Ueno (SCS Ueno New Building)
About 6 minutes on foot via Ueno Station Iriya gate and exit, or about 9 minutes via the central gate and Asakusa exit.
Check the dated opening calendar on the official store page
MOTORCYCLE RENTAL & TOURING IN JAPAN
Motorcycle Rental in Japan: Foreign Licence (IDP), Gear, Cover & Branches
Renting a motorcycle in Japan on a foreign licence: 1949 Geneva IDP Category A & JAF translation rules, English-friendly vs Japanese-only operators, helmet & tip-over cover checks, and verified branches.
1. Foreign Motorcycle Licence Rules in Japan (IDP Category A vs JAF Translation)
1949 Geneva Convention IDP (Category A)
Physical IDP booklet issued in your home country + original domestic motorcycle licence + passport
Must carry the 1949 Geneva format with the Category A (motorcycle) stamp. Digital IDPs and 1968 Vienna Convention IDPs are NOT valid for riding in Japan.
Official Japanese Licence Translation (6 countries/regions)
Original licence from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan + JAF / embassy Japanese translation + passport
Holders of licences from these six jurisdictions use an official Japanese translation instead of a Geneva IDP. Your home motorcycle class limits which cc tier you may rent.
Expressway & Displacement Rules in Japan
Over 125cc required for expressways & many toll skylines
Bikes of 125cc and under are prohibited on Japanese expressways (IC/PA routes) and certain motor-only mountain roads. Choose 250cc+ for highway touring.
Read the full guide to International Driving Permits (IDP) & Japanese licence translations →
2. Major Motorcycle Rental Operators: IDP Acceptance, Language, Gear & Tip-Over Cover
| Operator (official site) | Coverage | Licence & language requirements | Gear & ETC card | Tip-over & cover notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rental819 | Nationwide network (including Ueno, Yokohama & Minami-Hakone) | Foreign riders supported: register home licence + 1949 Geneva IDP (Category A) or 6-country official Japanese translation + passport + credit card in your own name | Helmets & gloves offered as optional add-ons (not covered by CDW if damaged/lost; check sizes early). Branches like Ueno do NOT rent out ETC cards | Optional vehicle cover is separate from business-interruption charges (NOC); check stationary tip-over excess before booking |
| HondaGO BIKE RENTAL | Nationwide Honda Dream & authorised Honda dealerships | Japanese domestic licence ONLY (ages 18+): International Driving Permits (IDP) cannot be registered, and counter explanations are strictly in Japanese (interpreters not accepted) | Gear availability and onboard ETC equipment vary by dealership (for holders of a Japanese motorcycle licence) | Optional Anshin Compensation GO covers stationary tip-overs (requires an official police certificate) |
| YAMAHA Bike Rental | Nationwide YSP & Yamaha partner shops | Japanese language required at counter: accepts valid 1949 Geneva IDP + passport + credit card ONLY if the rider personally understands Japanese rental & insurance explanations without an interpreter | Helmet/glove rental options vary by shop; riders must bring their own ETC card if using toll expressways | Review optional deductible waiver and non-operation charge (NOC) terms in Japanese before signing |
| Motobase | Tokyo bases (Kichijoji, Shibuya-Sasazuka, Mejiro) | Primarily Japanese-language booking flow and terms; confirm foreign-licence / IDP acceptance and Japanese communication requirements before booking | Gear and bike equipment vary by unmanned/staffed base; check walking times from the actual nearest station | Check per-plan tip-over deductible and bad-weather cancellation rules in advance |
| SCS (Sports Cycle Shop) | Tokyo (Ueno, Hakusan) | Japanese-language site for direct shop fleet listings (note: SCS Ueno New Building also operates as Rental819 Ueno, which has Rental819 IDP procedures) | Confirm helmet/gear availability and rental hours per branch | Verify branch-specific insurance and deductible terms before booking |
Detailed motorcycle rental guide
Photo credits
- Example of a naked motorcycle (Honda CB400). Check available models and required equipment in each shop's guide · Photographed 2014-03-31 · Rainmaker47 · Source · CC BY-SA 3.0
Verified motorcycle pickup locations (Tokyo, Yokohama & Minami-Hakone)
3 locationsVerified against official store pages. Note that Rental819 Minami-Hakone is located inside Bikers Paradise in Kannami, Shizuoka (not Odawara Station), and Ueno does not rent out ETC cards.
Yokohama
About 7 minutes on foot from Hakuraku Station or 16 minutes from Kishine-koen Station. Rokkakubashi-Nakamachi bus stop is another access option.
