www.bmw-motorrad.jp

Japan is a special case. It's a robust economy, home to the world's largest bike manufacturers and many motorcyclists, beautiful Alpine riding and a mix of ancient & super-modern culture. But language/ cultural differences and market barriers have delayed development of organized motorcycle tours or 'easy' independent rentals for non-Japanese. Lotus Tours, www.lotustours.comcompleted what may be the first tour in 2004. Starting in Spring, 2006, one Japanese-speaking American tour operator is now offering two organized itineraries on Japan's southern Honshu/ Kyushu/ Shikoku, and northern Hokkaido islands; BMWs may be available. For detailed information:

Alaska Rider Tours (Phil Freeman)
Tollfree 800-757-1990, tel/fax 907-272-2777; , www.akrider.com; P O Box 1392, Girdwood AK 99587. As of 2007, marketed in partnership with:
Aerostich Tours (Andy Goldfine)
Tollfree 800.222.1994, fax 218.720.3610; , www.aerostichtours.com; 8 S 18th Ave W, Duluth, MN 55812.

In October, 2007
Edelweiss Bike Travel (Werner Wachter) offers its first BMW 'scouting' tour from Tokyo-Kyoto, Japan. Details from www.edelweissbiketravel.com, , tel :+43/ 6644407266.

In 2008,
Japan Bike Rentals (Peter von Gomm)
Tel/Fax: +81-3-3584-5185; , www.japanbikerentals.com; 7-7-3-101 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052 Japan, rents BMW & other bikes from Tokyo with GPS self-guided tours and support services for English speakers; guided tours coming later. The website is also an excellent introduction to Japan riding.

Non-BMW rental bikes up to 1400 cc are also available from Tokyo dealer, SCS Motorcycles,www.scs-tokyo.co.jp (Japanese-only website, but navigable with a Google translator). 

A number of non-Japanese tourist riders have ridden independently in Japan, using shipped or rented bikes. Some pointers: Non-Japanese riders can rent or purchase a bike of any size using an International Driver's Permit (from AAA, CAA, or other national auto clubs). Non-Japanese registered bikes can be shipped to Japan and imported for personal use up to 12 months with a Carnet (see 'Carnet' discussion above) verified by Japan Automobile Federation-JAF-after bike import, www.jaf.or.jp/e/carnet.htm. Without a Carnet, Japan Customs may impose a returnable bond up to100% of vehicle value. Bikes imported for temporary personal use must also obtain minimum mandatory 3rd party vehicle insurance from Japanese broker; broker contact lists available from Carnet-issuing national auto clubs, or from JAF, International Affairs Dept, Att: Mikihiko Sugisaki,  tel +81/3 3436 2811, fax +81/3 3436 3008, or fax +81/3 3578 4911,, or .

An excellent guidebook to Japan motorcyle touring is Guy de La Rupelle's Motorcycle Vagabonding in Japan, from Whitehorse Press, 800-531-1133, www.whitehorsepress.com. 
See also Owen Stinger (contributing author to Vagabonding)'s "Gaijin Bikers in Japan" website,www.gaijinbikers.com; and the separate Gaijin Riders Forum, www.gaijinriders.com.
Japan Garmin GPS mapping from www.uud.info
Street-level English language local maps also online from Japan National Tourist Office,hwww.jnto.go.jp/eng/map/index.html.

To meet BMW riders: BMW Motorcycle Owners Club of Japan, 17-25-206, Higashirerao-Kitadai, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama-city, Kanagawa 230-0062, Japan; +81/45 575 2245, fax +81/45 574 2224;, www.bmw-moj.org