. I suppose the skinny-tires warning is well-taken, I generally much prefer those. Once upon a time I was a Boston bike messenger, so the traffic doesn't scare me, at least once I got a sense of the patterns and when people are breaking em.
The name of that floor block at 12:30 are Tactile Floor.
They are very useful for blind people and to avoid slip while you are walking in rainy days.
But it can be also very dangerous for bikes if your wheel get stuck in one.
that camera did an absolutely fantastic job
Thank you for such an informative video, Norm! Just used 'Hello Cycling' rental bike last week,and I had a great time cycling Mama Chari in Tokyo.
Great information about the traffic rules for future cyclers in Japan!☺️👍🚲
nice!! cycling tokyo is always a good time!! Glad you enjoyed this one!
As a bicyclist of sweden with alot of dedicated bicycle lanes Tokyo feels a bit unsafe during day with the heavy traffic, then again when I visited Kyoto it never felt unsafe when bicycling. Amazed at how often bicyclist was on the sidewalk in Tokyo, that also felt unsafe at first but I only saw one accident in my seven days there and that was a pedestrian on a dedicated bicycle lane. Next time i visit I will definetly try to bicycle instead of walking everywhere in Tokyo.
It's funny as each time when I'm in tokyo I asked myself that exact question. I was probably just too intimidated by left hand traffic and the amount of cars
I live near a pretty busy street with bike lanes, but 9 our of 10 people still ride their bike on the (pretty narrow and bumpy) pavement.
A thing I noticed a lot in Japan... people usually don't use their bike bell? I had people snailing behind me without ringing, and I didn't notice them for a couple of minutes lol
(then on the other hand you got a jiisan ringing like a pro from 50 meters away)
日本では「歩行者に道を譲ってもらうためにベルを鳴らすのは違法」
なので基本的にベルは殆ど鳴らしません。
やむを得ない場合は勿論鳴らします。
I lived for a year in Aoba-ku which is very flat and I bought the cheapest single speed bike available to use as a beater. I rode it along canals and rivers into Yokohama and back, to visit Jomon archeological sites, on pub crawls and shopping trips. I wasn’t especially fit and the heat in the summer discouraged over-exertion, but averaging 10 mph you can still cover a lot of ground on your days off. I never took it into Tokyo, the rules around bikes on trains seemed pretty restrictive, but many of my favourite memories begin with me wheeling that bike out of the share-house parking lot.
5:20 in Melbourne, Australia the CBD (Central business district) has these turns that we call hook turns all over the city centre dedicated for cars. Same as the bike the cars wishing to trun right will sit in the far left lane, move to the centre of the intersection at a green light and wait till traffic has cleared before making a turn
That, When Norm met Sherry, reenactment was so cute
In Denmark you also have to do that kinda turn, just for going left instead
I had a bit of a fun philosophical sidebar in my head when Norm was saying he's so thankful to live in such great tech availability times. I can literally imagine Norm w/ an old camcorder strapped to the handlebars saying the same thing back in the 80's if that was our timeline😅. I think for tech people the "new" is always amazing and you want to experience, experiment and see how far you can go with it. Like when cell phones first came out and people were super excited to carry a brick around.
Thanks as always for the fun video!! Really makes things fun for those of us that can't explore always for health, budget or other reasons. ✨✌️✨
The two step turn is law in Denmark for turning left at traffic lights. There are a few exceptions, but it's better to be safe than sorry. The two step left turn in fact means we have booths painted in the corner of some traffic lights for the left turning cyclists - especially if the road has a dedicated bike lane.
17:31 Express tofu delivery! 😆
Nice one Norm, always good to see Japan cycling content. I experienced almost every kind of cycling situation there and can vouch that cycling in Tokyo is way more pleasant than Kyoto. Always looking for an excuse to do another tour if you'd like to tag along! 😁
It's been a dream of mine for many years now to live somewhere that I can ride my bike everywhere I need to. It's just so much easier getting around by bike versus a car, and not to mention vastly cheaper too!
While I lived in Japan, I was hit by a car on my bike twice. Both times were at intersections where the stop sign was far back from the intersecting road and buildings blocked me from the driver's sight. Luckily both times the cars were going pretty slow and besides a few scratches on my hands, I was completely fine. There was a huge bike parking lot at the local train station, but there were so many abandoned bikes in the lot that it was always hard to find space. I wouldn't have been surprised if at least a quarter of the bikes there were abandoned. They never got removed!
It makes me happy how much of the area you biked in I recognize! Also, that triangle stop sign thing really messed me up the first time I drove in Japan... For biking - absolutely. It seems less insane than my city, plus Tokyo is much flatter.
Those blue arrows are new to me. I've cycled tens of thousands of kilometers in Japan and especially in Tokyo. Best way to get around. The only problem is very hot summers and cold winters.
