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{{infobox Country|country = of Japan|map = <map lat='35' lng='136' zoom='5' view='0' height='450px' country='Japan' />|language = [[Japanese]]|capital = [[Tokyo]]|pop = 127,264,000|currency = Yen|hitch = <rating country='jp' />}}:''Copied from [http://wikitravelen.wikivoyage.org/enwiki/Hitchhiking_in_Japan WikitravelWikivoyage] with permission from the author, [http://jpatokal.iki.fi Jani Patokallio].'' <!-- this version: http://wikitravelwikivoyage.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Hitchhiking_in_Japan&oldid=111542 -->

Hitchhiking == Where to hitch ==It is almost impossible to hitch out of [[Tokyo]] or any large Japanese city by waving your thumb on the [[Tokyo/Ginza|Ginza]]. Thus, to get out, you have to find the places where drivers going out congregate, which in practice means '''Japanservice areas''' (サービスエリア ''sābisu eria'' is quite easy, and the key to true budget travel in the country and the way to escape the country's ruinously expensive domestic transport costs''SA''') or '''parking areas''' (パーキングエリア ''pākingu eria'', where an hour '''PA''') on the Shinkansen can set large toll expressways (高速道路 ''kōsokudōro'') connecting Japan's major cities. As you back &yen;10might guess, service areas are larger and better equipped than parking areas,000. Coupled but surprisingly few Japanese are familiar with [[camping]], you can effectively cut down your daily budget to food and admission fees alone &mdash; although the difference so it is wise 's easier to allow for the occasional (literal) rainy daylabel them all service areas.

==Where to hitch==It is almost impossible to hitch out of [[Tokyo]] or any large Japanese city by waving your thumb on the [[Tokyo* Update 2010: I mostly hitched Japan hopping from Convenience Store (Lawson/Ginza|Ginza]]. Thus, to get out, you have 7-Eleven) to find the places where drivers going out congregatenext one, which in practice means '''service areas''' (サービスエリア ''sābisu eria'and I absolutely think it's the best, '''SA''') especially for short-distance hitching or '''parking areas''' for getting started at the edge of a city ('''PA''') on the yes, even large toll expressways (高速道路 ''kōsokudōro''ones) connecting Japan's major cities. As you might guessThere is always enough space for cars to pull over next to Konbinis, service areas are larger and better equipped than a decent parking areaslot; and there is always a trademark sign, but surprisingly few Japanese meaning that Konbinis are meant to be easily spotted while people are familiar with the difference driving, so be smart and use them to draw their attention to you too. The Japanese stop an insane number of times during a trip, and it's easier always at a Konbini, to label them buy food, drinks, take a leak (nearly all service areasroad Konbinis have a toilet), making a call, or even for nothing! If your driver is going to buy drink/food for himself, it's absolutely certain that you'll get some too.[[User:Gutuater|gutuater]]

A useful rule of the thumb (pun intended) is that if you * Update 2012: I can get somewhere on a train for less than 2000 yen, hitchhiking 100% confirm the distance is unlikely to be worth the troubleabove. For destinations around TokyoI almost always got a ride, such as for [[Mount Fuji]]regardless of time, when standing in front of a 7-11. [[Hakoneuser:Traceoftoxin|traceoftoxin]], [[Nikko]], hitchhiking is unlikely to be worth the trouble... until you actually get there, that is. All three regions have expensive local transport but plenty of unhurried tourists driving about, always a good combination for the hitchhiker.

