Sports & Motorsports
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​Sports & Motor Sports
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Japan has many great spots for sports all year long.
Popular Sports
Ski & Snowboarding
Did you know there are almost 600 ski resorts in Japan?! Niseko, Hakuba, Zao, and Myoko Suginohara are some of the most well-known, but with so many options, you can find one with a specialty that you can find to make sure your stay is tailored to your preference. You can find all 597 ski resorts here on this website.
If you want to learn the most popular spots, you can read them on JW Magazine.
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Canyoning/Shower Climbing/Sliding
Do you enjoy white water rafting and swimming in a river? How about Canyoning? If so, Japan has opened its first canyoning tour company. If you’re adventurous, you’ll love jumping, sliding down waterfalls, and floating downstream in a beautiful river gorge. You can read about it more in All About Japan. For English tours, check out Canyons Tours.
Surfing
When you think of surfing, Japan may not be the first place that comes to mind. But you may be surprised to find out that there are some great spots for surfing in Japan. You can find great info here at JNTO such as where to surf and how to prepare to surf in Japan. This website, Surfing in Japan, also has tons of useful information.
Snorkeling & Scuba Diving
If you think of scuba diving in Asia, you may first consider Thailand or the Philippines. It may surprise you that Japan offers some of the most exciting scuba diving spots in the world. If you want to swim with Mantas or a giant cuttlefish, you might love a Japanese scuba trip. Read all about these options in the World Adventure Divers publication. PADI blog also has some great info on diving in Japan.
Cycling
There are many fantastic cycling opportunities throughout Japan. For quick bike rentals, rental bikes are available in many places throughout the country, especially in more dense cities. JR Pass isted their recommended place, and Outdoor Japan has an article that specifically recommends Long-distance biking trails.
Popular biking spots
Below are some of the most popular biking areas in Japan with US websites:
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Shimanani Kaid: you can check out Visit Hiroshima
If you prefer to travel with experienced guides, you can check out John Morrell’s Cycle Japan. John is an adventurer from Australia. You can bring your own bike for one of his tours or rent one from his company. His tours take place in the four best places to travel on a bicycle in Japan.
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Glamping
You love camping, but don’t have any gear with you or would prefer to camp in style with luxurious amenities? Glamping is becoming very popular in recent years in Japan, which means there are many beautiful glamping sites to choose from. Time Out Tokyo, Tokyo Weekender, JW-Web Magazine, Metropolis and Japan National Tourism Organization have a great list of glamping sites.
Traditional Sports
JNTO, Japan National Tourism Organization, has a good introduction about various Japanese traditional sports.
Nihon Budokan is the largest venue for Budo/Martial Arts in Japan. They hold both practice sessions and tournaments throughout the year. You’re allowed to watch some events. The best thing to do is have your hotel clerk call them and find out if there are any events you’re allowed to visit during your stay. Or, if you’re a student of a particular martial art, ask your sensei to contact your Budo organization in Japan. You may be able to practice or fight at the affiliated Dojo there.
Recommended Resources:
Kendo: International Keno Federation
Judo: Kodokan
Kyudo: All Nippon Kyudo Federation
Karatedo: Japan Karatedo Federation
Aikido: Akikai Foundation
Shoriji Kempo:
Naginata: All Japan Naginata Federation
Jukendo: All Japan Jukendo Federation
Masaaki Hatsumi Sensei may be one of the most globally famous masters in Budo. He has taught at militaries, police organizations, the FBI, and other special forces worldwide. At his Dojo, you learn the 900-year-old Togakure school of Ninpo, the fighting arts of the ninja. You can take the seminars and practice with his fellow Deshi. Read more about it on Nippon.com
Attending Sports Events
There are a few different ways to purchase tickets. You can directly go to the venues, buy them from the teams’ or official association websites, or you can use ticket services like Klook or Rakten.
