Circle K Rental Bicycles

サークルKカルチャリレンタルサイクル

Circle K, a convenience store chain, has entered the bicycle rental market in Kyoto.

In front of a store north of Daimaru department store, three bikes were lined up waiting to be rented.

There is little information online in Japanese or English.

The woman manager, however, was helpful.

To rent a bike, must present one of the following: a valid passport, driver's license (Japanese), student id (presumably Japanese), or insurance card (Japanese).

Rates

City Cycle rental tickets:

3 hours: 300 yen
6 hours: 450 yen
9 hours: 600 yen
24 hours: 900 yen
1 hour supplementary tickets: 150 yen

Electric Bicycle rental tickets:

3 hours: 500 yen
6 hours: 750 yen
9 hours: 1,000 yen
24 hours: 1,500 yen
1 hour supplementary tickets: 250 yen

Insurance comes with the cost of renting a bike. However, accidents and theft are not covered.

Also, not all Circle K stores offer this service.

© CycleKyoto.com

CycleKyoto Home Page

Tags

Japan
Touring
Kyoto
Rental Cycle
Circle K

Kyoto Community Cycle

まちかどミナポート

Kyoto now has a public rental bike system.

The city sponsored Community Cycle program debuted on April 30th of this year, and now has four rental/return locations.

The four "stations" are near Kyoto Station, Sanjo Station, just north of the Manga Museum, and close to Marutamachi Station.

Fees start at 200 yen for the first hour, and then 100 yen for each additional hour.

The bikes are white single-gear bikes with a blue strip between the top tube and down tube.

Payment is with a credit card or a Pitapa IC card.

For those who plan on cycling all day, the private rental companies may be more economical.

© CycleKyoto.com

CycleKyoto Home Page

Tags

Japan
Rental
Kyoto
Cycle
Kyoto Community Cycle

Beijing Rental Bicycles

北京のレンタサイクル

Three years ago on a cold March day I was wandering the Back Lakes Area of Beijing.

Close to one of the lakes and just outside a hutong - traditional compound of houses - was a bike rental shop.

These colorful wacky bikes were waiting to be rented.

A group of rotund western tourists passed them over in favor of a modern version of the rickshaw.

I winced as I watched the Chinese driver struggle to get going. But go he did.

© CycleKyoto.com

CycleKyoto Home Page

Tags

Japan
Beijing
Kyoto
Cycle
Japanese

Kyoto Bike Rental

京都レンタサイクル

As befitting a city whose economy is based heavily on tourism, Kyoto has a lot of bike rental shops.

This one, in Demachiyanagi, is close to Shimogamo Temple and the Kamo River.

Once we got our bikes, we headed up the river bank to Kamigamo Shrine.

For a full list of rental shops, click here.

© CycleKyoto.com 

CycleKyoto Home Page 


Tags Japan Touring Kyoto Bike Rental Japanese