Traffic Rules for Bicycles 
Traffic rules for bicycles in Japan may be
different from those to which you are accustomed!
Please note the points below carefully for
your own safety as well as those around you.
- You should ride your bicycle on the left
side of the road.
- You may ride your bicycle:
- on sidewalks; this is very common, but please
do be careful in sharing the sidewalk with
pedestrians. There are some sidewalks which
have designated bicycle lanes painted on
them; please observe them.
- within the boundaries of the shoulder,
marked by a single white line at both sides
of the road (this is particularly true of
streets which do not have curbs). Do not,
however, ride your bike where there are double
white lines.
- Remember to exercise caution when turning.
In Japan, left turns are relatively straightforward,
but right turns involve more care. When turning
right, do as pedestrians do: cross the street
first, then turn right, always waiting for
the appropriate traffic lights when they
exist. Do not attempt to swing to the right
side of the road before making your right
turn!
- Watch out for left-turning vehicles; some
of them make wide turns.
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