Meet Cycle Tokyo And Its Founder Atsushi Nakamura

Atsushi Nakamura, or Ats as he prefers to be called, is the original founder of Cycle Tokyo as featured in our cycling in Tokyo section of the site. Ats kindly agreed to answer a few of our questions about Cycle Tokyo and what he can do to help visitors who fancy a bike ride through the capital city of Japan. You can see what he has to say below. Thanks Ats.

An Interview With Ats

1. How long have you lived in Tokyo?

I was born in Ohta-Ku, and have lived in the Tokyo area most of my life, except for 7 years living in the US.

2. What made you start Cycle Tokyo? What's your motivation?

As a hobby cyclist, I have taken my bike overseas to several cities where I was greeted by local cyclists, and have been treated very nicely. I felt that I would like to do the same for cyclists visiting Tokyo, and Japan. It is somewhat a challenge to prepare and ride in a city overseas that you are visiting/started to live for the first time, and you have little or no information.

Lastly, as a proud Tokyo-ite, I have a strong feeling to promote cycling in Tokyo as an ideal means to sightsee and explore Tokyo. I want to hear visitors say "I had a great time cycling in Tokyo! Safe, no worries, great information beforehand!"

All this mashed together, and that fact that I could not find anything that provided this, was my motivation in starting this.

3. Who is involved in Cycle Tokyo?

Cycle Tokyo! currently consists of 7 core members including myself. We are among a group of hobby cyclists that like to travel on our bikes, as well as stroll around the city looking for places of interest. We are fortunate to have two advisors from the bicycle business with us, with one person living in Oregon and feeding us with the "visitor" perspective.

4. What's your favorite cycle route in Tokyo?

Difficult question....there are a lot of them! One favorite is a short route that starts form Tokyo Station and goes around the Imperial Palace, heads to Akasaka, Roppongi, the Aoyama area, then the Ginko trees of Jingu, then back Tokyo Station. This is a good ride especially on Sundays, when the city is very quiet.

If you fancy trying this route for yourself, see our Roppongi Akasaka Pottering page.

I also like to go and explore the Tsukishima district, where the contrast between the old houses and the highrise waterfront apartments is very Tokyo-ish.

Cycle Tokyo! has a list of detailed ride courses so visitors can go on a self-guided tour.

5. Tell us your top tip for a first time cyclist in Tokyo?

Enjoy the Ride!

Yes, Tokyo is a busy city, and you'll see alot of cars and trucks on the road. However, Tokyo is a very safe city as long as you also follow the basic rules of traffic. This is no different from any other city or town, small or large.

Tokyo on a bike, is a very small city. Believe it or not, central Tokyo is within a 5-10km radius, which is a very short distance on a bike. So don't hurry and take your time in riding and exploring.

6. Are there any road rules that people should be particularly careful about in Japan?

Though there is no single rule that needs attention (all rules need care), there are a few basic rules that will help in understanding how people ride bikes in Tokyo:

I guess b) and c) are the most important and basic idea in riding a bike in Tokyo. This is why you will see bicycles both on and off the sidewalks.

The other rules are common sense, though I am ashamed as a Tokyoite that you can see many people that do not follow this.

Refer to the Cycle Tokyo! Riding Essentials page for more details.

7. Is it easy to get a large frame bike for taller people?

Bike shops in Tokyo are known for a large stock of bikes. If you go to the right shop, you will be able to get the bike of your choice. Please refer to Cycle Tokyo! where we have a listing of good bike shops.

Of course, the best solution would be to order your own frame, and you will be able to get a bike that will perfectly fit you, however tall or short you are. We also have a list of bike shops (frame builders) that will take orders.

8. Where in the world have you been cycling? Any good stories?

Up till now, my overseas cycling has been mostly in the US - Hawaii, Oregon(1 wk camp ride adventure), NewYork, Los Angeles. Some of them are written up on my personal site, Cycle@nak.

9. Share one visitor tip that someone staying in Tokyo for the first time should know.

The Japanese tend to be a shy, but are very kind, so please don't be afraid to talk, ask, and explore. People will try to help you as much as they can, if you just speak a little slowly and clear :-)

10. Do you think of yourself as a Tokyoite? If yes why, if no why not?

Yes I do! Living in and out of Tokyo, Tokyo is the most comfortable city to live in. The balance of new culture, tradition, nature(green) and city life semms to be the best for me, compared to other cities. It is a fun and interesting city to be in, and I am not bored after more than 30 years of living here.

Don't forget to get your hands on a good map

If you like the idea of Cycle Tokyo and fancy having a go at cycling in Tokyo while you're here, it's a good idea to get your hands on a good map of the city. Find out what's recommended on our map of Tokyo page.

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Taming Tokyo: The Guidebook

Wouldn't you love to find a guidebook that is just for first-time visitors to Tokyo. Find those all important things that only a local would know like: what to expect at the airport, what Japanese is most useful for a traveler to know, what packing tips are specific for Tokyo, what should you do in an emergency, the basics of using the trains, and much more. Head over to Taming Tokyo today and judge for yourself.