Tono, Iwate

Japan must have one of the highest rates of bicycle ownership and ridership on earth. The vast majority of the bikes in use are what are referred to here as 'mamachari', or 'mama bikes', used for going to and from the train or subway station, and going shopping in the neighbourhood. They are medium-sized mounts with a step-through frame, usually have a basket on the front and a rack on the back. They're not particularly well made, but very, very cheap - generally in the ¥8,000 - 15,000 range - C$100 - 175. As a consequence, they rarely get more service than having flats fixed, and often have incredibly squeaky chains and screechy brakes - sometimes I think they use their brakes more as a bell or a horn than for stopping.

A bicycle shop in Tono.

A guy riding a 'mamachari'; they are widely used by just about everybody for short neighbourhood errands.

A cop recording bikes parked outside a supermarket - somebody should give these guys some real crime to deal with!

This is the standard version, but Mercedes-Benz also developed a slightly smaller version of its Smart car to meet the 'keijidosha' specification.

You can buy a used keijidosha truck for very cheap; these two on a lot in Tono are both relatively new, 4WD, and offered for under ¥500,000, or about C$6000.

Likewise for these keijidosha cars...

An earlier version of the Toyota Liteace van was sold in Canada during the 80s, and still has a following. It's still being sold in Japan in a variety of configurations; this is a nicely kitted out version with 4WD.

Another shot of Honda's HR-V small SUV. Why don't they sell these in Canada? Probably because they would be cannibalizing sales of their larger, more expensive CR-V...