I brought my bike with me to Japan for a trip a few years ago. Defnintely pretty chill riding in Tokyo, but obviously need to be super attentive of cars/pedestrians. Also coming from riding on the other side of the street than I normally do took a minute to get used to, but not bad. Defnitely worth it imo if you're in to cycling, especially making it out of Tokyo into some of the mountains.
As always, great video! Thanks for this! I am going back to Japan this summer, with my family for the 3rd time, and am looking for new things to do, and was wondering about renting some bicycles, so, this is great info.... I loved Sherri's cameo. That was funny!
For our second time in Japan we are planning to take some bikes :) Thanks cause You took out of my shoulders a lot of research that I was wasn't looking forward too :)
love going biking around my hometown, hope to visit Japan one day. Thank you for all the insights
Ah this was fantastic, thanks Norm! I personally ride my bike to work 5 days a week, 24km a day. I'd love to try bike riding in Japan next time.
Hey Norm, nice vid once again. I've done the Shimanami Kaido before and it was probably the best sights I've seen in Japan however the cycle was really tough. Anyway I was wondering whether is it a good idea to take on of those LUUP bike or scooter to explore at night in Tokyo ? I've seen you did a small portion of it in one of your previous video.
luup is great but a bit overpriced~
still cheaper than london thou lol
That two part turn at lights is called a Hook Turn here in Melbourne, Australia. There are a handful of intersections in/around the CBD where cars are required to Hook Turn so they don't block tramlines while waiting. Cyclists are allowed to do them at any intersection though, I do one every time I cycle to my local shops!
Me, who's never been to Japan and never learned to ride a bike, watching this video; Interesting, interesting....😅
Love the lore of younger Norm hahaha.
I always wondered what those textured strips were on sidewalks and came to the conclusion that they must be for visually impaired people. You're the first person to ever talk about them and I can't believe I was right!
Great video as always, love watching these explore/explain videos!
So glad you enjoyed it!
In Australia, in Melbourne city centre, there are plenty of the ‘left hand, right hand turn, where you have to ‘veer’ left, wait until the light turns red, then proceed to tern right from the extreme left.
In Melbourne city centre, it’s been like this for a while at most intersections in Melbourne City. Also, Australia drives on the left, like Japan.
Great video! Haven’t used the metro since Feb this year, only cycling. Prefer over train. No crowds. But do have to be careful 👍🏼
that's the way to do it!
Hi from Canada Norm! I'll be there in a few days (first time), I am BUSTING with excitement lol. I'm looking forwards to renting a bike or a scooter, and I was a little freaked out about it. This video really helped get me prepped for that. Hope to see you on the street!
as for cycling on the side walk, someone told me it is allowed when there is a certain sign on that side walk saying you are allowed to cycle there. which actually is on almost every side walk. Atleast here in Osaka
so... like as was shown in the video? lol
and no... there are only a few sidewalks that have that
just as shown in the vid
OSaka is worse actually~
English person here: I'd never even heard of those inbuilt, on-bike wheel locks until I went to Japan last year. every bike had them, and it seemed so blindingly obvious a thing to have that I couldn't believe they weren't a thing back home. Definitely getting a pair on my next bike.
They've been around across the channel for decades ;) All major bicycle lock brands have them and most bikes you can buy support them. Some even allow for an optional chain that you can push into the lock to tether the bike to something and unlock it with a single key.
We have those in Denmark, as well, been a thing for ages. Thought it was normal...
During my recent stay in Tokyo I used Docomo's bike share and had great fun at very low cost to explore Tokyo by electric bike. Like in your video it felt secure most of the time but I took the walkways along the busy roads. I also believe Tokyo recently made it mandatory to wear helmets.
Cycling is something I'd like to attempt, probably with a rental ebike, but I'd want more accurate knowledge of all the ebike racks. It'll make planning my sightseeing much easier. Thanks for the useful cycling information 🤙🏽
So jealous of your lack of potholes! NYC is horrendous in that sense, but biking around with a certain level of caution plus not giving a f is glorious.
I used to like in London and was amazed how much easier it was to get around by bike than train, bus or tube. And cheaper too. I definitely give it a go in Tokyo if I was there for longer enough. We did hire bikes at Onuma Lakes and cycled around there for half a day, that was fun.
@11:09 yeh love how they do up even the trucks and big trucks in japan like the HINO too!!!! 😊👍🏻
Nice video as always. UA-cam threw in 8 advertisements and I only skipped one because I really dislike the "marketing gurus".
Yeah I cycle in Tokyo every day too. I choose my apartment because is like 4km to Asakusa, 8k to odaiba, 4km to Tokyo Station and between Sumida and Arakawa. There was a time I was cycling every night like 20 to 30km. And yep they already took my bicycle by parking in wrong place, but was ok to find, it was near to work so I knew there already. Yeah I already sawin the country side cars on and unlocked in conbinis, but bicycles they are almost always locked...
