How Do I Register My Bicycle In Japan

Bicycle Registration

Wheel registration is something you might not be used to back in your domicile country. After purchasing a bicycle, you lot are legally obligated to register your bike. The law tin inquire for proof of buying at any time, thus it could cause problems if yous fail to acquire proper registration for your cycle.

Registration for a New Wheel

The registration process is called 自転車防犯登録 (jitensha bouhan touroku) in Japanese and usually costs around 500 yen. It tin can be washed at the place where you purchased your bicycle. Yous will fill up out a form listing things such as your address, phone number, registration number of your new purchase, etc. and the shop will frontward that information on to the police for you. Afterward the paperwork has been filled out, they will give you a registration sticker (recollect of this as a mini license plate) to place on your new cycle.

If you purchase your bike online, yous will need to fill up out the registration form (see link below) and take information technology to your local police station for registration yourself. Yous volition demand to bring your receipt equally proof of buy with you also.

Buying (or Receiving) a New Bike

If you buy a used bicycle, you volition need to fill out 2 forms and have them to your local police station for registration. You lot volition demand to fill out a bicycle purchase form, and yous will need the previous owner to fill out a bike transfer class.

Once your bicycle is registered in your name, yous are legally responsible for its location even it is stolen. In the issue that your bike ends upwardly somewhere many kilometers away from your location due to theft, you are responsible for retrieving it. If you pass on your bike to your predecessor when you leave Japan without transferring buying, you are however legally responsible for it as well.

Links:
Information and forms for new/used bicycle purchase (Japanese)
Data and forms for used bicycle transfer (Japanese)

Bicycle Laws

Bicycle laws in Nippon may exist unlike than what you're used to back domicile, particularly if you come up from a country where cars bulldoze on the right side of the road. Bicycles in Nippon are considered moving vehicles, and every bit such, follow many of the same laws governing the driving of a car.

The law has recently been changed stating that you must stick to the left when riding your bicycle on a road or highway-no exceptions. You can confront a steep fine, or even imprisonment for failing to abide by this law.

Riding your bicycle nether the influence

Nippon has strict laws governing the functioning of a moving vehicle later on consuming booze. Nihon as a zero tolerance policy when it comes to drinking and driving…even if "driving" a bicycle. If you drink and ride, y'all could be imprisoned or fined. Make plans to hire a taxi or catch a ride any time that y'all plan on consuming booze.

Bicycle lights

You lot must have a working headlight on your bicycle. When riding at dark, you are required by police force to activate your low-cal so pedestrians and other vehicles are aware of your presence. Similar other laws, failing to follow this one could cause you lot to exist fined. You must also have a backlight or a reflector as well.

Bicycle Helmets

Only children under the historic period of thirteen are required to wear wheel helmets.

Parking your bicycle

You volition not be able to blindly leave your bicycle anywhere along the side of the road. You bicycle could exist impounded and yous will face a fine. Many businesses volition have wheel specific parking for yous to leave your bike while you shop or consume. Bigger cities will accept cycle parking lots where you can pay a small fee to leave your cycle while you lot sight-see or become shopping. Be smart and lock your bicycle up when you leave it, and bring all of your holding with you.

Remember!

While you might see all iii happening at one time, talking on your phone, using headphones, or holding an umbrella is prohibited while on a bicycle. Call up of riding your cycle much like driving a automobile and y'all should have an enjoyable, fine-costless time every bit yous send yourself to your adventures in Nippon.

Bike signs

Hither are some wheel-specific traffic signs that you lot should familiarize yourself with if you are traveling by bike.

No Bicycles Bicycles & Pedestrians Permitted Stop

The red circular sign means that bicycles are forbidden from entering in a sure area. Commonly bicycles are not allowed on sidewalks. However, the blue sign means that pedestrians and bicyclists are immune to mix in a particular area. Treat end signs on a bike simply as you would when driving a car. For reference, the end sign in Nippon is triangular, and says 止まれ (tomare) which but ways end in Japanese.

Bank check out the Japan International Training Cooperation's leaflet on bicycle laws in Japan for even more info.