Sumo
You can check the tournament schedule and purchase tickets at the official Nihon Sumo Kyokai website. GijinPotBlog lists Sumo stables you can visit and watch the practice. I like the site because it has a Heya list (beya/stables) outside the Tokyo area. My aunt lived in Ryogoku, where the Kokugikan Sumo Stadium and many Sumo stables are located. Sumo wrestlers are easy to spot. They are so big and wear a yukata or kimono. In the area, you can try a traditional dish, Chanko Nabe. National Public Radio website has a good article about the dish, and Tsunagaru Japan has a recommendation of 10 Chanko Nabe restaurants.
Soccer
The Japan Football Association or J-League website has more on the professional teams and ticket information.
Rugby
Japan Rugby Football Union: You can check the game schedule and purchase tickets. or Rugby Top League site
Professional Baseball League
Some teams have pages in English. If not, you can go to the stadiums or use those internet ticket service companies to purchase tickets. Simon and Martina have vlogs of their first visit to a Japanese baseball game. It’s a pretty unique experience from MLB games.
-Central League-
-Pacific League-
Cars & Motorcycles
If you’re a car or motorcycle enthusiast, visit the right county. The places listed below are absolute paradise for car and motorcycle enthusiasts. Rent a formula race car or motorcycle and feel like a racecar driver by driving on the international track. You can even participate in a race and be an actual race car driver.
Recommended Resources
Cars
If you’d like to visit automobile museums, factories or showrooms, there are a few I would highly recommend.
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Motorcar Museum of Japan in Ishikawa.
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Historical collection of fire trucks in Tokyo.
The Toyota Showroom is in Nagoya.
Toyota Kaikan Museum is their showroom where you can their latest newest vehicles. You can also you can take a plant tour there. At Toyota Automobile Museum, you can learn the history and culture of automobile. If you want to learn about the history of Japanese auto manufacturing and the founder of Toyota, Mr. Sakichi Toyoa, visit at the Mr. Sakichi Toyota Memorial House and Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
Nissan
Japan is home to the Nissan Global Headquarters/showroom. You can view the Nissan Heritage Collection in Zama City, Kanagawa which stores 400 cars including 300 displayed cars as a permanent collection.
Honda
is located in Tokyo. You can also view the Honda Plants, however the websites are in Japanese language only. They have 5 car plant locations you may want to visit located in Saitama, Mie, Tochigi, Kumamoto, Shizuoka as well as a motorcycle plant in Kumamoto (ask your hotel front desk to make a reservation a few months in advance.)
Mazda
The Mazda Museum is located in Hiroshima. The Nasu Classic Car Museum includes great Mazda vehicles but their website is in Japanese language only.
Rare and Exotic Cars
There are many car collections in Japan, but below I’ve listed the most well-known and popular ones here:
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Discover extremely rare, exotic cars in the Bingo Sports Showroom in Nagoya and Tokyo
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The Tsukahara Museum in Aomori has an excellent collection of classic cars.
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Shikoku Automobile Museum has a popular collection of sports cars.
Shops
If you are a vehicle enthusiast, these are a must see. The Autobacs Auto Accessories mega shops have numerous locations in Japan. Ask your hotel front desk.
Motorcycles
Rental Motorcycles
Marutomi Rental Bike/Kanagawa Prefecture
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Rental Motorbike.com in Okinawa
Honda
Honda Motor Bike showroom (the center of Tokyo, Aoyama area)
Large Honda showroom and race track (a day trip from Tokyo)
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Yamaha
Yamaha Communication Plaza in Shizuoka. You can learn more about it in Motorcycle Paradise
Suzuki
Suzuki Plaza/Suzuki History Museum
Suzuki World Shinjuku Tokyo/Suzuki Bike shop
Kawasaki
Japanese language only. Ask your hotel clerk to find one nearby.
Royal Enfield/Mutt Motorcycles Showroom in Kobe City (Japanese website only)
Mutt Motorcycles Tokyo Showroom
Shops
Ricoland is one of the most significant motorcycle parts shops. You can find some rare parts only found in Japan. The English banner/slide will show up in a few seconds when you get to this website.
Kaichiroh is a motorcycle custom builder who has dealt with Harley-Davidson for over 20 years. He is also an expert on Japanese brands and other foreign brands. He is globally well-known and has many celebrity customers from the US and other countries. He can ship products overseas.
SCS Tokyo Japanese website only
Motorcycle super store
