Education Abroad
Pedaling Through Japan with Bryan
Bryan Auza is a Social & Behavioral Sciences major. He studied abroad at the University of Kitakyushu in Japan 2023-2024.
If you like to bicycle, Japan offers ample bicycling opportunities. The picture of my bicycle in front of the Mishima train station goes together with the video. Japan has a good bus and rail system. You generally can get to wherever you need to go with a little bit of walking in some cases.
Other than that, you have three other options. Taxi, car (you have to take the driver’s license test in Japan if you would like to drive if your university permits you, as the law recently changed regarding students with a resident card), or bicycle. In Japan, you also have to register and insure your bicycle like a vehicle. A helmet is also required. It is the law. However, you can’t bring your bicycle on the bus, and you certainly are not able to bring your bicycle on a train as it is. There is an exception for the train; in particular the Shinkansen, so long as you pack your bicycle into a carrying case.
Mishima train station
On a recent weekend this month, I biked up to the base of Mt. Fuji. Very beautiful ride, but the weather didn’t cooperate to get a view of Mt. Fuji. The weather did cooperate for the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival. One of the earliest of the season.
Mt. Fuji
Cherry blossoms
Regardless of what country you are planning to study abroad in, I would highly encourage and recommend you explore as much of the country you are in. From the urban areas to the rural areas, there might be some unexpected surprises worth discovering along the way.
Please also be considerate and respectful of your host country’s laws and customs. You are guests and visitors primarily even while studying there, and your safety and well-being is entirely your responsibility when you are exploring outside of your university sponsored activities and functions.
Enjoy, have fun, remember it’s still school - so best of luck in your studies, and be safe!
Manhole
Snowboarding at the former 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics
Tokyo Sky Tree