Getting to Wakkanai from Tokyo with Your Bicycle
You are dreaming of bike-packing across Japan from North to South, from the wild northern coastline of Cape Sōya to the sunlit shores of Cape Sata.
However, the reality of logistics can quickly drain that excitement once you factor in travelling with your bicycle.
Bringing your own bike often feels stressful when you are juggling flights, baggage rules and mostly unfamiliar transport systems.
Thankfully, I am here to help you answer the big question:
How can I reach the starting point of my journey in Wakkanai with my bicycle?
Flying into Japan
First and foremost, Tokyo has two main international airports: Narita (NRT) and Haneda (HND). I flew from Vienna (Austria) with Swiss Air and arrived at Narita early in the morning. As a UK passport holder travelling for tourism, I was granted Temporary Visitor status, allowing me to stay in Japan visa-free for up to 90 days.
✮ Immigration Tip!
If this is your first time visiting Japan, you can check whether you need a visa for your trip according to your nationality on the official Japanese immigration website at this link.
I strongly recommend completing the Visit Japan Web registration in advance to make your Immigration and Customs process much smoother. Submitting all the required information online can easily save you 40 minutes or more, especially if several flights arrive at the same time. Once completed, it will generate a QR code that you can present at Immigration and Customs. Paper forms are available at the airport, although filling them out upon arrival can considerably extend your queueing time.
Here is the link where to complete the form and obtain the QR code you will need to enter the country!
So you have landed in Japan.
Immigration is done, your bicycle is back in your hands and the adventure is officially calling.
Your next goal?
Wakkanai, the northernmost city in the country!
So how do you make your way there with a bike after landing in Tokyo?
Reaching Wakkanai from Tokyo
The easiest and fastest way to reach the north of the country is definitely by Airplane!
All Nippon Airways (ANA) operates daily flights from Tokyo to Wakkanai Airport, making it a stress-free option, especially when travelling with a bicycle.
Cost: A one way ticket is about €200. Yes, it can feel expensive, but:
Bicycle: Included as checked baggage. Great news!
Experience: Excellent service and a smooth, comfortable journey, with complimentary drinks, onboard Wi-Fi and personal entertainment screens. I really enjoyed the flight, I highly recommend it!
✮ One important thing to note:
ANA Domestic flights depart from Haneda Airport, not Narita. So if you arrive in Tokyo via Narita, you will need to allow time to transfer between the 2 airports and below I will guide you on how to reach Haneda Airport from Narita Airport with your bicycle.
Narita Airport to Haneda Airport with your Bicycle
◇ Taxi
Travelling by taxi from Narita Airport to Haneda Airport is probably the fastest and most comfortable option. However, you will need to find a minivan taxi large enough to fit your bicycle box. In Tokyo, most taxis are standard sedans, so it can be difficult to find a suitable minivan by chance at the taxi rank — it’s therefore highly recommended to book one in advance.
For a transfer from Narita Airport to Haneda Airport for one passenger with a bicycle box (140 × 70 × 30 cm), the following quote was provided in February 2026:
Base fare: 27,900 JPY
Meet service (driver waiting at the arrival gate with a name sign): 6,000 JPY
Total amount: 33,700 JPY
Optional service:
English‑speaking driver: +5,000 JPY
Overall, that would be approximately 180 – 190 euros when converted at current rates (optional service not included in the conversion).
So it can be a very pricey option if you consider this to be only the transfer from an airport to the other.
NB: JapanTaxi GO is one of Japan’s largest official taxi-hailing apps. It connects passengers with licensed local taxi companies rather than private drivers, like Uber does. It can often be cheaper, as Uber adds its service fees, whereas GO generally uses standard taxi meter rates without extra charges.
◇ Coach
If you are looking for a more affordable alternative to a taxi, traveling by Airport Coach from Narita Airport to Haneda Airport is an excellent option and it is the choice I made for my trip. I used the Limousine Bus service.
