Nota: La página que ha solicitado no está en su idioma predeterminado. Usted está usando nuestra plataforma en otro idioma ahora.

Bicycle industry in Japan - statistics & facts

The transportation industry is undergoing a revolution from a technological and conceptual perspective. The necessity to introduce more environmentally friendly modes of transport, paired with a recent surge in interest in physical health, has prompted people living in urban areas in some parts of the world to switch from pressing automobile pedals to bicycle pedals. It is difficult to argue that this trend has broadly caught on in Japan’s urban areas, likely due to a combination of reasons, such as the lack of dedicated infrastructure, the intimidating size of large cities, and the often adverse weather conditions (either too hot or too rainy).
Nevertheless, bicycles have long been a commonly used mode of transport in Japan. Despite decreasing bicycle ownership per household in Japan, more than every second household possesses a bike. Bicycles are most commonly utilized for shopping errands but also serve as an intermediary form of travel to reach train or subway stations, which constitute the principal mode of transport in metropolitan areas when covering longer distances. In general, all demographic groups in Japan use bicycles, albeit to varying degrees. Men have a slightly higher utilization rate than women, while senior generations also tend to have higher usage.

Growing popularity of e-bikes and the start of bicycle-sharing services

The most used bicycle type in Japan was the city bike. It is a general-utility bicycle, often equipped with a basket and up to two child seats. As of 2022, e-bikes were the third most popular bicycle type, with around 13 percent of bicycle buyers in Japan opting for pedal electric assist cycles (pedelecs). Pedelecs attract many elderly consumers, who benefit from reduced effort exertion when riding the bicycle. Sales figures for e-bikes in Japan have kept growing over the past years, reflecting an ongoing demand not only among elderly consumers but also a more general target group. In recent years, more and more cities have authorized the launch of bicycle-sharing services, making alternative and budget-friendly mobility options more accessible.

Safety is a leading concern

While bicycle riding is environmentally friendly and good for one’s health, it also has some drawbacks, one of which is the issue of road safety. The number of accidents involving bicycles in Japan has decreased within the past decade overall. However, thousands of accidents involving cyclists happen every month, some of which are fatal. Most bicycle accidents in Japan occur due to the negligence of traffic participants. Helmet use is optional in Japan, leading to a high share of head injuries among bicycle casualties. Japan established a nationwide mandatory registration scheme for bicycles, with local governments making liability insurance for cyclists compulsory.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Alexandru Arba, Dec 19, 2023

Key insights

Production volume of bicycles in Japan
750.32k
Sales value of bicycles in Japan
88.2bn JPY
Most commonly sold new bicycle type
City bike
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Sales volume of bicycles in Japan from 2014 to 2023 (in million units)

Motorcycles & Bicycles

Bicycle sales volume in Japan 2014-2023

Sales value of bicycles in Japan from 2014 to 2023 (in billion Japanese yen)

Motorcycles & Bicycles

Bicycle sales value in Japan 2014-2023

Distribution of the purpose of utilization of bicycles in Japan in 2021

Bicycles

Distribution of the use of bicycles in Japan 2021, by purpose

Related topics

Recommended

4

Recommended statistics

Overview

6

Overview

Ownership and usage

7

Ownership and usage

Retail

7

Retail

International trade

6

International trade

E-Bikes

4

E-Bikes

Accidents

7

Accidents

Further reportsGet the best reports to understand your industry

Contact

Get in touch with us. We are happy to help.
Statista Locations
Contact Meredith Alda
Meredith Alda
Sales Manager– Contact (United States)
Email
support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)

Contact Yolanda Mega
Yolanda Mega
Operations Manager– Contact (Asia)
Email
asia.support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm (SGT)

Contact Kisara Mizuno
Kisara Mizuno
Senior Business Development Manager– Contact (Asia)
Email
asia.support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 10:00am - 6:00pm (JST)

Contact Lodovica Biagi
Lodovica Biagi
Director of Operations– Contact (Europe)
Email
eu.support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9:30am - 5pm (GMT)

Contact Carolina Dulin
Carolina Dulin
Group Director - LATAM– Contact (Latin America)
Email
latam@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)

Menu