Anyone ridden trails in Japan?

[jake]

In May I'll be making a 2 week trip to Japan to visit my wife's family and would like to do some riding while I'm there, if possible. I'll be staying in the Aichi prefecture near in a town called Owariasahi just outside of Nagoya. Have any of you ever hit the trails in the land of the rising sun?

I'll probably end up scouting out the scene this year and returning next year with my bike. This year I'd like to hit a MTB hot spot (if one exists) and maybe rent a bike or something.

Mountain bike Bill has done quite a bit of riding there but he doesn't get too specific on routes ect...
http://www.mountainbikebill.com/Japan.htm
Edit: somehow I missed this route. Awesome! Now I'm tempted to bring my bike.

Have any of you ever ridden in Japan or know anything about the MTB scene there? Any info is much appreciated.
Thanks!
Jake

[ryandood]

try mtbr, there could be some riders on there from japan that could be of more help to you.

[dstepper]

http://www.mountainbikebill.com/Japan.htm

[Burner]

I think 2wheel_lee lived there, no?

[jonathan_sykes81]

Just moved back from Japan. I lived 40km south-southwest of Tokyo. One of my favorite rides in Japan was Mitake-san, awesome place, ridiculously buff trails. Unfortunately I was about 80 miles away from where you are going to be. Any info I can give you just let me know. By the way, I love Japan and would go back in a heart beat. Later.

[northshore]

Paging 2WheelLee.....

[2wheel_lee]

Sorry for the delay!
While I was living there, I was seriously lacking a good mountain bike, so I never hit any good trails. And because my company was covering all my costs and such, I really couldn't afford to take any risks (my predecessors supposedly weren't even allowed to ride bikes at all! Fortunately, they didn't mind that I bought a mama-cheri). Also, I was in the Tokyo area, so I don't know Nagoya.

Kind of a strange story. One Saturday afternoon, I was walking through a city park in Shinjuku. I saw a couple guys playing on some small jumps. One of them had an Intense 5.5, so I went up to him. Fortunately, his English was much better than my Japanese, so we could actually communicate very well. Apparently, we knew eachother from the Intense forum on mtbr! Small world! BTW, he now goes by Onebikeguy. As someone mentioned, there are quite a few Japan locals who post on mtbr.

I'd suggest trying to hook up with someone from mtbr or one of the local bike shops (which is a bit difficult because most shop websites are all in Japanese). Nonetheless, if you make it to some of the local shops, you may be very impressed.

I'm going this Sunday to Japan again for two weeks. I do this a couple times a year, but since it's for work, I usually don't have too much time to go riding. Additionally, from what I remember, it was about $300 to ship my bike (I don't know about flying there with it).

[jake]

Originally Posted by jonathan_sykes81

Just moved back from Japan. I lived 40km south-southwest of Tokyo. One of my favorite rides in Japan was Mitake-san, awesome place, ridiculously buff trails. Unfortunately I was about 80 miles away from where you are going to be. Any info I can give you just let me know. By the way, I love Japan and would go back in a heart beat. Later.

I love it too! Japan is actually the only foreign country I've ever visited (well, other than TJ).. My wife and I have been trying to figure out a way to move there for 8 years now. My wife is a Japanese citizen and my daughter has dual citizenship so a visa wouldn't be a problem, I'm just worried about being able to support my family as an undereducated foreigner with below average communication skills.

Thanks everyone for the help. I'll get on MTBR and look around for some Japanese riders. Maybe I'll find someone local who can show me around. I've seen a few high end bike shops in my wife's home town the last few times I've visited.
- Jake

[2wheel_lee]

A very simple and popular job for Americans in Japan is teaching English. Typically, it's younger Americans who di this (under 30), but I've met some older ones as well. Over time, they learn a bit of Japanese along the way. But like many language classes, the best way to learn is total immersion. In your "students'" case, they'd learn from you while you're mostly only speaking in English.