* Update 2018: Disagree on big cities being impossible. Tokyo might be impossible but everywhere else is plausible. Have hitched out of cities by waving my thumb, there's a longer wait though. Agree on the use of convenience stores. Alternatives, if necessary, include McDonald's with drive-throughs, restaurants with parking lots... You want a place where a driver can legally stop their car long enough for both of you to decide if you're going on their vehicle. [[user:Snowballsakura|snowballsakura]] A useful rule of the thumb (pun intended) is that if you can get somewhere on a train for less than 2000 yen, hitchhiking the distance is unlikely to be worth the trouble. For destinations around Tokyo, such as for [[Mount Fuji]], [[Hakone]], [[Nikko]], hitchhiking is unlikely to be worth the trouble... until you actually get there, that is. All three regions have expensive local transport but plenty of unhurried tourists driving about, always a good combination for the hitchhiker. ===Getting on the expressway===Due to a complex conspiracy, all __TOC__Some SA/PAs are located as inconveniently as possible, can be accessed by cheap public transportation and entrance to them from outside then on foot is officially prohibited. HoweverTo see the map of all the SA/PA, you can use [http://www.w-nexco.co.jp/ Nexco West] or [http://global.c-nexco.co.jp/en/ Nexco Central] websites. Select one of the 3 mains areas on the inconvenience is managable when you know top right of the route (website. Most Areas are also visible on Google Maps so you willing can easily try to get an itinerary to sit these. You can see on a local train for an hour the map is there are stairs to save 9000 yen?) and, as so often happens in Japan, official regulations go unenforced or downright ignoredaccess them.

<div style="float:right"><videoflash>muTPOZ2uths</videoflash></div>The third method would be take a long-distance bus that uses the expressway and stops at a parking area along the way. However, cataloguing which routes go where on which roads and which service areas they stop at would be a fairly difficult enterprise, you'll also need to buy a rather expensive bus ticket just to get on the thing, and you'll probably freak out the bus attendants who will certainly notice if the only ''gaijin'' on the bus doesn't come back from the break. === Hitching on the expressway ===[[File:Japan National Expressway Map.jpg|200px|thumb|right|This "Mapple" Expressway map is a great help as it includes all SA/PAs along with their facilities. Most bookstores should have it for about ¥850.]]At the SA/PA itself, the best place to hitch is near the offramp to the expressway, ideally so that you've visible from the buildings — this way drivers can see you as they go in and think about picking you up before they get in their car and make the choice. From a service area with decent traffic, you are very likely to get a ride within minutes. * update 2018: There are now free, great quality maps available at most service areas. You can either find them in the nexco magazine or at the tourist information booths at larger service areas.  Once you've made it onto the expressway, it's easy to keep bouncing from one SA/PA to the next one, but a decent highway map is imperative so you know the best place to get off if your destination and your driver's path diverge. It's entirely possible to cover 500 kilometers or more in a single day by using expressways. Note that it is '''illegal''' to stop a car or walk on foot anywhere on the expressway itself, including tollbooths, and you will be rapidly picked up by the highway police if you try. Do not allow your driver to drop you off outside a service area. * Update 2018: Agree - expressways are excellent for covering long-distance in a single day. In August 2017 I left Aomori at 7am, got lost twice because I chose rides where the drivers were as clueless as I was, and I still arrived in Tochigi after 11pm on the same day. [[user:Snowballsakura|snowballsakura]] * Update 2018: I'll second this advice. After a late start to the day (rain delay and lunch at a ''konbini'' :D), my first ride dropped me off at an SA. My second ride was with a truck driver, who approached me after a 30 minute wait. He offered to take me close to the my target destination for the day. That second ride was one of my longest rides during the trip and showed how much distance one can cover if one used an expressway. Getting into expressways can be difficult, because there may not be too many entrances [http://www.jayhubert.com/jjjj/hitching.html] . But once you gain access, then you are good to go! [[user:I3ok3n|I3ok3n]] === Hitching elsewhere ===Outside the expressway system on ordinary toll-free national highways (国道 ''kokudō''), there are also occasional service areas of a sort, known as ''Michi-no-Eki'' (道の駅), lit. "Road stations". These are excellent places to get dropped off, fuel up, consult maps and grab rides. * Update 2018: There are lots of drivers who take regular, toll-free roads. These ''kokudo'' roads take a longer time. For example I hitched from Hakodate to Sapporo and back, and never got on the expressway. ''Kokudo'' roads can sometimes be easier to grab rides on than trying to get on the expressways. The first time I ever hitched in Japan actually, I was stranded in a situation where I had to move homes within the same city in the same day, but had no means of conveying my belongings over. I stood along a regular road with a sign in broken Japanese explaining my situation, waited an hour, and a pair of siblings came to help. [[user:Snowballsakura|snowballsakura]]

===Hitching on Other traditional favourites include the expressway===At the SA/PA itself, the best place offramps of roadside gas stations and convenience stores. The keys are '''visibility''' and '''accessibility''': drivers have to hitch is near the offramp be able to theexpressway, ideally so that you've visible from the buildings &mdash; this way drivers can see spot you as they go in advance, and think about picking you up before they get in their car have to be able to stop and make the choice. From a service area with decent traffic, pick you are very likely to get a ride within minutesup without endangering themselves or others.

