Why go
Use walking within a compact cluster and rail between distant hubs. For cycling, confirm where riding and parking are permitted, choose quieter routes, and avoid assuming that a short map distance will be simple at large stations or major intersections.
The full story
Bicycle & Walking Bicycles are very commonly used for local transport, but amenities like bicycle lanes are rare, drivers pay little heed to bikes and traffic can be very heavy on weekdays, so if you use a bicycle, do not be afraid to cycle on the sidewalk . Keep in mind, however, that parts of Tokyo are surprisingly hilly, and it's a sweaty job pedaling around in the summer heat. Central Tokyo can still be covered fairly comfortably by bike on the weekends. Tokyo Great Cycling Tour offers a one day guided tour for biking around major tourist spots in Tokyo, like Marunouchi, Nihonbashi, Tsukiji, Odaiba, Tokyo tower, Imperial palace and so on. Renting a bike is possible from some youth hostels, particularly around Asakusa, although it's not common. However, buying a simple single-speed roadster is fairly cheap, and comes complete with a built-in bicycle wheel lock system (this is what most Tokyoites use). An imported multiple-geared bike will be much more expensive so get a good lock, as bike theft is a common threat, although the problem is nowhere near as serious as in other countries. By foot In this large city with such an efficient public transportation system, walking to get from point A to point B would seem a bit stupid at first glance.
Useful to know
- Confirm current details from the relevant official operator before relying on this walking and cycling in tokyo advice.