Water Bike!?
City SUP cycling at Hachikenyahama

Maido! Osaka Bob here.
I’m sure you’ve been on a bike before, but have you ever ridden a bicycle on the water? I ventured to Tenmabashi Station (on the Keihan line or Osaka Metro Tanimachi line) to give it a go.

First things first, I registered and got a simple explanation of how these things work. They look like a catamaran with SUP hulls and a bicycle on top. It’s very stable and you can choose between a double or a single-rider bike. Technically they’re called City SUP Bikes. And they’re completely man-powered.

My guide, Mr. Okutani, was so nice when he showed me how to ride. The handling is a little tricky because you’re riding on the water. But it’s easy once you get used to it. You can also control the bike by pedaling backwards.

I decided to go for the two-person bike, at least until I got used to it. And wow! This is a great way to see the city. Mr. Okutani pointed out a few sites along the way.

There’s something so liberating about being on the water with a 360° view.

Okawa River is so pretty from the water. The banks are lined with green cherry trees. I bet these bikes will get very popular during cherry blossom season! There are great views of Nakanoshima too.

If you get used to riding, you can venture a little further, but I stayed in the Nakanoshima area. Apparently, there are fewer boats on the river in the early morning. So if you’d like to ride around more freely, mornings are the best time.

City SUP also offers a lot of other tours too, like a half day course through Dotonbori, a SUP picnic, and a river clean-up course. The bicycle SUP is their newest addition, operating since October 1st, and it’s lots of fun!

I got a photo with Mr. Okutani after my ride. This was such a fun experience. I can’t wait to come back for another ride!