Solo Bikepacking Japan: A 3,000-Kilometer Adventure (Video)

After months of preparing for and dreaming about Japan, I finally made it to Kagoshima, the starting point of my one-month bike trip across the country, covering around 3,000 kilometers. Japan has a special meaning for me. I admire the calm and the constant sense of respect everywhere, and I think it’s one of the easiest countries to travel through by bike.

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My route went through the four main islands: Kyushu, Shikoku, Honshu, and Hokkaido. The idea was to avoid big cities as much as possible and just enjoy Japan’s wild, mountainous landscapes, where you can really feel nature taking over again. This effect is made even stronger because people have been moving from rural areas to cities, especially in recent years.

One memory that really stuck with me was arriving on the island of Shikoku in the rain. After going all around a small town to get groceries and do some laundry, I ended up eating at a tiny family izakaya. The guy sitting next to me didn’t speak a word of English, and I only knew a bit of Japanese, but we still managed to have this unforgettable conversation, and he even paid for my meal.

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Up north, Hokkaido was one of the highlights of the trip. The landscapes are incredible, with coastal roads lined by towering snow-covered mountains, popular with freeride skiers. Riding the small roads there takes a lot of focus and humility, especially with brown bears being pretty common—almost every local I met had seen one recently.

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This 38-minute video above mixes camera shots I filmed when I had time, some photos, and onboard footage. I hope it gives a good sense of how much this trip meant to me, and how beautiful this country really is. Thanks for watching!

The Route

Further Reading

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