Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Mastering the Rent-A-Cycle System

 Many Chinese tourists visiting Japan are wealthy, with over half reportedly traveling individually or with their families. Most of the Chinese tourists causing trouble in Taiwan and South Korea are believed to be on cheap package tours.

 When herd psychology kicks in, it reinforces the "Throw away the shame of travel!" (Forget your ad hoc shame!) mentality. This "Throw away the shame of travel!" mentality is one of the most common behaviors used by Japanese macaques, and is something they engage in "Daily" activities even when not on a "Travel." It's not a behavior unique to foreign tourists.

 Surprisingly, foreign tourists visiting Japan don't use rental cars or rent-a-cycles. Of course, if you're wealthy enough to use taxis everywhere and for everything, it's best to do so. Driving your own vehicle carries the risk of personal liability. It would be great if travel insurance could cover all of the following procedures, such as court proceedings (summary trial, summary judgment), police station proceedings (even if you are the victim in a rear-end collision, you will still need to be interviewed and fill out various documents), and negotiations with lawyers and the other party's insurance company representative, but naturally, this would mean higher premiums.

 Japanese people are not good at foreign languages, so even English is not spoken in Japan. It is difficult for foreign travelers to handle accident procedures in a foreign country where they do not speak the language. That said, it would be impossible to pay tens of thousands of yen to hire a lawyer.

 On the other hand, since you've come all the way to Japan, it should be fun to get around freely on foot. Many rental cars these days are equipped with driver's recorders, so you may be able to take some original, interesting photos and videos.

 However, Japan's traffic signs are complex and may not be easy to remember. There are a huge number of them, including those written on the roads. I spent several months studying when I took my driver's license test.

 Another option is to take a car trip by ferry from your home country. From Hokkaido to Kyushu, there are many auto campgrounds, free camping-grounds, and free car parking lots throughout Japan. Search in English should yield many results. This option is only feasible for wealthy people with long vacations, as the ferry fare is expensive and takes several days, but accommodation costs are low (just gas). 
 You'll need to obtain an international driver's license in advance, though.

 Another good option is rent-a-cycle, renting a minicar, or renting a scooter. Bicycle rentals often cost just a few hundred yen, and in some areas they're free.

 In some areas, electric minicars (the delivery vehicle that Yakuruto Lady rides in. It's convenient, so I'd like to try one myself, but I haven't bought one yet), electric kick scooters, and electric scooters are also available for rent (as a form of advertising). 
 Searching for "Yokohama minicar rental" or "rent-a-cycle Izu" should turn up many results. 
 There are also bicycle trailers designed for "sleeping in" a car. However, under the Road Traffic Act, bicycles towing trailers are not considered "light vehicles," but rather regular vehicles, and therefore cannot be ridden on sidewalks. Because bicycles must be ridden on the road, this can be dangerous depending on road conditions (Japan's roads are narrow).

 In Japan, minicars, kick scooters (kick board), and scooters (under 50cc) are considered "motorized bicycles" under the Road Traffic Act, so a regular driver's license is not required to ride them.





許多赴日旅遊的中國遊客經濟條件優渥,據報道,超過一半是獨自旅行或攜家帶口。而在台灣和韓國惹是生非的中國遊客,大多被認為是參加廉價旅行團的。

當團體心理發揮作用時,它會強化「拋開旅行的羞恥感!」(忘掉你的臨時羞恥感!)這種心態。這種“拋開旅行的羞恥感!”的心態是日本獼猴最常見的行為之一,即使並非在“旅行”,它們也會在“日常”活動中表現出這種心態。這並非外國遊客獨有的行為。

令人驚訝的是,赴日旅遊的外國遊客很少租車或租自行車。當然,如果你夠富有,可以隨時隨地搭乘計程車,那當然最好。駕駛自己的車輛會帶來個人責任風險。如果旅遊保險能夠涵蓋以下所有程序,那就太好了,例如法庭訴訟(簡易審判、簡易判決)、警察局程序(即使您是追撞事故的受害者,您仍然需要接受詢問並填寫各種文件),以及與律師和對方保險公司代表的談判,當然,這意味著更高的保費。

