Table of Contents:
Introduction
Potential Bicycle City Japan Locations
Alternative Energy Organizations & Companies in Japan
Japan Animal & Wildlife Groups
Business Organizations & Resources Japan
Education Organizations & Resources Japan
Environmental Groups Japan
International Groups
Japan National Government
In Conclusion

The mountainous regions of Japan along with its tropical oceanic climate could be an ideal home for a potential site of Bicycle City, Japan. For picturesque views and landscapes, each of the four islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu is almost 75 percent mountain region, with roughly two-thirds of the four islands’ land mass forested, according to Altapedia http://www.atlapedia.com/online/countries/japan.htm. There are two rainy seasons each year, leaving the balance of the year nearly rainless, Altapedia notes.

In keeping with the goals of any potential Bicycle City, Japan site, Japan’s government intends to increase biomass in fuels as part a national effort to decrease fossil fuel use and prevent further global warming, according to Green Options http://www.greenoptions.com/blog/2007/03/01/japan_ups_ethanol_made_from_biomass.
The country’s twenty-eight national parks listed by Japan’s National Tourist Organization http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/ttp/sg/10-MajorDestinations/MediumIndex/01-NationalParks.html boast hiking trails, biking, boating, and hot springs giving several options of outdoor, clean entertainment options to future residents and visitors to Bicycle City, Japan.

Development of a Japanese Bicycle City would likely tap into inherent benefits from Japan’s designation as the world\'s largest donor of foreign assistance for nature conservancy, according to The Nature Conservancy http://www.nature.org/wherewework/asiapacific/japan/. Japan is additionally setting precedent for natural conservation with technology, policies and funding to promote conservation on a global level, The Nature Conservancy notes. The country is currently increasing resources for environmental projects that should have significant effects on the environment in Japan, as well as positively affecting the countries along its borders.

Bicycle City, Japan (JPN) could be located within 50 to 100 miles from the following cities or prefectures:

Tokyo, JPN

• Population: 8,483,050
• Average Annual Rainfall: 60 inches
• Average Monthly High Temperatures: Jan 48.0°F; Feb 48.6°F; Mar 54.1°F; Apr 64.0°F; May 71.4°F; Jun 76.8°F; Jul 83.7°F; Aug 86.7°F; Sep 79.5°F; Oct 69.6°F; Nov 61.0°F; Dec 52.5°F.
• Water: Sumida River, Pacific Ocean
• Adjacent Public Land: Ueno Park, Shinjuku Gyoen, Yoyogi Koen, Hama Rikyu
• Other Highlights: Yasukuni-jinja, a shrine to fallen heroes of the Japanese armed forces; Meiji Shrine; large number and variety of museums

Nagoya, JPN

• Population: 2,215,031
• Average Annual Rainfall: 62.5 inches
• Average Monthly High Temperatures: Jan 46.9°F; Feb 48.7°F; Mar 55.4°F; Apr 66.2°F; May 74.1°F; Jun 79.9°F; Jul 87.1°F; Aug 89.8°F; Sep 82.2°F; Oct 72.0°F; Nov 62.1°F; Dec 51.8°F.
• Water: Pacific Ocean
• Adjacent Public Land: Higashiyama Koen, Tsuruma Park, Shiratori teien
• Other Highlights: Nagoya Castle; Tokugawa Art Museum; Atsuta Shrine

Kyoto, JPN

• Population: 1,474,764
• Average Annual Rainfall: 64.2 inches
• Average Monthly High Temperatures: Jan 47.5°F; Feb 48.6°F; Mar 55.0°F; Apr 66.6°F; May 74.8°F; Jun 80.6°F; Jul 88.0°F; Aug 90.7°F; Sep 82.9°F; Oct 72.3°F; Nov 62.2°F; Dec 52.3°F.
• Water: Katsura River, Kamo River; Uji River; Kyoto Bay
• Adjacent Public Land: Maruyama Park, Ryozen Kannon
• Zip Codes: 26211,26109,26105,26102,26101,26107,26104,26111,26103,26106,26108, 26110
• Other Highlights: Kyoto Imperial Palace; Garden of Fine Art; numerous temples

Fukuoka, JPN

• Population: 1,400,621
• Average Annual Rainfall: 62 inches
• Average Monthly High Temperatures: Jan 48.9°F; Feb 50.0°F; Mar 56.3°F; Apr 65.8°F; May 73.4°F; Jun 79.2°F; Jul 86.7°F; Aug 88.7°F; Sep 81.7°F; Oct 72.7°F; Nov 63.3°F; Dec 53.6°F.
• Water: Naka River, Mikasa River, Hakata Port
• Adjacent Public Land: Nokonoshima Island, Momochi Seaside Park, Maizuru Park, Chuo Park
• Zip Codes: 41031,41032,41033,41034,41035,41036, 41037
• Other Highlights: Fukuoka Castle; Tenmangu Shrine, a shrine and flea market; Fukuoka Asian Art Museum