Although you don't necessarily need any teaching credentials, they wouldn't hurt. Many of the tutors I've met there have no teaching experience whatsoever. Private tutors make about $30 an hour (or 3000 yen, actually). And demand for good tutors is high, I hear. Also, if you do some research, the Japanese government may help you to do this (although I hear they're cutting back on their support of Americans doing this).

Tutoring English is really a popular gig, so if you want to move there, I'd suggest looking into this.

There is another lucrative business possibility for an American man that involves some unhappily married Japanese women, but since you're married, you may not be interested in that.

[jonathan_sykes81]

Jake, as a US citizen, you could get a job easily at any US military installation. I knew quite a few guys who got of the military and went back to Japan as civilian contractors. You should definitely look into it if you are really interested. Again, Mitake-san is an awesome and I think it's worth looking into. Later.

[northshore]

Originally Posted by jonathan_sykes81

Jake, as a US citizen, you could get a job easily at any US military installation. I knew quite a few guys who got of the military and went back to Japan as civilian contractors. You should definitely look into it if you are really interested. Again, Mitake-san is an awesome and I think it's worth looking into. Later.

+1!! A buddy of mine is doing an I.T. gig based out of S. Korea and I believe he is filing for transfer to Japan. The benefits? Your salary is TAX FREE, you pay discounted rates for gas, discounted rates for housing...the list goes on.

[sauce]

Make sure and take pics!

[Roadstar_Rider]

The Marine Corps is moving me to Japan this may and I will live there for three years. The most info I have found so far on mountain biking over there is on MTB Bills website. Also, what I hear from asking around at work is that mountain biking is pretty big over there. The first chance I get to get off the base out there I am going to find some mountain bike trails.

[ocrider]

I went to Japan when I was 13. Got yelled at in japanese alot there. It was a fun trip.

[bighit8]

I lived there for 1 yr.Even though I never rode there, the hike up MT.Fuji is very cool. It can be rode also.

[EMrider]

I lived in Japan for a bit more than a year in 1997-1998. Absolutely wonderful place. We lived in Tokyo and traveled extensively around the country. Did I mention that it is a fantastic place to visit/live? No doubt I'll go back there for another stint at some point in the future. Sorry, but I can't offer any help on the MTB scene there.

[singleminded]

e-mail Mtbbill..he was stationed there. There is also links on his website for certain rides there...look in international.

http://www.mountainbikebill.com/

I'll bounce him an e-mail

[MTBBill]

Japan is awesome! There are 1000s of trails as Japan is big into hiking. There are few trails off limits to bikes there. Hooking up an engrish speaking person is a good start. Most bookstores (hon'ya) sell good detailed maps (chizu). I'm jonesing for a return to Japan. I was just emailing with my buds there a couple of days ago about the riding in some spots when the cherry trees are blooming. Pretty killer. I'll try to get some more stuff together next week I'm heading out to AZ in the morning for the weekend.

[jake]

Originally Posted by MTBBill

Japan is awesome! There are 1000s of trails as Japan is big into hiking. There are few trails off limits to bikes there. Hooking up an engrish speaking person is a good start. Most bookstores (hon'ya) sell good detailed maps (chizu). I'm jonesing for a return to Japan. I was just emailing with my buds there a couple of days ago about the riding in some spots when the cherry trees are blooming. Pretty killer. I'll try to get some more stuff together next week I'm heading out to AZ in the morning for the weekend.

Ahh man, I've been wanting to see the Sakura blooming for years but I never can seem to get there during Hanami. I'll hit Kinokuniya in Costa Mesa tomorrow and look for some maps! My wife can help me, she was raised there and is fluent in both languages.
I'm getting pretty excited about this now but I still don't know if I can bring my bike or even rent one. I think it'll cost around $110 each way for me to fly with mine but then I'll need to deal with hauling it around once I arrive.
Bill, your website rocks! Thanks everyone for the help!

Here are a few shots I took last time I was there....