First culture shock before we even set foot in Japan

You think we'll pack all our things and leave for Japan. Well, we were given two choices: a container with all our belongings would be shipped to Japan, or we could take 60 kg per person on the plane. Well, that decision was easy: option 1, of course, because Anoeschka's life wouldn't be complete without a cargo bike.

This is how our adventure of arranging a shipping container began. To determine the size of the container needed, we had to take an online tour of the house and identify everything we were taking. We thought this would be the biggest challenge, since we hadn't fully figured out what would be in the closets yet.

Luckily, the email with all the information arrived the next day. We just couldn't believe what it said:

"Japan customs regulation have a strict regulation for E-Bike that made overseas fall under the category of import-restricted products.

Assist control programs of bicycles made overseas differ from those of bicycles made in Japan. In Japan, the assist output is 1:2 relative to the pedal force in accordance with the Road Traffic Law. Assist is reduced at speeds of 10 km/h or more, and is zero at 24 km/h. In overseas, the assist output is proportional to the force applied to the pedal, and there is no proportional control of this pedal force, and the assist is provided up to 25 km/h. Even if an appearance may be the same but specifications may differ.

Therefore, due to the different assistance programs, it is strictly not allowed to be used on public roads in Japan."

There goes our plan to explore Hiroshima by cargo bike... That will be walking, by car or maybe buying a mamachari.

Mamachari