One real loop out of Tokyo, ridden start to finish: Sendai, the Aomori ferry to Hokkaido, the interior, wild Shiretoko, then home on the overnight ferry and down through Tohoku's volcano roads to Nikko's 48 hairpins.

Why a guide?

Because Japan rewards the rider who plans and quietly punishes the one who doesn't. The Hokkaido ferry sells out in peak season, and you find out standing at the terminal with a loaded bike. The onsen hotel you pictured is full, and the next one is two hours off your route. In the small towns, the only restaurant may need a reservation. That last one happened to me: I rolled in at dusk, found the one place in town fully booked, and ate dinner from a convenience store.

None of that is a disaster. All of it is avoidable, and this guide is the plan I wish I'd had the first time.

What's inside

• Five route chapters, Tokyo to Shiretoko and back, plus a bonus run to Cape Soya

• Downloadable GPX tracks for every leg

• Ferry logistics for both crossings: when to book, when walk-up is fine, how early to arrive

• Onsen and lodging stops for each leg, including stays where dinner and breakfast are part of the deal

• Best season by region, with the snow closures and peak weeks to plan around

• Bike rental, the International Driving Permit, and what to pack for each season

• A real budget breakdown from the trip: fuel, tolls, ferries, lodging

Three ways to ride it

Competent (4-7 days) stays on Honshu with no ferry. Advanced (7-9 days) crosses to Hokkaido and rides the interior. Boss (14-21 days) does the whole loop with two or three nights in Shiretoko. Each chapter tells you what to keep and what to cut for your tier.

Format: 27-page PDF, instant download after checkout. Launch price $29 (regular $39).

Published by Moto Maverick.