How to plan your trip

Scheduling is easy!

Before we begin, we'll explain some of the rules and tools for driving in Japan for your reference, as well as some examples of our past itineraries to make your trip smoother.

All you need to do is answer the following 3 questions:

1. Planning to drive for a few days? — About 100 to 150 kilometres per day is comfortable on general roads, and the day count drives your budget.
2. How is the budget calculated? — Rent, fuel (regular petrol is around 160 yen a litre), expressway tolls, food, accommodation and parking, item by item.
3. How is the route planned? — Pick the scenic roads, hot-spring towns or World Heritage Sites you must see, then link them without doubling back.

The timeline from booking to departure

Once you have answers to those three questions, the rest is just putting the trip in place. This is the timeline we suggest:

1. One month to one week before departure: send the rental form with the region you want, your top three bikes and your pick-up and return times. Reservations are first-come, first-served, and at least one week ahead.
2. Three to five working days after the form: we send a confirmation email with the bike, the branch and the quote.
3. Within three working days of the rental invoice: pay Helmet King by bank transfer or FPS.
4. Before you fly: check your passport, Hong Kong / Macau licence and International Driving Permit, and confirm the IDP has not expired.
5. On pick-up day: arrive early — it takes about 15 minutes for staff to explain the contract and insurance and check the bike over.

What else to read before you go

With the itinerary settled, these pages cover the money, the cover and the details of riding there:

1. Can I rent a motorcycle in Japan with a Hong Kong licence? — Passport, national licence and International Driving Permit — all three are required.
2. Rent and fees — Full price list for rental classes, insurance add-ons and gear such as helmets and tail boxes.
3. Insurance — What compulsory and voluntary insurance cover, the deductible, and business loss compensation (NOC).
4. ETC — How Japan's electronic toll system works and how to hire an ETC card.
5. Japanese traffic rules — Keeping left, speed limits, stop signs and where you may park.
6. Reservation and pick-up process — The seven steps from filling in the form to returning the bike.

Planning it yourself is half the fun. If the group is large, the schedule is tight, or you simply want someone to sanity-check the plan, WhatsApp our Hong Kong team — we'll give you feedback based on your day count and the places you want to reach.