Sapporo, JPN

• Population: 1,880,875
• Average Annual Rainfall: 43.1 inches
• Average Monthly High Temperatures: Jan 29.3°F; Feb 31.1°F; Mar 37.6°F; Apr 51.6°F; May 62.2°F; Jun 69.6°F; Jul 76.6°F; Aug 79.3°F; Sep 71.4°F; Oct 60.6°F; Nov 46.4°F; Dec 34.5°F.
• Water: East Sea, Toyohira River
• Adjacent Public Land: Odori Park
• Other Highlights: Historical Village of Hokkaido; Tokei-dai clock tower; Maruyama Zoo; several art and history museums

Bicycle City Potential Location Sources:

• Geohive Global Statistics http://www.xist.org/cntry/japan.aspx
• Average rainfall and temperatures http://www.worldclimate.com
• Map of Japan http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mapshells/north_east_asia/japan/japan.htm
• Parks http://www.japan-guide.com
• Lakes, Rivers, and Attractions http://www.tripadvisor.com

• GH Craft http://www.ghcraft.com/
• Kyocera Solar Energy http://global.kyocera.com/prdct/solar/index.html
• Matsushita Ecology Systems Co., Ltd.
• http://panasonic.co.jp/mesc/products/en/index.html
• MSK http://www.msk.ne.jp/en/index.shtml
• Sharp http://sharp-world.com/solar/index.html

• ALIVE (All Life in a Viable Environment) http://www.alive-net.net/english/index.html
• Animal Rights Center (ARC) Japan http://arcj.info/
• International Cetacean Education & Research Centre Japan (ICERC Japan) http://www.icerc.org/
• Japan Animal Welfare Society (JAWS) http://www.jaws.or.jp/
• Japan Wildlife Conservation Society http://www.jwcs.org/
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Japan http://www.wwf.or.jp/eng/index.htm

• All Japan Real Estate Association http://www.zennichi.or.jp/index.php
• Hyogo Business and Cultural Center http://www.hyogobcc.org
• Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry http://www.jcci.or.jp/home-e.html
• Kyushu-Yamaguchi Economic Federation http://www.kyukeiren.or.jp/english/index.html
• Osaka Business and Investment Center http://www.o-bic.net/
• Tokyo Trade and Industry Association http://www.tokyo-trade-center.or.jp/

• Fukushima Medical College; Hiroshima University; Miyazaki International College; Tokyo Institute of Technology; Yasuda Woman’s University. Click here for a complete list of colleges/universities.
  http://web.mit.edu/cdemello/www/jp.html

• Earthwatch Japan http://www.earthwatch.jp/
• GLOBE Japan - Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment http://www4.osk.3web.ne.jp/%7Eglobejp/
• Green Action http://www.greenaction-japan.org/modules/entop2/
• Greenpeace Japan http://www.greenpeace.or.jp/index_en_html
• Japan Environmental Lawyers Federation (JELL) http://www1.jca.apc.org/JELF/
• Japan Tropical Forest Action Network (JAPAN)

• Alliance Françoise Association France Aichi (Nagoya-shi, Chikusa-key)
  http://www.gld.mmtr.or.jp/%7Eafnag/pagesF/AFAFA.html
• Asian Club Tokyo http://ggy.dip.jp/act/
• Hyogo International Association http://www.hyogo-ip.or.jp/en/index.htm
• Indian Community Activities Tokyo http://www.manicat.org/main.html
• Institut Franco-Japonais de Tokyo http://www.institut.jp/
• Kyoto City International Foundation http://www.kcif.or.jp/en/

• Ministry of Defense http://www.mod.go.jp/e/index_.htm
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs http://www.mofa.go.jp/
• Ministry of Health, Labor, & Welfare http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/index.html
• Ministry of Internal Affairs & Communications http://www.soumu.go.jp/english/
• Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, & Transport http://www.mlit.go.jp/english/
• Ministry of Environment http://www.env.go.jp/en/

Japan is at the forefront of the natural conservation effort. With government agencies focusing on new ways to improve the environment and greener ways to live in this island region of Asia, a prospective Bicycle City, Japan, development could have a promising future here. The natural landscape and weather patterns would create an ideal atmosphere for potential Bicycle City, Japan, development’s residents and visitors.