Once youNote that it is '''illegal''ve made it onto the expressway, it's easy to keep bouncing hitchhike near road crossings or from one SA/PA to bus stops, although in rural areas where buses drop by just 2-3 times a day the next one, but latter is often tolerated. The very end of a merging lane after a decent highway map crossing is imperative so also OK, as long as you know are more than 5 meters away from the best place to get off if your destination crossing itself. In general, hitchhiking is legal and your driverJapanese police don's path diverge. It's entirely possible t hassle hitchhikers, but they do have fairly wide-ranging powers to cover 500 kilometers act on anything that disturbs or more in a single day by using expresswaysdistracts traffic, so use common sense.

Note that it is '''illegal''' == How to stop a car or walk on foot anywhere on hitch ==Except for the occasional impoverished student in the expressway itselfwide expanses of Hokkaido, including tollboothsthere is very little tradition of hitchhiking in Japan, and you will more likely than not be rapidly the first hitchhiker that your driver has ever even seen, much less picked up by the highway police if you try. Do not allow your driver The key to hitchhiking is thus to drop you off outside a service areaassuage these fears and look as '''harmless and friendly''' as possible.

===Hitching elsewhere===Outside the expressway system on ordinary toll* Update 2018: I think times may have changed. It is true that hitch-free national highways (国道 hiking is still something most Japanese would not do, but I'm not sure if hitch-hiking is something people have never seen before. Some of the rides I took told me they'kokudō'')ve seen hitch-hikers before. The ones I have personally seen with my own eyes, coincidentally, were all Japanese, male, and seemed to be below 35 years old. Some alone, there are also occasional service areas of some in pairs. I live near a sort, known as huge ''Michi-no-Ekikokudo'' (道の駅)road, litmaybe that's why I spot some. But I have also talked to hitch hikers on normal occasions unrelated to travel. I've yet to chance upon a "Road stationsforeign-looking"hitch hiker though. These are excellent places to get dropped off, fuel up, consult maps and grab rides.[[user:Snowballsakura|snowballsakura]]

Other traditional favorites include I agree, in the offramps spring of roadside gas stations 2018 I hitched all the way from Tokyo to Kyusu and convenience storesfound it very easy, eventhough I'm a very tall strange looking European. The keys are '''visibility''' Most people seem to know what hitching is, and '''accessibility''': drivers have to their hospitality once in their vehicle is astounding. You will be able to spot you in advanceoffered food, candy, and they have drinks. Even a place to be able stay at times. I also bet several other hitchhikers with similar experiences. By far one of the easiest countries to stop and pick hitch in as long as you up without endangering themselves or othersstay in the expressway system.[[User:yogibear|yogibear]]

Note that it is The top worries of a Japanese driver when they see a hitchhiking gaijin are: Can he '''illegalcommunicate''' ? Does he know how to hitchhike near road crossings or from bus stopsbehave? The quick way to answer those questions is with a [[signs|sign]]: 日本語できる！ (''Nihongo dekiru!''), although in rural areas where buses drop by literally "Japanese can!", is just 2-3 times six characters and works like a day the latter is often toleratedcharm. The very end of And you don't really need to know Japanese all that well to use such a merging lane after a crossing is also OKsign, as long as you can communicate... somehow... Most people have smartphones now that are more than 5 meters away from connected to the crossing itselfinternet all the time and love to use translation apps on them. In general, hitchhiking So it is legal and Japanese police don't hassle hitchhikers, but they do pretty common to have fairly wide-ranging powers entire conversations over a smart phone. [[User:Rdoc101|Rdoc101]] had a deep conversation about getting married to act on anything that disturbs or distracts traffic, so use common sensemy travel partner entirely through a smartphone.

