When you’ve ever been to Japan, you understand that biking is a lifestyle there. Whereas within the Philippines, biking for leisure and concrete mobility has solely caught on not too long ago due to the pandemic, for the longest time, individuals in Japan of all ages, occupations, and courses can handle to bike round safely even in busy cities due to the nation’s superior infrastructure and the self-discipline of street customers. On a current journey to Osaka, my household and I all had a free day in between sightseeing excursions to do no matter we needed. So we mixed the same old sightseeing and meals journeys with biking.
At first we tried to utilize one of many native bikeshare programs since we saved recognizing bikes on each nook. You will discover the Docomo Bikeshare System throughout Japan, however renting bikes apparently requires a bank card, native SIM numbers and knowledge plans (per individual), and registration on an app, which we couldn’t appear to obtain.
Whereas the bikeshare system is nice for locals, it may be a little bit of a trouble for vacationers to make use of, as you continue to must register on apps and can get charged on a per hour foundation by bank card in the event you don’t have an IC Card like PASMO or SUICA.
Anyway, after spending one morning getting vacationer sims, making an attempt to register on-line, and asking for assist round comfort shops, we determined to simply search for a store with conventional bikes to lease as a substitute.
After strolling round, we ended up discovering a small store on GoogleMaps known as Uemachi Rental Bicycle with models of folding Japanese mini-bikes. Leases value ¥300 an hour (Php 115) or about ¥1,300 (P495) for complete day use (greater than 5 hours).
The proprietor was very pleasant, might converse English, and didn’t require any prolonged paperwork. We simply needed to replenish a registration kind with particulars of our passport and lodge and so forth. He instructed us that his store was open late (till 10:00 p.m.) for the returns and he didn’t even require us to pay up entrance. He stated we might simply pay once we returned the bikes. Very good man.
He outfitted the bikes with baskets so it could be simpler to hold objects and lent us bike locks in case we wanted to park someplace. He additionally gave us a map of the world and gave some tips on biking round.
Our first cease on our chill journey was Osaka Fortress, essentially the most well-known landmark within the metropolis, which we visited the day before today with household after visiting Nara, the Kuromon Fish Market, and different vacationer spots.
Past the same old photograph ops with the fortress itself, the grounds are nice for biking and lots of spots are uncrowded and quiet. There have been extra locals jogging and biking across the space with youngsters fairly than vacationers alongside the perimeter of the fortress.
The principle Osaka Fortress grounds are free to go to, however there’s an admission payment of ¥600 to go inside the primary tower of the fortress itself, which homes a historical past museum and observatory on the eighth flooring. When you’re simply up for biking round, you possibly can circle across the moats, discover the shaded paths and walkways at a extra leisurely tempo, and admire the fortress from totally different angles. There are smaller shrines and landmarks scattered about. Close to one gate, you possibly can lease Samurai costumes and props for photograph ops.
If you wish to take a break right here, one space of the general public park has a number of cafes, together with a giant Starbucks. There are additionally merchandising machines and comfort shops in key areas in the event you simply need to purchase cheaper snacks and drinks. It was nice to simply bike round right here with no mounted itinerary and with out dashing to get to a different vacation spot.
Because it was nonetheless early, we determined to see the place else we might bike close by. We purposely prevented biking to Dohtonbori as a result of the world will get crowded and there are only some designated locations to park bikes due to the quantity of vacationers all flocking and consuming there. You may’t park bikes outdoors most eating places right here. If you wish to discover Dohtonbori, I recommend you simply go on foot.
On GoogleMaps, we observed Nakanoshima Park, a public park on an islet in the midst of a river. The realm surrounding the park incorporates the Osaka Metropolis Central Public Corridor, The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, a Youngsters’s Library, and different industrial institutions. Whereas different spots in Osaka can get fairly crowded, this park provided a really quiet city escape.
There have been lots of benches and spots alongside the river the place anybody can simply sit and admire the basic and trendy neighboring buildings. There are additionally a couple of cafes, together with a espresso store serving Danish pastries and a Riverside Grill & Beer Backyard that appeared well-liked with locals. The grill serves Samgyeopsal and Premium BBQ programs with drink-all-you-can specials for about ¥4,400 – 5,500 (Php 1,595 – 2,159) per individual with a two-hour time restrict.