Before flying to Japan, I contacted the bus company and sent them the dimensions of my bike box.
They confirmed in advance that it would be accepted and on the day everything went smoothly. I bought my ticket at the counter, as I was not sure exactly when I would reach the bus stop.
When boarding, the Limousine Bus staff asked me to sign a non-responsibility form in case of damage, but they handled the bike box with exceptional care when putting it in the luggage hold.
Best of all, I only paid for my own ticket, which was 3600 JPY (about 19,40 Euros) and transport of the bicycle was included - which made this a surprisingly affordable option!
The journey can take about 1 hour and 15 minutes to 2 hours depending on traffic of course and their service runs regularly. Overall it was comfortable, stress-free and something I would absolutely recommend!
◇ Luggage Delivery Service
Another option!
If you are not in a rush to start your adventure when you land in Japan, you can use a luggage delivery service to ship your bicycle from the airport directly to Wakkanai.
However, please keep in mind that deliveries to Hokkaido may take longer than usual, so be sure to allow extra time for it to arrive and doublecheck with the delivery company.
The positives are definitely that you can travel light and comfortably without having to manoeuvre a large bike box through buses and multiple transfers.
On the downside, a bicycle packed in a box is considered oversized and heavy, so shipping costs can be quite high. It is also important to confirm in advance that someone at your accommodation is willing to receive and store the bike if it arrives before you do.
Here are a few luggage delivery companies:
Yamato Transport - The most popular luggage and package delivery service nationwide
Sagawa Express - Another major courier that offers takuhaibin luggage delivery
Storing your Bicycle at Haneda Airport
If, like me, you plan to leave your boxed bicycle at Haneda Airport because your flight departs the next day—or you simply want to explore Tokyo without the hassle of carrying a large bike box, there are convenient luggage storage options available!
At Haneda, several providers operate across different terminals. You can use any of them, even if they are not located in the same terminal as your departure flight. I chose mine based on their opening hours and how convenient they were for storing a boxed bicycle.
You can check all the various luggage storage facilities at Haneda Airport here.
Baggage can generally be stored for up to 2 weeks. Fees vary depending on the total dimensions of the item, with a maximum combined size of 300 cm, calculated as width + depth + height, and a maximum weight of 30 kg.
These are the facilities I used upon arriving in Japan and also when leaving:
Terminal 2 B1F - Paid 1,100 JPY per day when collecting the luggage - very nice and friendly.
Terminal 3 Departure Lobby - Hanedakuukou: I paid 1,100 JPY per day - great for longer opening hours
Charges apply per calendar day, rather than for a full 24 hours.
Landing at Wakkanai Airport with your Bicycle
Once you land in Wakkanai, you start to feel the adrenaline… you are almost there, you are almost at the very edge of Japan! There is a special kind of excitement in the air, the sense that something great is about to begin!
As you walk toward the luggage reclaim area, you will spot something that makes cyclists smile: a space specifically designated for bicycle collection! Just wait there and a polite staff member will carefully wheel your bicycle out to you on a trolley. It’s such an incredible service! From the very first moments, you can already sense the remarkable politeness and attention to detail this country is famous for!
Here is my tip: unpack your bicycle box outside the airport and hop onto your bike, riding into the town centre. No one will question you: the atmosphere is calm, welcoming and wonderfully cyclist-friendly.
As for the box, I asked one of the helpful airport staff members whether they had a rubbish area within the airport where to dispose of the box. They kindly showed me to leave it next to the recycling bins, as you can see in the above pictures. Easy peasy!
Heading into Wakkanai centre on my bicycle
The bike is assembled and my heart is full! I am officially ready to cycle in Japan! Woohoo! It almost does not feel real!
Time to set off toward the centre of Wakkanai and I could not be more excited!
✮ Extra tip: For long and challenging trips like this, I would recommend to consider investing in proper luggage equipment, taking the time to pack the bicycle carefully and above all, I would suggest travelling with insurance for extra peace of mind!