==How to hitch==Except for Second on the occasional impoverished student in agenda is '''[[appearance]]'''. This is not the wide expanses place for a mop of Hokkaidounruly hair, there is very little tradition of hitchhiking in Japanripped jeans and sunglasses — foreigners are by default scary, and you will more likely than not be the first hitchhiker that need to do your driver has ever even seenbest to look like you stepped out of an L.L. Bean catalog. Neat trousers, clean shirt, much less picked upa hat to protect you from the sun instead of sunglasses. The key If you have a huge rucksack, hide it off to hitchhiking is thus to assuage these fears and look as '''harmless and friendly''' as possiblethe side.

The top worries of * Comment: Not true, at least if you obviously look like a Japanese driver when they see foreigner. That qualifies you as "special person", that should be forgiven if a hitchhiking gaijin are: Can he ) doesn't speak Japanese at looks at you like an amoeba b) look weird, but you know, it's the new fashion from the West! haven'communicatet heard of it yet?! c) doesn'''? Does he t know how to behave? The quick way (concept encompassing various implications; strangely enough though, everybody will be astonished at the sight of you eating a) Japanese food and seem to like it, b) you're skilfully eating it with chopsticks!). That doesn't mean that communication is irrelevant though, although you might be able to answer those questions get rides just as easily; but it does mean that everything coming from the West is "cool", so people are more likely to accept weird appearance/outfit of a Westerner rather than a local. [[User:Gutuater|gutuater]] * Agreed, I sported a hefty beard and unkempt hair, wearing shorts and whatever t-shirt with a massive 40lb wilderness camping backpack. I often would lay my pack beside me and sit on it while I waited for traffic. I never once used a sign. [[signUser:Traceoftoxin|traceoftoxin]]: 日本語できる！ (* Japanese don't think that foreigners will ''Nihongo dekiru!misbehave''), literally "Japanese can!", . Maybe this is just six characters the case 30 years ago but not anymore. They are worried that their English isn't good enough and works like a charmthey might do you more harm than help e.g. And get you lost or take you don't really need to know Japanese all that well to use such a sign, as the wrong place. As long as you can communicate... with them somehowabout important stuff like destination etc..it'll be okay.

Second on the agenda is *'''[[appearance]]Clothes'''- Wear whatever you are comfortable with. This is not the place For practical reasons, really, '''dress for a mop of unruly haircomfort'''. I've talked to Japanese hitch-hikers, they wear normal clothes, ripped jeans and sunglasses &mdash; foreigners are by default scarymay or may not have oddly sized baggage with them, and you need to do your best to look like you stepped out of they get their rides. I'm an L.L. Bean catalogAsian woman, black hair black eyes same skin tone as the Japanese. Neat trousers, clean shirt, I wear a hat to protect you from the sun instead pair of sunglasses. If you bright shocking pink pants and always have a huge rucksack, hide my big backpack close enough for all to know it off belongs to the sideme. I get my rides.

With these down pat*I think the most important is a genuine '''smile''', itbeing '''polite'''s time to and having a '''assume the posepositive attitude''' and hitch. Hitchhiking being an unusual phenomenon, the best-recognized pose will be the classic Western style: left hand extended straight, thumb I feel like a person who'd pick up, and a winning smile on your face. Try to look drivers hitch-hiker would do so because they're interested in the eye as they approach and perhaps even make helping a small bow person in need. Nationality is secondary, but seeming foreign helps because of appreciation, especially if Japanese 'omotenashi' where they feel like they slow down want to provide some form of hospitality to take a better look at you orforeigner, better yet, loop back for in hopes that visitors will have a second lookgood time and good impression of Japan. And persevere[[user: you may get picked up by the first car, or you may have to wait a while, but you ''will'' be picked up sooner or later.Snowballsakura|snowballsakura]]

Once the car does stopWith these down pat, a window will roll down and you will almost always be asked a simple question: it's time to 'Doko made?'' ("To where?") Do not make assume the mistake of giving your final destinationpose''' and hitch. Hitchhiking being an unusual phenomenon, as the driver may assume that you best-recognized pose will insist be the classic Western style: left hand extended straight, thumb up, and a winning smile on going all your face. Try to look drivers in the wayeye as they approach and perhaps even make a small bow of appreciation, especially if they slow down to take a better look at you or, better yet, loop back for a second look. (This is also why it's usually not wise And persevere: you may get picked up by the first car, or you may have to use wait a destination sign.) Insteadwhile, pick the nearest major waypoint and state but you ''X no hōwill'' ("In the direction of X")be picked up sooner or later.