Yeh the silly right hand turn thing you were talking about has been in Melbourne for a long time..they call it a hook turn down here and it confuses so many people lol
thats cool! I had no idea!
@TokyoLens yeh it's more because of the trams that we have here and because of all the accidents that use to happen before we had them.
Arghhhh I was in Tokyo and followed your example by doing as much exploring as I could (on foot). Now I really need another trip.
Would love to do so if I was there. Loved the Initial D car casually driving in the background near the end of the video lol
lol glad you enjoyed that
After going to Japan a few weeks ago, the one thing that really stood out to me is how "free-for-all" bicycles seemed to behave. They were driving all over the place 😅
I have yet to cycle in Japan. I have noticed an increase in cyclists since my first time to the country now over 6 years ago and it makes me feel less safe as a pedestrian because so many cyclists are using the sidewalks when they should be and could be using the streets. Cities in Japan still have a lot of work on the infrastructure. I have seen cities with dedicated cycling lanes that just end at some point to then start again a few hundred meters down the sidewalk as well as cycling lanes that conflict with bus stops.
People often say that we still need a lot of work on our cycling lanes in my country, especially compared to our neighbors of the Netherlands, but in the end, we are not that bad. And I do hope more and more cities around the world will start building out proper cycling infrastructure, because it makes city life so much better. If even cities like Dubai see the importance of it, I can only hope other major cities will follow.
I've done 5500km myself this year on my bicycle, although it's a speed pedelec, so not that big of a challenge. The trip to work takes about 1h or 35km one way.
I plan to try biking in Tokyo next spring. Thanks for the tips! The bike friendly one-way roads and the 2 step left turns (right side traffic) both exists here in Budapest too.
good to know!!
I was talking to my friend about this a few months back. I cycle everywhere here in north Wales and it's generally safe wherever I go. He was telling me how accidents are common in Tokyo and mainly involving old people if I remember correctly. He gave me the impression it was a real issue.
Great vid! Glad to see someone sharing the experience of cycling out here, can be so fun but frustrating as well! Was wondering what mount you were using for you insta360 as well? Struggling to find a decent one myself 😭
With the frequency of motorbike scooters in Taiwan we have the same deal for nidankai usetsu. At the first queue you actually have a designated rectangle as well as the second which is often in front of the pedestrian cross walk. Often accdents happen with rogue riders/drivers and the queuing bikes. I guess in Taiwan it'd also be referred to as nidankai sasetsu since we drive on the other side of the road.
Having lived in Atlanta, Georgia for 8 years prior, I was fully prepared for, but completely surprised by, how horrendously traffic laws are followed in Japanese cities. Four years in Nagoya, and I swear it wasn't THAT bad when cycling. Four months in Saitama now, and I think I dodged an ER visit 1 or 2 times from people not stopping.
5:23 is basically a Hook Turn, what we have in the Melbourne CBD.
I agree with the Umbrella stealing, i had my umbrella stolen when i was in Japan last week, and i enjoyed staying in Sapporo for a few days before going to Tokyo :)
That sucks about the umbrella :(
hope the rest of the trip was good~
@@TokyoLens it was! We wanted to explore some more outside of tokyo, we’ll probably do that next time. :) Thank you for always making these wonderful videos :)
glad you had a good time!!
Thank you for being here and watching them!!
The one thing I will just never accept is that you have to pay to park your bike at most places. I take the bike to save money, if I have to pay I might as well take the train! Completely defeats the purpose.
I usually get around it by parking at pachinko, the one place where police seems to let it slide.
Also, that hat helmet looks really cool! Can it just fit inside any hat?
that right turn is called a hook turn we have them in Melbourne Australia, in the city. cars need to do it .
While far from the worst, it seems to me lots of improvements can be made to make cycling safer. After all, paint is not infrastructure. If there really is need for 6 or more lanes of traffic in an inner city (which is debatable), there is usually enough room for a separated bicycle lanes. That said, the low traffic back streets are perfect for cycling! There really is no need for stop signs at every small intersection though. Low maximum speed for cars and yield signs should be more than safe enough.
Some of the best times I had in my recent trip to Japan, were cycling to and from destinations. Roughly following the map app I use, but more often then not seeing something interesting and just wondering off the set route to explore. Like a moth to a flame, some of the best things I experienced were spontaneous excursions on my bike.
Can't recommend it enough if you get the chance to visit and have access to a bike.
Great video! 👍 cycling in tokyo looks like fun! I would try it if i ever go to tokyo. Are u riding an ebike?
nope! no e-bike
just a regular cycle
I didn't do any cycling on my first visit last year but am considering renting a bike for some night exploration when I go back in May next year