*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!!)
cycling (and hiking) through Tokyo is an incredible experience and basically has an infinite amount of routes and streets to explore, while always having easy to find clean toilets and 24/7 stores to get food and drinks any time, with a surprisingly clean air and usually patient drivers who are used to cyclists. awesome video as always 🔥
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
I just found your channel, and I'm enjoying your little tours and small apartments! The little eatery in the tunnel you rode your bike through, that was one of those scenes that I always imagined Tokyo being like. Thank you for your great videos!
My girlfriend is from the Netherlands and the biking there is insanely well organized. But it's great to see how it's done in Japan too, it seems amazing too! Too bad we are not keeping that in mind with the infrastructure on my island 😞
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.
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.
I came to mention Melbourne Hook Turns. Funny thing is, bikes are able to do hook turns at any intersection here in Victoria. But try getting the Lycra mob to do that is nearly impossible.
Mate do not even get me started on the Lycra mob. They will shut down the whole of the CBD to make their turn, and when they get hit becuase they were in the wrong all hell breaks lose.
This adds so much to my picture of what it's like to ride in Tokyo, even after having done a couple of bike tours when I was there last. Looks there's way more cons than I realized, but it's still a miracle how breezy it is to ride in the biggest city in the world, I'd definitely ride all the time if I lived there.
This video ended way too quickly! Can't believe it was 17 min. I really enjoyed the views. You could do a series on your second channel where you bike around Tokyo. Easy content, and very enjoyable.
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!☺️👍🚲
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!
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.
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'm going to be staying in Tokyo for a year starting in January, and I was already tempted to get myself a bicycle for the time I'm there, but I think this video has solidified it for me. Being able freely cycle around these beautiful areas of Tokyo sounds like such an enjoyable time. I know you tend to host get-togethers with fans, but have you thought about doing a bicycle tour? If so, I'd love to come along for it!
I commute 3 days a week from Chofu to Roppongi area, 15km each way. Cold or hot, after sunset in winters. I use a very bright daylight visible blinking rear light and bar end mirror on right side. Usually leave very early morning to beat traffic, but basically I ride similar speed as cars. Riding Sidewalks scare me more due to cars/trucks pulling out to look.
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.
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
Great video :) don’t comment often as I watch them on the TV, but just wanted to say I always enjoy them :) Also as you were talking about cameras, I’d like to know how you manage with batteries and storage when you’re out. Did the 360 last the entire journey and constantly record? Or did you have to recharge / swap batteries / SD cards? Same with your bigger cameras too!
Thanks for all this information! i just started cycling last month to commute around my neighbourhood. It gives me anxiety but it's much faster than taking the bus to get groceries. I got a helmet and i'm just being as careful as i can be.
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...
Honestly, Japan proves that you don't need a Dutch level of infrastructure to create a cycling culture. If car traffic is slow enough and sidewalks are wide enough you can create relative safety through masses. The many stops in residential areas really sound like a bother when a yield would do enough. The hooked turn is also common in the Netherlands, by nature that the separate bike lanes make you turn in two phases. These are sometimes aligned though so you can instantly flow through, but not all times.
Ps, the integrated lock is also super common in the Netherlands, it seems like countries where cycling is less common it is seen as a sport, and therefor the bike itself should be as light as possible. It is also really funny to see the same type of paper on handlebar before the city takes your bike to a facility for wrongly parking, usually costs a few tenners to get your bike back from an obscure facility at the edge of town.
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!
I have a theory about the high theft rate of umbrellas and bicycles in Japan. Since there are so many bicycles and so many umbrellas and most of them are similar if not exactly the same (think those transparent umbrellas or the mom bikes), people just get confused and steal them unintentionally thinking it was theirs, you know how everyone in japan is rushing, tired and on autopilot. I believe this to be the case
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!
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! 😁
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
In Japan, you can tell which cyclists also actually drive cars by the way they ride. The most dangerous thing I've found is that Japanese cyclists generally will not check for oncoming traffic -- even when they don't have the right of way -- when merging into a lane OR turning into a lane. They just fly out into the lane and hope they don't hit anyone. It's happened to me so many times where I'm going down a straight lane and out of nowhere some cyclists almost hit me because they don't care if anyone is coming down the lane they're turning into. It's wild.