==When If you are going to hitch==Like other tourism in Japanuse a sign at all, then it is enough to stick with the best times of year are spring and fallfour directions: 北 (''kita'') for north, 南 (''minami'') for south, when it西 (''nishi''s not too hot ) for west and not too cold東 (''higashi'') for east. Hitching You can use these anywhere in the summer risks sunburn country and dehydrationpeople always understand what you mean. On top of this, while winter is simply too coldit makes them think you know some Japanese, which will make them more likely to pull over for you.

Distasteful as it may be to get up at 6 AM on vacation, as a hitchhiker you must get an '''early start'''*comment. Many of the longest rides are available early in the morning, and your hitchhiking day will come to an end when The directions works well. I also found the sun goes down.kanji 方面 (direction) very useful

If Once the weather is badcar does stop, ita window will roll down and you will almost always be asked a simple question: ''Doko made?''s best to give up hitchhiking for ("To where?") Do not make the mistake of giving your final destination, as the driver may assume that you will insist on going all the day and figure out something else to doway. A sodden figure standing forlornly in the rain with his thumb out (This is also why it's usually not wise to use a pitiful figure in Japandestination sign.) Instead, hepick the nearest major waypoint and state ''X no hō's a dangerous lunatic' ("In the direction of X").

 Having a map in Japanese to point to is very helpful. Especially if you can't pronounce names of towns correctly.  *Comment: I always went with "Doko demo kono dōro-jō", or, anywhere on this road. That often got me in the car, and as we talked we'd sort out where exactly they were willing to take me. I only got turned down once, and turned down a ride offer once. [[User:Traceoftoxin|traceoftoxin]] *Comment: Just assuming the pose was rarely enough in my experience. You have to be slightly aggressive and bluntly ask people where they are going - while making sure they've seen your pose. People that seem reluctant to take you with them can turn out to be very welcoming when they're simply asked, preferably in Japanese. [[User:Matsumoto Joe|Matsumoto Joe]] *Comment: I wrote the previous comment, and writing again in 2023, I have to take back my words. Being 'aggressive' is not necessary - the best thing I find is just holding up a sign and friendly greet the people who make eye contact with you. I just came back from a week of hitchhiking in Japan and barely raised my thumb.[[User:Matsumoto Joe|Matsumoto Joe]] * Comment 2018: Not sure how well the ''pose'' works, because when I'm not travelling, I've spoken to some Japanese that think that the pose is used to call a cab. That kind of explains why an actual taxi pulled over once while I did the pose without a sign. I almost always use a sign, and the locals seem to always use signs. One guy said that in a busy city, sticking your thumb out is the best way, but I think I'll stick to either signs only or pose+sign.  *For Japanese hitch-hikers, their signs are really specific. They get a ring notebook and write down every city they need to pass through on their route page by page. I've yet to try this and I'm not sure if I ever will. The North-South-East-West mentioned above worked really well for me. In addition I would also like to recommend two more things you can write on your sign: '''上り''' (''nobori'', towards Tokyo) and　'''下り''' (''kudari'', away from Tokyo). Before going on the road, I ask someone at the hostel or any random person, "(destination) ''houmen wa, nobori desu ka? kudari desu ka?''" (If I'm going towards (destination), is it the Nobori or Kudari route?). Their answer will be what I write on my sign. I also use these two words even when I'm on a toll-free road, because it helps give people a good idea of which route you want to get on. It's less vague than "east" or "west" without them worrying that they can't take you to your final destination. Another good question to ask is: "(destination) ''houmen wa, kaisoku doro desuka?''" (Do most people take the expressway to get to (destination)?) - this gives you an idea of what kind of route you have better luck on.