Page 2 of 2

When I think of long, highway motorcycle trips, my eyes get heavy. Boring! The shortage of stimulation, save for the thousands of potholes, sends me (perilously) to sleep. With no avail but a cup of weak, burnt - often lava hot - “coffee” at the nearest gas station, it’s onward, desperately, to my destination.

This is not the case in Japan. The expressways dart directly through the most epic of sceneries, high and low, though you pay for it in tolls. But it’s worth every penny! If you somehow manage to lose interest (I doubt it) and need a break, every 25 kilometers or so offers the king of all rest stops.

Chock full of cheap, tasty foods, seating areas, an abundance of clean bathrooms, and occasionally some Wi-Fi. Japan doesn’t hold back on its perfectionism, and the hoards of locals scattered around the premise is proof.

Along the highways and through small towns, we frequented the “Konbinis” - a miniature rest stop providing the same graciousness behind the counters we’d experienced everywhere. I would live at 7-11, and at some, you can!

Japan considers van-camping a way of life. If you need some winks on a long drive, or you’re making your way somewhere, it’s legal to pull over to sleep - to include at the Konbinis. Just don’t forget your portable shower. Yes, that’s a thing.

Here’s the 411 (highway): a long two-lane road that cuts through the valley and slithers its way through the mountains like a snake that added all the “joy” to my ride. Twisties varied in size, shape, elevation and bank.

So much so that you could hardly look up at the monkeys swinging overhead from branch to branch. Temples sat atop peaks, a bright white beacon between the tall green trees. I didn’t know there were so many shades of green and yellow until I rode through Japan’s biggest island.

This highway, which runs east to west, is one of the most accessible just outside of the Tokyo city center. Not once in the two hour journey did my lids flutter. I didn’t have to hum, or daydream in this place.

I just witnessed and rode, comforted by the lukewarm blanket Japan’s climate wrapped around me, even as the sun went down. A GPS or ‘burner phone’ with Google Maps are essential to keeping you on track while you’re undoubtedly distracted. We would have been lost without it.

Would I recommend a motorcycle trip Japan? Well, there are only tolls on the expressways. And even so, they are fully justifiable. Safety is a reflection of the acute consideration that’s practically bred into them.

These people - endlessly kind and passionate - put even our best to shame. They take crafts to a whole new level, and motorcycles are no exception. A way of life, not just a hobby, the roads and trails reflect their precision.

There are plenty of sights, stops, and the weather is temperate. Opportunities to “drag knees” or “open it up” are plentiful. And, the rest of what this country hides is a mystery waiting to be uncovered. So do you think I’d recommend a ride?

About the Author:
Kyra Sacdalan is the co-creator of WESTx1000, a multimedia company creating unique editorial and photographic content for the adventure motorcycle community.

She is an avid motorcyclist and author, whose work has been published on Gizmodo, Expedition Portal, RevZilla, ADVMoto Magazine and ADV Pulse, among others. Although she’s been riding motorcycles for a number of years, her passion for off-road riding and long distance motorcycle touring is newly acquired. Follow her on Instagram: @kyra_sacdalan