Where can I rent a bicycle in Tokyo?

As a visitor to Tokyo renting a bicycle can be a difficult affair. Given the lack of a convenient city wide bicycle sharing system such as London's Barclays Cycle Hire or the extensive Velib network in Paris tourists are often left to on their own to locate bicycle rental services, and the lack of information in English and other languages makes this a daunting task.

Given that bicycle rental businesses in Tokyo appear and disappear at an astonishing rate I have attempted to list some of the longer running, and less likely to go out of business, bicycle rental services below.

Docomo Community Cycle

By far the most extensive bicycle sharing network in Tokyo is the Docomo Community Cycle Sharing network currently in operation in three wards around Tokyo (Koto-Ku, Chiyoda-ku, Minato-ku) but also in Yokohama and Sendai.

Visitors to the city can use the small wheeled electric bicycles by purchasing a one-day pass and bicycles can be returned on any of the numerous ports in each ward.

Sharing stations in Koto-ku cover the Tokyo Bay waterfront area of Odaiba, a popular tourist destination with wide easy to cycle paths, and home to some of Tokyo's newest cycling infrastructure.

The Chiyoda-ku bicycle sharing stations are conveniently located around the beautiful Imperial Palace Gardens, near Tokyo Station, and the ever popular Akihabara shopping district while Minato-ku bike share stations cover Shinagawa, Roppongi and popular tourist destinatons such as Tokyo Tower, Roppongi Hill and Tokyp Midtown.

Homepage: Docomo Community Cycle

COGICOGI

COGICOGI is a small but well established bicycle sharing system with numerous ports in the Shibuya and Harajuku districts. Recently the service has expanded to cover the Tokyo Skytree area. Membership is required and their small wheeled, electric assist bicycles can be picked up and dropped off at any of the networks bicycle sharing ports. The COGICOGI service operates from 10:00 to 19:00 daily with last rental at 18:00. Membership is required and can be arranged online.

Homepage: COGICOGI Share Cycle System

Phone: 080-0170-5959

Extremo Mountain Bike Rentals

Located in Sumida-ku and offering a bicycle delivery and pick up service to hotels within the Yamanote Line Extremo Mountain Bike Rentals rent reliable brand name mountain bikes for ¥3000, per day, ¥1300 per extra day, and ¥9300 for an entire week. Reservations and ID required.

Homepage: Extremo Mountain Bike Rentals

Phone: 03-5610-0638

Rin Project

Rin Project in Taito-ku is a friendly bicycle store that rents exceptionally well loved bicycles to locals and tourists alike, for ¥1080 pre day (plus a ¥540 accident insurance fee). With just 5 bicycles available for hire making a reservation is highly recommended. Opening hours are 11:00 to 18:00 with last rental at 17:00.

Homepage: Rin Project

Rin Project Rental Bicycle

GS Astuto Road Bike Rentals Tokyo

If you're in Tokyo looking to continue your road or triathlon training then look no further then look n further than GS Astuto Road Bike Rentals. GS Astuto have both carbon frame road bicycles and wheel sets for hire. After a recent move GS Astuto is now a 30 minute train ride from Shinjuku station, but this shouldn't phase anyone who doesn't want to interrupt their training while in Japan. Rates available upon request.

Homepage: GS Astuto Road Bike Rentals Tokyo

Tobu Pro Rental Cycle Asakusabashi

In Asakusabashi short ride from the popular Asakusa Temple District is Tobu Pro Rental Cycle whose friendly staff rent both small wheel and regular size mamachari for just ¥200 per day, plus a one time ¥500 registration fee. Opening hours 07:00 to 20:00.

Renting a bicycle here will put you within easy cycling distance of Asakusa, Ueno, the Sumo Stadium at Ryogoku and even the districts of Marunouchi and Ginza.

I've personally used Tobu Pro Rental Cycle Asakusabashi when organising Tokyo Cycling Infrastructure Tours and highly recommend them due to their flawless customer care and service.

Homepage: Tobu Pro Rental Cycle Asakusabashi

Phone: 03-0866-1818

Katushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum Bicycle Rental

Located conveniently close to the Edogawa cycling road and numerous parks and gardens the Katushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum rents mamachari style bicycles for just ¥400 per day.

Homepage: Katushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum

Phone: 03-3657-3455

Ward Offices

Tokyo is made up of 23 distinct council controlled regions most of which offer some form of bicycle rental via their City Hall. Information about these services is provided almost exclusively in Japanese via the City Office website, but as reservations are rarely required once you've located the pick up point renting a bicycle is rarely a difficult affair.

Taito-ku Rent-a-Cycle

Open daily from 6:00 until 20:00 at four convenient locations their mamachari style bicycles can b hired for just ¥300 per day.

Homepage: Taito-Ku Rent-a-Cycle

Phone: 03-5246-1305

Setagaya City Rental Cycle

With 7 convenient port locations around Setagaya-ku, the largest of Tokyo's 23 wards, and a mix of electric assist and conventional bicycles and even bicycles with child seats Setagaya City Rental Cycle has something for everyone.

Homepage: Setagaya City Rental Cycle

Phone: 03-3425-7195

Nerima Town Cycle

Nerima Town Cycle has 7 ports located close to major train stations around Nerima-ku and bicycles can be rented for as little as ¥200 per day. Unfortunately in addition to ID th service asks for proof of residence meaning the system is closed to those who do not live in Nerima Ward. I guess they're working on a different definition of bicycle "sharing" than the rest of us.

Homepage: Nerima Town Cycle

Phone: 03-5984-1032

Edogawa-ku Rental Cycle

The City owned Edogawa-ku Rental Cycle has mamachari style bicycles available for just ¥210 per day at 11 conveniently located sharing stations, including one close to the scenic Kasai Rinkai Koen and Arakawa River cycling course.

Homepage: Edogawa-ku Rental Cycle

Phone: 03-5662-1997