Renting a motorbike in Tokyo

erm reading the LP of japan will help, it says that anything over 400cc will have big charges, but then you need your licence translated. make sure you done your motorbike test, thats all i can help with hope it helps!

thanks Umpa2,
I was aware of that bike higher 400 cc was complicated to buy, but I dont know about renting. Anyway a 400cc would be ok (the japanese are not the fastest driver I have seen...). I already have a swiss motorcycle driving licence (unlimited cc), is the translation enough for renting a motorcycle in Japan or do I have to pass a test there??? All the info I could get was for car not motorcycle. Any help would be appreciated

ok reading around it sounds quite complicated
here are some reads
www.jetsetjapan.com/infozone-trans-lice.shtml<BR>www.yamasa.org/japan/english/getting_around.html<BR>www.japan-guide.com/forum/expreadisplay.html?aID=100041<BR>i will read my LP again if i can find it and post what it says.

The question on renting a motorcycle came up awhile ago and the consensus was that renting a motorcycle was not available.

I don't really know much about bike (motorcycle) rental in Japan, though I used to ride a bike in Japan years (decades) ago.
Googling I've found quite a few rental shops and it doesn't seem to be impossible for foreign visitors to hire a bike.
For example, this shop Rental 819, with several outlets in Tokyo/Kanagawa area, say that foreign riders can, provided they have IDP (or I suppose in case of Swiss, German or French riders, official translation into Japanese, as mentioned), their national licence and credit card. They need to take out full chasis insurance, at 3000 yen for the first day and 1500 yen thereafter. Also they say that they either need to be Japanese speakers or take along a translator. They have a wide range of bikes on offer, from scooters to 1300cc superbikes.

Oh, the rental cost for ogata bike (400-750cc) ranges from 66,000 to 93,000 yen a week, plus compulsory chassis insurance. Extra days at 8,000 to 11,000 yen. There is an insurance excess or deductible of 50,000 yen for damage to the bike.

thanks Umpa2, great info on jetsetjapan! Don't bother to read the LP again, I have them and they don't say much... Furthermore, I am from Switzerland and an international driving licence is useless for me in japan cause we haven't ratified a XXX convention (same for Germany, but I am not sure). The website of the japanese embassy says that I only need a translation of my licence, which can be done in a AAA branch in Tokyo. Hope it also works for motorcycle!
Anyway, if you stay less than 3 months and already have a national motorcycle driving licence it should be ok! The problem might be to find somewhere to rent one, as they might not be willing to deal with short term visitors...
Otherwise if any of you has some experiences in the subjet, don't hesitate. I will try to get one there and post back for those interested in renting a bike in japan.
thanks again

Thanks so much JapanTraveller :) I can't read much japanese (no kanji) but I know some people in Japan who could help me (but they are women and they have no damn ideas about bikes...) I can't wait to drive a bike around Tokyo :))

Hi... may be a bit late :9) but found a site called Japan Bike Rentals that may be of help. www.japanbikerentals.com Good luck!