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 :)
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.
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.
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!
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’m off to Tokyo on the 14 jan, well excited. I wouldn’t cycle but I’m not a fan or cycling. I hopefully may see you and other people I watch on RUclips in tokyo
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.
I think cycling is one of the best ways to explore Japan. It was sometimes difficult to find parking spaces in busy neighborhoods, but I found so many interesting things that I couldn't see by train or bus. Thanks for the video! I can't wait to be riding there again.
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
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 🤙🏽
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.
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 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.
you should do some reviews (? lack of a better word) of other Japanese cities' bike support on the roads, a lot of the time vids on YT are only limited to Tokyo and I like this explorative format + review style. :D
5:00 - Norm, we have those in Australia too (where we also drive on the left) and they are called 'hook turns'. For example they are required at intersections in the central business district area of Melbourne, where we have an extensive tram network operating on regular roads (as in shared with cars) including intersections where two roads and their associated two tram lines intersect. To prevent cars entering the intersection and then blocking tram track access for trams while waiting until there is a break in oncoming traffic to complete their right turn, a hook turn is instead required. That way, the cars waiting to turn right do so in the same place as you waited on your bike, and do not block the intersection for trams while waiting. Hook turns are only required at certain tram-intensive intersections in the CBD and inner suburbs, and I'm fairly sure are forbidden at intersections other than those where they are compulsory. Interestingly, in Australia one exception to that rule is bicycles (and I believe electric bikes), who are permitted to perform a hook turn at ANY intersection anywhere. I believe this is to prevent cyclists needing to enter the intersection and remain stationary there while waiting until it is safe to turn right, due to the increased risk for a cyclist of being hit by a car while waiting in that location (as compared to a car hitting another car). You can find more about it on the Wikipedia article 'Hook turn' 👍
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 😅
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.
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.
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 😭
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.
I used to ride my bike on roads but after a couple of near misses, I only ride trails. As a general rule for cycling around: if you have a helmet--USE IT fingers always on the brakes NEVER EVER ride too close to vehicles and assume that they will stop anytime Be on high alert ALWAYS, one hit and you're OTB with scrapes, broken bones etc.
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 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.
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.
This was so infomativ but i will have to watch it at least once more because most of the time im on a trip down memory lane thinking:"oh i've been there last year!" or Oh that's the Corner where we found XY... XD Thanks Norm, for making me relive my last year's Tokyo trip! :D Also, the Hill around Tokyo Tower is something else not just by Bike :D
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.
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!
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..❤🧠
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!
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.
Excellent vid - I use the Docomo rental e-bikes a lot when in Tokyo, and find that I usually take about the same time as the trains for about the same cost - but I get to see and experience a lot more. I find cycling there to be very safe, with the same proviso about taxis!
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.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
*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!!)
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.
Awesome video as always Norm. Biking around Tokyo is truly a unique way to experience Tokyo unique places and cultures.
cycling (and hiking) through Tokyo is an incredible experience and basically has an infinite amount of routes and streets to explore, while always having easy to find clean toilets and 24/7 stores to get food and drinks any time, with a surprisingly clean air and usually patient drivers who are used to cyclists. awesome video as always 🔥
This was such Great Information and that last bit of footage by Tokyo Tower was Awesome . Thanks Norm .
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😆
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 😂
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
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
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!
your videos are one of my comfort show to watch ever since high school, I am nowww in 4th yr college!!!
I just found your channel, and I'm enjoying your little tours and small apartments! The little eatery in the tunnel you rode your bike through, that was one of those scenes that I always imagined Tokyo being like. Thank you for your great videos!
Loved it, hope to see more content with cycling around Tokyo with that camera setup. Great pace, good visual angles and scope.
My girlfriend is from the Netherlands and the biking there is insanely well organized. But it's great to see how it's done in Japan too, it seems amazing too! Too bad we are not keeping that in mind with the infrastructure on my island 😞
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!!
