Top 5 best motorcycle rentals in Tokyo

Tokyo rewards two wheels the way few cities do. Slip out of the neon crowd around Shibuya and within an hour you can be climbing the switchbacks of the Fuji Subaru Line toward the 5th Station, watching the mountain fill your mirrors, or tracing the shoreline of Route 134 past Enoshima with the Shonan coast open ahead of you. On a bike, the city stops being something you watch from a train window and becomes something you actually move through.

Central Tokyo traffic is dense, parking is scarce, and the subway — brilliant as it is — locks you into fixed stations and schedules. A nimble motorcycle or scooter sidesteps all of that: tight gaps, easy parking, quick hops between neighbourhoods. It also turns weekend escapes to Hakone, the Izu Peninsula, or the Fuji Five Lakes into a few relaxed hours on your own schedule, instead of a coordinated dash between trains and tour buses.

Top 10 things to see in Tokyo by motorcycle

1. Mount Fuji 5th Station (Fuji Subaru Line) — a classic day ride up switchback roads for close-up views of Fuji.
2. Hakone Turnpike / Owakudani — a winding mountain road with volcanic valley scenery and Fuji sightlines, loved by local riders.
3. Izu Skyline — a sweeping toll road along the Izu Peninsula ridgeline, a favourite weekend run.
4. Enoshima and the Shonan coast (Route 134) — an easy coastal ride south of the city with beach views and island stops.
5. Odaiba — waterfront views of the Rainbow Bridge, and a popular late-night meetup spot for Tokyo riders.
6. Yamanakako (Lake Yamanaka) — one of the Fuji Five Lakes, with some of the clearest, unobstructed views of the mountain.
7. Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line / Umihotaru — an undersea expressway with a mid-bay rest stop that's a magnet for motorcyclists.
8. Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park — twisty mountain and river-valley roads west of the city, well away from traffic.
9. Kamakura — a historic coastal town near Enoshima, easy to pair with a Shonan coast ride for temples and shrines.
10. Yokohama Minato Mirai waterfront — a modern bayside skyline just south of Tokyo, popular for an evening ride.

What do you need to rent a motorcycle in Tokyo?

The licence depends on engine size: mopeds up to 50cc fall under Japan's "gentsuki" class, 51–125cc needs a small motorcycle entitlement, and anything above roughly 400cc needs the large-motorcycle entitlement. As a foreign visitor, you'll need an International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention with the motorcycle category — a permit from the 1968 Vienna Convention is not valid here. If you're licensed in a country whose permit Japan doesn't recognise (Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco, Taiwan, Slovenia), you'll need your home licence plus an official Japanese translation instead. The legal minimum age is 16 for mopeds and small motorcycles, though most rental companies set their own, higher minimum. Expect to leave a deposit or a credit-card hold when you pick up your bike.

How much does it cost to rent a motorcycle in Tokyo?

Average rental price is around JPY 4,000 per day during low season, rising to roughly JPY 6,000–8,000 per day in peak months for larger-displacement bikes. Larger touring or premium models can run JPY 10,000–15,000 or more per day.

• Prices climb during July–September and around Golden Week (late April to early May).
• Prices are lowest from December through February, outside the holiday weeks.

When to book a rental motorcycle in Tokyo?

High season runs late March through May (cherry blossom and Golden Week), July–August (summer holidays and Obon), and October–November (autumn foliage) — book ahead, as demand and prices both rise. Low season falls in January–February and June, when rainy weather keeps most riders off the road and prices ease off. If you can, aim for April–May or October to early November: mild weather, little rain, and the best road conditions of the year.

Local traffic rules in Tokyo

Japan drives on the left. Helmets are compulsory for every rider and passenger on any motorcycle or moped, no exceptions for engine size. General roads top out at 60 km/h, with 40–50 km/h typical in the city, while expressways run at 100 km/h; 50cc mopeds are capped at 30 km/h regardless of the posted limit. Bikes of 125cc and under can't use expressways or most motor roads. Drink-driving is enforced with near-zero tolerance — a 0.15 mg/l breath limit and criminal penalties that extend even to passengers who knowingly ride with a drunk rider — so keep it to zero if you're getting on a bike.

Most of our motorcycle rentals in Tokyo have years of experience and hand you a well-maintained bike, a helmet, insurance and friendly service. If you want to rent a motorcycle in Tokyo, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!

Types of motorcycles available

On our website you can rent the following types of motorcycles: cruiser, sport, touring, standard, classic, dual-purpose, dirt bikes, street, naked bikes or roadsters, choppers, custom, streetfighter, sport-touring, dual-sport, on-road, off-road, adventure motorcycles, supermoto, scrambler, motorcycle with sidecar, enduro, motocross mx, trail, motards, tricycles, bikes with automatic or manual gears, luxury motorbikes.

Models of motorcycles available

On our website you can hire motorcycles from the following manufacturers: BMW, Harley Davidson, Aprilia, Buell, Cagiva, Ducati, Gilera, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, KTM, Husqvarna, Jawa, MV Agusta, Moto Guzzi, Triumph, Benelli, Bajaj, Indian, Royal Enfield, TVS, Beta, Bimota.

Which insurance is provided?

Most providers include basic third-party liability insurance in the rental price, with options to upgrade to fuller coverage that reduces or removes your deposit liability in case of damage or theft. Always confirm exactly what is and isn’t covered before you set off.

Extra services available

When you make an online motorbike reservation you can also order the following extra services and equipment: integral helmet, GPS navigation, intercom, unlimited mileage, top case, side cases, boots, jacket, gloves, individual guide or tour, map, full insurance, one-way rental, or delivery to your chosen address.

Why use BikesBooking.com?

• Compare prices from multiple local rental companies in one place;
• Read reviews from previous customers;
• Reserve online with a Best Price Guarantee;
• Friendly support if your plans change.

Most of our motorcycle rental providers have years of experience and will equip you with a well-maintained bike, helmet and insurance for the ride ahead. The number of companies we work with is increasing every day, so if you want to rent a motorcycle locally, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!