*To add, I've yet to go up to people and ask for a ride. It feels unnecessary for me. I've made it clear I'm looking for a ride, in a specific direction without a specific destination. I stand in spots with the most optimal exposure to being seen by traffic. And I wear bright pink pants and have a huge backpack with me. Sometimes, random kind people who can't take me on their vehicles actually go around asking everyone and their dog at the PA/''Michi-no-eki'' to take me on...and it's futile. A ride will come, I stand and wait with my sign patiently. Personally, I dislike asking around. If someone wants to take me, they will, if they can't, they can't. In fact, I've had people turn back after passing by because they were worried or curious or had second thoughts and decided to let me hitch. I never had to approach anyone. In Japanese culture they often say 'no' in vague/confusing ways, plus, constant rejection might be a blow to your mood or attitude for the day. Hitch-hiking works a little differently for everyone. What I read on this guide is useful before I started, but I think it's alright to change your ways and means as you like. [[user:Snowballsakura|snowballsakura]] == When to hitch ==Like other tourism in Japan, the best times of year are spring and fall, when it's not too hot and not too cold. Hitching in the summer risks sunburn and dehydration, while winter is simply too cold. * Comment: I am not sure what "too cold" means. Even in Southern/Western Japan, it can be freaking cold in the winter, but that's mainly because people don't really heat their homes, and most of the times you'll find it warmer outdoors than indoors... cars are definitely warm and comfortable, so unless you're standing in the middle of nowhere, you'll get your ride and a hot drink from your driver before you'll reach hypothermia.[[User:Gutuater|gutuater]] Distasteful as it may be to get up at 06:00 on vacation, as a hitchhiker you must get an '''early start'''. Many of the longest rides are available early in the morning, and your hitchhiking day will come to an end when the sun goes down. *Comment: The biggest thing I found wrong with the hitchhikers guide to Japan. I '''rarely''' got good rides in the morning, in fact, my ride/wait ratio was much worse with 20 minute waits for 20 minute rides in the mornings vs 30-40 minute waits at night for 2 hour rides. I would always use morning to walk around, explore my locale, then start hitching after noon. I got most of my best rides in the early afternoon and right around 17:00-18:00. Hitching after 20:00 takes a lot longer, but often you get '''really''' good rides out of it. I would '''not''' suggest waking up early for rides. [[User:Traceoftoxin|traceoftoxin]]*Comment: In Japan, I've never hitchhiked in the early morning - always in the afternoon, and occassionally at night. Still I've never waited for more than an hour (usually 10-30 minutes) and I got some long rides, too: from Fukuoka to Kagoshima, or once (at night!) from Tokyo to Kyoto. [[User:MatsumotoJoe|MatsumotoJoe]] If the weather is bad, it's best to give up hitchhiking for the day and figure out something else to do. A sodden figure standing forlornly in the rain with his thumb out is not a pitiful figure in Japan, he's a dangerous lunatic. If hitching out of a tourist spot (Nikko for example where I hitched to Utsunomiya) you can still catch rides a little later on with the day tourists heading home. As long as it is still light you still have a fair chance of getting a lift later on in the day. The early morning rides I found were in a rush going to work etc so didn't have time to stop for me whereas the tourists are in no hurry. ==Who to hitch with==In Japan, as everywhere else, your '''gender''' matters when hitchhiking. On an ascending scale of difficulty, the best combinations are:

