About refueling and gas stations
In this page, we will explain about gas stations and fueling in Japan.
If you don’t know about gas stations, you may be late refueling or put the wrong kind of fuel in your bike and it may not start.
In order to avoid such a situation, it is important to prepare yourself for the unfamiliarity of fueling.
Gasoline (fuel) in Japan
Types of Gasoline (Fuel)
There are three main types of fuel in Japan.
- high-octane petrol
- regular gasoline
- diesel fuel
It may be difficult to understand, because there is no product called “regular gasoline" in other countries, but there is “regular gasoline" in Japan.
Bikes made by Japanese manufacturers run on “regular gasoline" or “high-octane gasoline".
Motorcycles made by foreign manufacturers run on “high-octane" gasoline.
So, if you are not sure what fuel you should put in your rented bike, you can be sure to put in “high-octane" fuel.
All motorized bicycles made in Japan under 50cc are regular, but the fuel specification for other bikes may be ambiguous, so please check beforehand and refuel accordingly.
About gas stations in Japan
Please see the table in the link below for information on gas stations in Japan.
https://e-nenpi.com/gs/shoplistThere is a mark on the chart called “brand.
This mark should be posted on the gas station as it is, so search for “gas station" on Google Maps to find the location and hours of operation.
If you open the following page, you will see a Google map of the gas station in your current location.
https://www.google.co.jp/maps/search/ガソリンスタンド/Some gas stations are not open on Sundays, so please be careful.
How to refuel
Please refer to the video for instructions on how to refuel your motorcycle.
You can pay with a credit card or in cash.
If you pour too much gasoline into the tank without thinking about it, it will overflow.
If you put the tip of the refueling nozzle exactly into the gas tank, it will automatically stop when the tank is full, so please make sure to pull up the refueling nozzle and complete the payment procedure when it stops automatically.
The average range of a motorcycle in Japan
As a bit of trivia, Japanese bikes are designed to last 200km, even if the displacement is large and the fuel consumption is not very good.
This does not mean that the bike is guaranteed to run 200km, but as long as you don’t rev the engine too much, the bike will run 200km.
Our Kawasaki ZX-10R (1000cc Super Sport/17L) has a cruising range of about 230km.
After about 180km, the fuel residual warning lamp will flash on and off.
(Please understand that the fuel consumption is different from the catalog value.)
Generally speaking, when the fuel residual warning lamp flashes, you can only drive about 50km remaining.
Yamaha’s “BOLT" (950cc cruiser/12L) also has a range of about 250km.
The “BOLT" has a fuel residual warning lamp that flashes after about 200km.
In Japan, it is not difficult to find a gas station within 50 kilometers on ordinary roads in the city.
However, if you are driving on highways, freeways, mountain roads, or late at night, you will not be able to easily find a gas station.
If you run out of gasoline, it will be a big hassle and cost you a lot of money, so please make sure you refuel more than enough.
By the way, if you run out of gas and can’t start your bike, call the rental bike service company if it is daytime, or if it is nighttime and you can’t reach anyone, call the police at once, or leave your bike there and wait until morning.