A basic guide to bike rental apps in Japan

Biking around a new city is a great way to get the lay of the land. This is especially true in Japan, where cycling is part of almost everyone’s daily routine. On crowded streets, you’ll see bicycles of all shapes and sizes, some battery-powered to overcome steep hills and others with child seating on the front and back.

For temporary visits or people living in Japanese apartments without bicycle parking, consider subscribing to one of the many bike rental services nationwide. Remember that you’ll need a credit card and a Japanese phone number for these rental services for registration. 

This post breaks down the most popular bike rental services from coverage area to cost.

Docomo Bike Share

Typically, you can spot them easily with their bright red colors. Image: Pixta/ show999

Docomo Bike Share is Japan’s biggest bike rental network. It covers a large group of local bike-sharing services in major cities nationwide. From Sapporo to Tokyo to Osaka and Okinawa, it’s a convenient service to sign up for, especially if you plan to travel around often.

Signing up and fees

To sign up, you can choose from a one-time use membership, a one-day pass membership or a monthly subscription through the official app.

Rental fees vary per location, but generally, they cost ¥165 for 30 minutes, while a one-day pass is ¥1,650, and a monthly pass is ¥2,200. From June 1, 2023, monthly membership rates for Tokyo and Kawasaki will be ¥3,300.

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• External Link
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