As for '''who will pick you up''', the range of humanity you will encounter is surprising and, once you've crossed the threshold into their car, the generosity and [[trust]] will amaze you. You will be picked up by young couples, grizzled old farmers, families with small children, traveling travelling salesmen, single women, ''yakuza'' mobsters, Buddhist monks... and, almost without exception, you will be offered drinks and snacks, bought lunch and quite possibly offered a ''tatami'' (floor) for the night. But try to distinguish between offers of genuine goodwill and interest and offers out of duty or perceived obligation, as your driver is likely to feel that he is a host and he must treat you as an honored honoured guest, despite any inconvenience or even financial expense that this might cause.

As a guest, you will not be expected (or allowed) to pay any expenses. Be thankful for this, as Japan's expressway tolls are ''extremely'' high: for example, the trip from [[Tokyo]] to [[Osaka]] costs around &yen;8000 ¥8000 in tolls alone.

==See also=====Links===* Comment: I'm a lone girl hitch hiker. The longest I''[http:ve waited to get picked up was 4 hours, shortest 5 minutes, and average//wwwmedian feels like 30 to 45 minutes.jIf the others who wrote on this page, and the other first few results on google claim that they average at 15-sapa20minutes, I'm not sure if lone girls should still top the list.or.jp/ JI suspect that single, foreign-looking men may take the spot instead? Agree on quantity though -SaPa]'have had a few drivers tell me they've always wanted to let someone hitch a ride, but couldn't fit them because 2 was too many. *I have taken only about 30+ different rides in total so far, most of them were really nice! Polite, friendly, the organization behind all showered me lots of Japancare and concern. Two mediocre experienes: a guy that tried to emotionally possess me while I was around, and two guys who tricked me into signing up for some cult religion.* Despite that, I still continue to hitch hike! I have taken rides with male drivers that had no other companions, and they were very respectful, polite, and didn's expressway service areast try to make me feel uncomfortable. Being friendly and sticking to 'safe' topics (Japanese culture, language-related talk, has food and weather, places, questions about how Japanese feel about politics/culture) are a useful website with newsgood way to be cautious but still offer good conversation. Additionally, don't always give your full real name, maps and search &mdash; if they offer to drive you all the way to your destination, pick some where a little far off. When I hitch my way home I tell them the name of a station 2 stops from my real place. If they ask for contact information, I usually give them an e-mail address I have that is unassociated with my other social media. I've yet to try this but unfortunately ita friend recommends wearing a ring on your ring finger to look "unavailable". The only time I's entirely m super lax and off-guard are when I get picked up by families, with their kids in Japanesetow.[[user:snowballsakura|snowballsakura]]

==Personal Experiences =Atlases===* '''Road Atlas Japan''' (ISBN 4398201041) &mdash; a hitchhiker's invaluable companion, listing pretty much every major road in the country in both English and Japanese. Difficult to find overseas but available in any larger Japanese bookstore (including [http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/4398201041/ Amazon.co.jp]); look for the lurid orange cover.

