I’ve been living in Japan since 1999. During that time, I have ridden all over the four main islands, and also over a substantial number of the smaller ones. I generally make two long trips a year; in the summer I tend to head north where it is cooler, and in the winter I tend to head south where it is slightly warmer.
My touring bike for the last ten years or so has been a 2003 100-year Anniversary model Softail Heritage Harley. Touring Japan on this bike is a bit like delivering pizzas out of a Cadillac, but I like it. It’s got plenty of grunt, has a nice low center of gravity, enough bag space to carry everything I need for touring, and if I am going camping, I can strap the gear over the seat and around the luggage rack. There are probably more sensible motorcycles to go touring on, but what can I say? I love Harleys – especially the older ones. I love the way they look, the way they sound, and on those rare occasions when they do let me down, it always provides a memory for that particular adventure. That being said, this blog is not about Harleys, and what I intend to share here will apply to motorcycle touring in Japan in general.