日本人不太擅長外語,所以即使是英語在日本也不普及。對於語言不通的外國遊客來說,處理事故程序非常困難。話雖如此,花幾萬日圓聘請律師也是不切實際的。

另一方面,既然您已經遠道而來,不妨步行自由遊覽一番。如今許多租賃車輛都配備了行車記錄儀,因此您可以拍攝一些獨特有趣的圖片和影片。

然而,日本的交通標誌非常複雜,可能不容易記住。標誌的數量非常龐大,包括路面上的文字標誌。我花了幾個月的時間準備駕照考試。

另一個選擇是從你的國家乘坐渡輪自駕遊。從北海道到九州,日本各地有許多汽車露營地、免費露營地和免費停車場。用英文搜尋應該可以找到很多結果。這種方式只適合有長假且經濟條件優渥的人,因為渡輪票價昂貴且需要幾天時間,但住宿費用很低(只需支付油費)。

不過,你需要提前辦理國際駕照。

另一個不錯的選擇是租自行車、租小型車或租摩托車。租自行車通常只需幾百日元,有些地方甚至免費。

在某些地區,電動迷你車(藥師夫人搭乘的送貨車,很方便,所以我自己也想試試,但還沒買)、電動滑板車和電動自行車也都可以出租(這是一種廣告形式)。

搜尋「橫濱迷你車出租」或「伊豆自行車出租」應該可以找到很多結果。

還有專門為「睡在車上」設計的自行車拖車。但是,根據《道路交通法》,拖著拖車的自行車不屬於“輕型車輛”,而是普通車輛,因此不能在人行道上騎行。由於自行車必須在道路上行駛,這可能會很危險,這取決於路況(日本的道路比較狹窄)。

在日本,根據《道路交通法》,微型汽車、滑板車(腳踏車)和踏板車(排氣量低於 50cc)被視為“機動自行車”,因此駕駛它們不需要普通駕駛執照。





许多赴日旅游的中国游客经济条件优渥,据报道,超过一半是独自旅行或携家带口。而在台湾和韩国惹是生非的中国游客,大多被认为是参加廉价旅行团的。

当团体心理发挥作用时,它会强化「抛开旅行的羞耻感!」(忘掉你的临时羞耻感!)这种心态。这种“抛开旅行的羞耻感!”的心态是日本猕猴最常见的行为之一,即使并非在“旅行”,它们也会在“日常”活动中表现出这种心态。这并非外国游客独有的行为。

令人惊讶的是,赴日旅游的外国游客很少租车或租自行车。当然,如果你够富有,可以随时随地搭乘计程车,那当然最好。驾驶自己的车辆会带来个人责任风险。如果旅游保险能够涵盖以下所有程序,那就太好了,例如法庭诉讼(简易审判、简易判决)、警察局程序(即使您是追撞事故的受害者,您仍然需要接受询问并填写各种文件),以及与律师和对方保险公司代表的谈判,当然,这意味着更高的保费。

日本人不太擅长外语,所以即使是英语在日本也不普及。对于语言不通的外国游客来说,处理事故程序非常困难。话虽如此,花几万日圆聘请律师也是不切实际的。

另一方面,既然您已经远道而来,不妨步行自由游览一番。如今许多租赁车辆都配备了行车记录仪,因此您可以拍摄一些独特有趣的图片和影片。

然而,日本的交通标志非常复杂,可能不容易记住。标志的数量非常庞大,包括路面上的文字标志。我花了几个月的时间准备驾照考试。

另一个选择是从你的国家乘坐渡轮自驾游。从北海道到九州,日本各地有许多汽车露营地、免费露营地和免费停车场。用英文搜寻应该可以找到很多结果。这种方式只适合有长假且经济条件优渥的人,因为渡轮票价昂贵且需要几天时间,但住宿费用很低(只需支付油费)。

不过,你需要提前办理国际驾照。

另一个不错的选择是租自行车、租小型车或租摩托车。租自行车通常只需几百日元,有些地方甚至免费。

在某些地区,电动迷你车(药师夫人搭乘的送货车,很方便,所以我自己也想试试,但还没买)、电动滑板车和电动自行车也都可以出租(这是一种广告形式)。

搜寻「横滨迷你车出租」或「伊豆自行车出租」应该可以找到很多结果。

还有专门为「睡在车上」设计的自行车拖车。但是,根据《道路交通法》,拖着拖车的自行车不属于“轻型车辆”,而是普通车辆,因此不能在人行道上骑行。由于自行车必须在道路上行驶,这可能会很危险,这取决于路况(日本的道路比较狭窄)。

在日本,根据《道路交通法》,微型汽车、滑板车(脚踏车)和踏板车(排气量低于 50cc)被视为“机动自行车”,因此驾驶它们不需要普通驾驶执照。