Check the dated opening calendar on the official store page (special hours listed)
Minami-Hakone (Bikers Paradise)
Inside Bikers Paradise, opposite Yugawara Pass bus stop. The official guide estimates about 30 minutes by car from Mishima or Atami.
Check the dated opening calendar on the official store page
Scenic mountain passes & coastal routes ideal for touring
Driving itinerary
Zao Echo Line and Okama Crater Drive: Map, Tolls, Winter and Night Closures
A day drive from Murata IC up the Zao Echo Line, with stops at Takimidai and Komakusadaira, then the Zao Highline to Okama crater. Map and distances, Highline toll and hours, the winter closure from 4 November 2026, night closures, return routes and fuel.
Driving itinerary
Aso and Yamanami Highway Day Drive: Map, Times, Parking and Crater Restrictions
A day drive from Kumamoto Airport via Kusasenri and Daikanbo, then along the Yamanami Highway to Makinoto Pass and Chojabaru. Map, distances and times, parking fees, crater restrictions, spring grass burning, winter roads, return routes and fuel.
Place guide
Hakone Turnpike and Taikanzan: Tolls, Hours and ETCX
Drive from Odawara to Taikanzan: the ¥900 Hakone Turnpike toll, opening hours, cash and ETCX payment, vehicle restrictions, Sky Lounge hours, cherry blossoms and fog.
Place guide
Irohazaka Autumn Drive: Traffic, Akechidaira Parking and Ropeway Closure
Plan the Irohazaka drive in Nikko: uphill and downhill roads, autumn traffic, Akechidaira parking, the ropeway closure, 2026 leaf reports and winter precautions.
Destination guide
Okutama driving guide: lake, mountain road and Hossawa Falls
Plan an Okutama drive from Mitake Gorge through Lake Okutama to Hinohara, with a map, parking, gate hours, walking stops and Mt Mitake cable-car information.
Driving itinerary
Shiga-Kusatsu Road Drive: Shibu Pass, Route Map and Winter Closures
Cross Shibu Pass on Route 292 between Kusatsu and Shiga Kogen. Plan the viewpoints, parking, lifts and pond walks around current volcanic rules and winter closures.
Driving itinerary
Venus Line Day Drive: Route Map, Stops, Parking and Winter Closures
Drive Nagano’s free 75.2 km Venus Line from Chino: a day-trip route, parking, walks, lift times, current approach-road restrictions and 2026–27 winter closures.
Destination guide
East Izu Driving Guide: Ito, Izu Kogen and Kawazu Route with Map
How to drive East Izu: a one-day route from Ito down to Kawazu and back over Amagi Pass, the Izu Skyline (no ETC), pampas grass at Inatori Hosono Kogen and the Kawazu cherry blossom season, roads and parking at each stop, roadworks and rules, and how to get there.
Destination guide
Hakone Driving Guide: Lake Ashi, Owakudani and Sengokuhara Route with Map
How to drive around Hakone: a one-day loop of Lake Ashi, Owakudani and Sengokuhara, tolls and hours of the Hakone Turnpike and Ashinoko Skyline (no ETC), parking at each stop, autumn leaf and pampas grass seasons, crowds and how to get there.
Photo credits
- Okama crater lake in the Zao range, Miyagi Prefecture (photographed August 2018; check official updates for current road status and weather) · Photographed 2018-08-19 · Σ64 · Source · CC BY 4.0
- Grassland along the Yamanami Highway in Aso, Kumamoto, with the Aso peaks in the distance. Photographed in 2023 · Photographed 2023-06-04 · Raita Futo · Source · CC BY 2.0
- Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi from Mount Taikan (photographed in 2016) · Photographed 2016-05-18 · Quercus acuta · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Irohazaka in Nikko in autumn colour (photographed on 3 November 2022) · Photographed 2022-11-03 · Raita Futo · Source · CC BY 2.0
- Lake Okutama in the autumn-leaf season, seen from a viewpoint. Photographed in 2013 · Photographed 2013-11-17 · Guilhem Vellut · Source · CC BY 2.0
- Route 292 at Shibu Pass, Nakanojo, Gunma. Photographed in 2009 · Photographed 2009-07-25 · 663highland · Source · CC BY 2.5
- The Venus Line crossing the Kirigamine plateau in Suwa, Nagano. Photographed in 2014 · Photographed 2014-09-29 · Douglaspperkins · Source · CC BY 4.0
- Suspension bridge on the Jogasaki Coast in East Izu · Photographed 2011-10-16 · Batholith · Source · Public domain
- Mt Fuji and Lake Ashi viewed from Mt Taikanzan on the Hakone-Izu border · Photographed 2016-05-18 · Quercus acuta · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0
,_Miyagi_10.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