Merry Christmas
Sherri with Her big grin helping with your dramatization, was pure GOLD.
That 2 stage right turn, we have that for cars in Melbourne. We call it a hook turn. It to avoid blocking the trams in the middle of the road.
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.
I came to mention Melbourne Hook Turns. Funny thing is, bikes are able to do hook turns at any intersection here in Victoria. But try getting the Lycra mob to do that is nearly impossible.
Mate do not even get me started on the Lycra mob. They will shut down the whole of the CBD to make their turn, and when they get hit becuase they were in the wrong all hell breaks lose.
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
This adds so much to my picture of what it's like to ride in Tokyo, even after having done a couple of bike tours when I was there last. Looks there's way more cons than I realized, but it's still a miracle how breezy it is to ride in the biggest city in the world, I'd definitely ride all the time if I lived there.
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 🥹
This video ended way too quickly! Can't believe it was 17 min. I really enjoyed the views. You could do a series on your second channel where you bike around Tokyo. Easy content, and very enjoyable.
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!
I love cycling in Tokyo! I did it nearly every day when I lived in Sangen-jaya!
This is such a fun video!!
Amazing camera, great info❤
Thank you Norm~
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
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!
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.
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'm going to be staying in Tokyo for a year starting in January, and I was already tempted to get myself a bicycle for the time I'm there, but I think this video has solidified it for me. Being able freely cycle around these beautiful areas of Tokyo sounds like such an enjoyable time. I know you tend to host get-togethers with fans, but have you thought about doing a bicycle tour? If so, I'd love to come along for it!
Thanks for the video!
The hat-helmet is very cool :)
Also, the dog is cute but Sherry stole the show lol
Thanks for watching! 🥰 Sherry was a natural lol
@@TokyoLens I should take acting lessons from her lol
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!!
Norm: "You must always cycle on the left". My British brain: "YES!"
I commute 3 days a week from Chofu to Roppongi area, 15km each way. Cold or hot, after sunset in winters. I use a very bright daylight visible blinking rear light and bar end mirror on right side. Usually leave very early morning to beat traffic, but basically I ride similar speed as cars. Riding Sidewalks scare me more due to cars/trucks pulling out to look.
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.
Great video - both the info and the visuals. 👍
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!
Great video :) don’t comment often as I watch them on the TV, but just wanted to say I always enjoy them :)
Also as you were talking about cameras, I’d like to know how you manage with batteries and storage when you’re out. Did the 360 last the entire journey and constantly record? Or did you have to recharge / swap batteries / SD cards? Same with your bigger cameras too!
I always carry multiple batteries and use a big SD card!
Thanks for all this information! i just started cycling last month to commute around my neighbourhood. It gives me anxiety but it's much faster than taking the bus to get groceries. I got a helmet and i'm just being as careful as i can be.
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?
Won’t be shared as it’s safety gear and I don’t want people buying safety gear based off of my using it since I can’t guarantee the quality
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 😊
Honestly, Japan proves that you don't need a Dutch level of infrastructure to create a cycling culture. If car traffic is slow enough and sidewalks are wide enough you can create relative safety through masses. The many stops in residential areas really sound like a bother when a yield would do enough.
The hooked turn is also common in the Netherlands, by nature that the separate bike lanes make you turn in two phases. These are sometimes aligned though so you can instantly flow through, but not all times.
Ps, the integrated lock is also super common in the Netherlands, it seems like countries where cycling is less common it is seen as a sport, and therefor the bike itself should be as light as possible.
It is also really funny to see the same type of paper on handlebar before the city takes your bike to a facility for wrongly parking, usually costs a few tenners to get your bike back from an obscure facility at the edge of town.
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!
Motorised electric suitcase 😂😂 why does that sound so funny.
wild, right? lol
@TokyoLens ʕ•ٹ•ʔ
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!
I have a theory about the high theft rate of umbrellas and bicycles in Japan. Since there are so many bicycles and so many umbrellas and most of them are similar if not exactly the same (think those transparent umbrellas or the mom bikes), people just get confused and steal them unintentionally thinking it was theirs, you know how everyone in japan is rushing, tired and on autopilot. I believe this to be the case
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!