The waterfront park nestled between Dojimagawa and Tosaborigawa rivers has a rose backyard that includes about 3,700 rose bushes and about totally different 310 rose species. The roses weren’t in bloom once we visited, nevertheless it was nonetheless a pleasant place to bike, hang around, and simply sit on the grass. One of many nice issues about Japan is that it has so many parks and inexperienced areas even in the midst of busy areas.
Because the Riverside Grill was out of our finances, we simply biked alongside the facet streets on the lookout for a spot to eat on the best way again to the bike rental store. We stopped at a small izakaya for dinner of Yakitori and Kirin beer.
We additionally got here throughout a giant grocery retailer and ended up shopping for extra meals and beer for post-dinner “snacks” earlier than returning the bikes.
A whole lot of groceries promote sushi, sashimi, and bento field meals at discounted costs at night time. Plus beer is cheaper in shops and merchandising machines. You may get beer for lower than ¥300 per can versus a minimal of ¥550-800 per mug once you dine in eating places. You’ve simply received to like the number of meals out there at Japanese groceries and comfort shops.
A few days later after visiting Kobe on a day journey, we returned to the identical bike store for an additional journey. The proprietor was out, and there was a “bought out” signal for the day posted, so we determined to simply stroll round and search for different close by bike retailers. Sadly, the opposite locations we checked turned out to be native retailers that bought classic bikes, whereas one other required deposits that value the worth of the bike and closed early at 7:00 p.m.
Whereas looking out round for locations to go close by, we chanced upon Neu, a hidden Rescue Cat and Vegan Cafe in a secluded residential space close to the bike rental store, so we determined to test it out. Apparently, all of the cats at Neu are initially strays or deserted by house owners.
The cafe goals to assist them discover loving new house owners. Enjoying with cats for 1 hour prices ¥1,500 per individual. It was a calming hour and cash effectively spent to assist the worthy trigger and to be within the presence of such beautiful and pleasant creatures. Beats being round different individuals.
After we received again to the bike store, fortunately the proprietor had returned and bikes had been out there to lease once more. Although it was getting darkish, we determined to lease bikes for a few hours for an evening journey to close by parks.
We biked alongside the cycle paths of Sakuranomiya Park, which stretches over 4 kilometers alongside the Ogawa River. The banks of this park are lined with cherry bushes and locals normally flock right here throughout spring for picnics and nature walks. Alongside the best way, we stopped at Sakuranomiya Seashore, which has a sandy beachfront space. We encountered some locals taking part in volleyball on the seashore, joggers, and staff on their approach dwelling, however no different vacationers.
We simply adopted the cycle path till we reached a brief uphill climb to Yodogawa River Park, which affords a view of the Yodo River. By this time, it was getting darkish (and we had an early day forward of us), so we determined to show again and move a distinct route biking again.
It felt fairly secure biking right here the entire time even alongside the darker alleys and busy highways, although on reflection the riverside route was sooner as a result of we didn’t must maintain stopping for visitors lights. After returning the bikes, we capped our journey with heaping bowls of Tonkotsu Ramen at a ramen store close to the lodge.
For non-bikers, the rides we did round Osaka might sound nondescript and abnormal. When it comes to distance, they had been neither epic nor difficult due to the primarily flat route. With no actual plan, we discovered ourselves doing what we might usually do on a weekend journey round our personal neighborhood—only a easy journey round parks to benefit from the inexperienced areas, consuming out, getting groceries, and having fun with a beer or two.
Whereas we didn’t have time to spare for longer rides, having the ability to squeeze in some biking in between the sightseeing excursions and visiting a crowded amusement park felt like a mini-vacation inside the Japan trip. It felt good to discover and uncover locations for ourselves (regardless of how abnormal) with out actually following an itinerary. Biking round Osaka felt much less tiring than strolling and fewer complicated to navigate in comparison with the in depth practice system.
The quick rides round Osaka gave us only a style of Japan’s superb bike tradition and infrastructure. I wouldn’t thoughts biking longer in different elements of Japan the following time we journey there.
The place to lease bicycles in Osaka:
We rented bicycles from Uemachi Bicycle Rental service. The store is situated close to the Matsuyamachi Station or Tanimachi 6-chome Station.
Different bikeshare programs in Osaka you possibly can contemplate embrace HUBchari Bicycle Rental, Docomo Bike Share, Hi there Biking, and LUUP (e-scooters and e-bikes).
