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I plan to go on a 2+ weeks cycling trip in Japan. Coming by plane with my own bike will cost me 200€, plus the inconveniences and the risk of my bike being damaged.

So I wonder if it's not easier to rent a bike directly in Japan. As I will arrive and leave from Kyoto (Osaka airport, but family in Kyoto), I'd prefer to rent it in Kyoto. There are plenty of renting shop with websites, but they all rent city bikes. I'm looking for a road bike (more like this one) or a touring bike, with the facilities (bags, etc.).

Are there some english websites to rent such bikes in Kyoto?

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  • You might also try asking in the chat room of Bicycles SE.
    – David Richerby
    Apr 25, 2017 at 9:32
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    200€ is about 24,000¥ and a nice rental bike looks to be around 2,000¥ a day. So while bringing your own sounds awkward theres not a huge difference in price. Having your own bike means you know it fits you and is comfortable already. International bike insurance costs need checking too, not sure if it would be covered by travel insurance or something else. (comment because not an answer)
    – Criggie
    Apr 25, 2017 at 9:43
  • For what it's worth: When Star Peru severely damaged my bike far beyond anything explainable by slamming other cargo against it, they pointed out the unreadable fine print that amounts to "when you said it was a bicycle, you absolved us of any responsibility."
    – WGroleau
    Apr 27, 2017 at 0:56

2 Answers 2

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A good quality road bike is going to set you back some 3000+ yen. There is a group in Osaka with higher end road bikes in the 3500 Yen realm (GlobalWheels). Longer rentals get better rates. But I can not comment on their quality as I only about of them through other cycling dealings with Japan.

Personally, for self-contained cycling, I would take my own bike and gear. You know its quality and state of maintenance. It fits your size and you are comfortable with its ride. The out of pocket cost is not that much different than renting.

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I'm pretty sure Globalwheels has a shop in Kyoto now.

Globalwheels Kyoto >

One of my friends picked up from the Kyoto shop and then returned at the other shop in Osaka. I'm thinking of trying the ride myself.

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