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! 😁
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
It's so good to ride a bike outside of Japan! It's hard to ride a bike anywhere in the city center. 😂
In Japan, you can tell which cyclists also actually drive cars by the way they ride.
The most dangerous thing I've found is that Japanese cyclists generally will not check for oncoming traffic -- even when they don't have the right of way -- when merging into a lane OR turning into a lane. They just fly out into the lane and hope they don't hit anyone.
It's happened to me so many times where I'm going down a straight lane and out of nowhere some cyclists almost hit me because they don't care if anyone is coming down the lane they're turning into. It's wild.
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 :)
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.
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.
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!
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’m off to Tokyo on the 14 jan, well excited. I wouldn’t cycle but I’m not a fan or cycling. I hopefully may see you and other people I watch on RUclips in tokyo
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.
I think cycling is one of the best ways to explore Japan. It was sometimes difficult to find parking spaces in busy neighborhoods, but I found so many interesting things that I couldn't see by train or bus.
Thanks for the video! I can't wait to be riding there again.
really is!
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
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 🤙🏽
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. ✨✌️✨
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
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.
love going biking around my hometown, hope to visit Japan one day. Thank you for all the insights
Love the video!
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.
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 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.
Hey Norm, wishing the best beginning to the new week!
Same to you
Great video! How did you avoid wind noise on your mic?
you should do some reviews (? lack of a better word) of other Japanese cities' bike support on the roads, a lot of the time vids on YT are only limited to Tokyo and I like this explorative format + review style. :D
5:00 - Norm, we have those in Australia too (where we also drive on the left) and they are called 'hook turns'. For example they are required at intersections in the central business district area of Melbourne, where we have an extensive tram network operating on regular roads (as in shared with cars) including intersections where two roads and their associated two tram lines intersect. To prevent cars entering the intersection and then blocking tram track access for trams while waiting until there is a break in oncoming traffic to complete their right turn, a hook turn is instead required. That way, the cars waiting to turn right do so in the same place as you waited on your bike, and do not block the intersection for trams while waiting. Hook turns are only required at certain tram-intensive intersections in the CBD and inner suburbs, and I'm fairly sure are forbidden at intersections other than those where they are compulsory.
Interestingly, in Australia one exception to that rule is bicycles (and I believe electric bikes), who are permitted to perform a hook turn at ANY intersection anywhere. I believe this is to prevent cyclists needing to enter the intersection and remain stationary there while waiting until it is safe to turn right, due to the increased risk for a cyclist of being hit by a car while waiting in that location (as compared to a car hitting another car). You can find more about it on the Wikipedia article 'Hook turn' 👍
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 😅
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.
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.
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 😭
360 camera quality has become really good.
SOOOOO Grateful for that lol
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
I used to ride my bike on roads but after a couple of near misses, I only ride trails.
As a general rule for cycling around:
if you have a helmet--USE IT
fingers always on the brakes
NEVER EVER ride too close to vehicles and assume that they will stop anytime
Be on high alert ALWAYS, one hit and you're OTB with scrapes, broken bones etc.
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 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.
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.
This was so infomativ but i will have to watch it at least once more because most of the time im on a trip down memory lane thinking:"oh i've been there last year!" or Oh that's the Corner where we found XY... XD Thanks Norm, for making me relive my last year's Tokyo trip! :D Also, the Hill around Tokyo Tower is something else not just by Bike :D
I just went to Japan this month and cycling through Tokyo and Osaka was one of my favorite activities lmao.
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~
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!
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..❤🧠
Great video mate
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!
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...
Excellent vid - I use the Docomo rental e-bikes a lot when in Tokyo, and find that I usually take about the same time as the trains for about the same cost - but I get to see and experience a lot more. I find cycling there to be very safe, with the same proviso about taxis!
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!
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.
In Denmark you also have to do that kinda turn, just for going left instead
Loved this . Do more bike videos , please !
that camera did an absolutely fantastic job
@11:09 yeh love how they do up even the trucks and big trucks in japan like the HINO too!!!! 😊👍🏻