Here is a anlysing of hitchhiking in Japan by [[User:Korn|Korn]] on [https://warmroads.de/en/hitchhiking-in-15-japan/ - warmroads.] [[User:Anaimlesshitchhiker|Anaimlesshitchhiker]] has written some tips on hitchhiking Japan on [https://anaimlesshitchhiker.com/2017/12/11/hitchhiking-japan-some-tips/ -an aimless hitchhiker ]  Hitchhikernick - On the whole hitching is ok in Japan for a 40 year old white male. Some challenges between Osaka and Akita going up the west coast in December 2023, did only give myself just over 4.5 days to get to Niseko, so if i had more time it would have been more enjoyable and less waiting time as would not have bothered trying to hitch in the dark. My most frequent pickups were in the morning and between 7-9pm, struggling between lunch and dinner time. Waited at expressway service station near Osaka and within an hour police arrived and escorted me to another road away from the expressway informing me it was illegal.  Once I got past Akita it was much easier and even had a guy offering me a lift to Aomori from 10k north of Akita. He also wanted to pay for my ferry ticket and train ticket to Sapporo, but didn't want to take advantage so only took up ride offer. 10 minute wait 20km north of Hakodate next morning and got a lift direct to Sapporo 😁 Definitely more difficult than 2016 when I was there for 2 months (oct-dec), maybe because of COVID, lots of people wearing facemasks and drivers may be more paranoid/fearful. Waited at a service station (second one on this trip) for 5 hours with sign for first hour, then no sign, until finally a young lady picked me up and drove 5 miles to the town she was going to. Got train after that to make up some ground, pleased police didn't come to escort me again. Cleaner of service station spoke broken English and asked me if I was hitchhiking. I was clean and kempt. In 2016 I managed to hitch out of Tokyo with ease, 10 minute wait on hard shoulder to expressway on-ramp. Could of just been right time at right place. All types of people picked me up, except truck drivers. Many business men and truck drivers on 2023 trip had very stern faces when trying to hitch and gain their attention. Maybe my age is making it more difficult, there could be age limitations/expectations in some Asian countries and the reasons for the difficulty and attitude a lot of the drivers had towards me hitching... Average waiting time 2023, for me, 3 hours. *UPDATE* Wow don't things change!!! Managed to hitch from Niseko down to Joetsu in 2 and a half days, retracing my steps. Meals bought for me, received money three times and an onsen experience😁. Didn't wait longer than an hour and average waiting time was 20 mins, that included hitching in dark and moderate snow with ski equipment. Finally a truck stopped for me, but wasn't going my direction. From Joetsu I hitched to Osaka on the same day (9 hours and 4 lifts) and offered lift direct to airport. Waited at service stations on expressway for 15mins average, no police showed up...relief. No public transport was used on return leg to Osaka from Niseko, except for ferry. No signs were used after Niseko, for whole trip signs were not used 95% of time, just the thumb. I only know three words in Japanese and hitched all over country twice with no problems. I used convenience stores, expressway service stations, expressway on-ramp/entrances, petrol stations and bus stops to hitch as well as shoulder lanes (not many) and never asked for a lift, just left it to the good ol' thumb😁 I used manga cafe when in towns as they are cheap and do good night rates (1800 Yen for 8 hours in a cubicle where you can lie down, use internet, free shower and free soft drinks). Brought back memories of 2016 trip 😁. Camped out in some towns behind buildings in quiet areas, even when snowing, with no problems. After Niseko, I was dishevelled, smelled funky due to shoes and had more gear, yet I had much more luck hitching even though theoretically it should have been the other way around...go figure!!! == How to get in and out of cities == See instructions on [https://wikitravel.org/en/Hitchhiking_in_Japan wikitravel]. ==Cities==* '''Honshu - Kanto''': [[Tokyo]] (東京), [[Shizuoka]] (静岡), [[Matsumoto]] (松本), [[Nagano]] (長野), [[Nagoya]] (名古屋市)* '''Honshu - Kansai''': [[Kyoto]] (京都), [[Osaka]] (大阪), [[Kobe]] (神戸), [[Hiroshima]] (広島)* '''Honshu - Tohoku''': [[Akita]] (秋田), [[Aomori]] (青森)* '''Kyushu''': [[Nagasaki]] (長崎), [[Kagoshima]] (鹿児島), [[Fukuoka]] (福岡市), [[Beppu]] (別府)* '''Shikoku''': [[Takamatsu]] (高松), [[Tokushima]] (徳島), [[Kochi]] (高知), [[Matsuyama]] (松山)* '''Hokkaido''': [[Hakodate]] (函館), [[Sapporo]] (札幌), [[Wakkanai]] (稚内) == See also =={{nomadwiki}}=== Links ===* Nexco take care of the highways and SA/PAs, they have multiple websites depending of the part of Japan you are in. But you can find the same maps which you can get inside the SA/PAs on the corresponding website. [http://www.w-nexco.co.jp/ Nexco West] [http://global.c-nexco.co.jp/en/ Nexco Central]* [http://randomroads.org/story/will-ferguson-updated-winter-hitching-japan Travelstory] on [[Randomroads]] by [[User:Gutuater|gutuater]] about hitching Japan. Photo gallery [http://www.flickr.com/photos/gutuater/sets/72157623691059894/ here].* [http://marcandoelpolo.com/viajar-dedo-por-japon-autostop/ Information, tips and personal experiences of hitch-hiking in Japan. A 2717 km journey on 58 vehicles (only in spanish)]* [https://warmroads.de/en/hitchhiking-in-15-japan/ Tips for hitchhiking in Japan] on Warmroads blog (2016).* "[http://35liters.com/2015/07/26/while-preparing-for-rain-all-we-found-was-sunshine/ While Preparing For Rain, All We Found Was Sunshine]" blog post by Kerem (2016) === Atlases ===* '''Road Atlas Japan''' (ISBN 4-398-20104-1) — a hitchhiker's invaluable companion, listing pretty much every major road in the country in both English and Japanese. Difficult to find overseas but available in any larger Japanese bookstore (including [http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/4398201041/ Amazon.co.jp]); look for the lurid orange cover. * '''Bilingual Map of Japan''' (ISBN 978-4-398-83014-2) by Mapple - Perfect, compact, high quality map for just 1000 Yen. List all major routes and city names in phonetic English. Ideal when you are packing light and perfect for showing the driver if verbal communication proves difficult. ===Books===Will Ferguson has written a number of informative and entertaining books about hitchhiking in Japan. These include:* '''Hitchhiker's Guide to Japan''' (ISBN 08048206860-8048-2068-6) &mdash; — practical guide to hitchhiking with a number of tested itineraries* '''Hokkaido Highway Blues''' (ISBN 15694723431-56947-234-3) &mdash; — the story of an epic hitchhiking trip across the entire country {{Excellent}}