Sightseeing on 2 wheels! Experience Osaka with a bicycle from ROAD BIKE RENTAL JAPAN［PR］

Maido! Osaka Bob here.
Lots of things have changed since the beginning of Covid, and one of the big changes is related to cycling. I’ve noticed a lot more people on two wheels, people who want to avoid the crowded rush-hour trains and people who are looking for a more healthy lifestyle. It seems like there are a lot more stylish bikes out there too. So I wanted to take a little dive into the Osaka cycling scene. I visited 「Road Bike Rental Japan」 to see what’s going on.

■Nice wheels!

First let’s take a look at some of the road bikes you can rent from Road Bike Rental Japan. They’re perfect for riding long distances.

On Japanese streets you’ll see a lot of what are called “Mama-chari,” essentially utility bicycles often equipped with child seats and baskets. These can weigh up to 20kg! But the road bike, the beautiful road bike, weighs in at about 6–10kg. Materials like aluminum, chromoly, and titanium keep them nice and light, and smooth to ride.

See! They’re so easy to pick up!
They’re light to pedal and of course, these bikes have a few gears on them so you can adjust your setting to match the road conditions.

This is a great way to explore the city. And if you’re interested in buying a road bike, but want to try riding one firsttry renting one first.

■Easy road bike rental for beginners!

Road Bike Rental Japan is conveniently located near Sakuranomiya Station on the JR Osaka Loop Line. It’s just a 2 minute walk!
You might already be familiar with the neighborhood because it’s a hugely popular cherry-blossom viewing spot.

Here are all their beautiful bikes! There’s a lot to choose from!
The owner, Gareth, hails from the UK. He began backpacking after graduating from university his adventurous spirit led him on tours of South America, Asia and Australia. He’s a really nice guy, so feel free to ask him anything you’re curious about.

When he arrived in Japan he had plans to continue his travels, but he liked it so much here that he decided to stay. While working as an English teacher he had the chance to tour Japan on his road bike and saw many of the beautiful sights Japan has to offer.
A strong desire to share the joys of cycling in Japan with locals and tourists alike inspired him to open a bicycle rental business.
Let’s see what we can see after renting a bike from his shop. First, you want to make sure you have a bike that fits you. If the bike is too big or too small for you, you won’t be able to pedal smoothly. So we’re looking for bikes that are the right size and then do some fine adjustments with the seat to get it at the perfect height.

Afterwards, Gareth shared some basic rules about shifting gears. This is important when you’re climbing a hill, so listen carefully!

There were a few other minor preparations before we left, which might be difficult for a beginner cyclist. Fortunately, we had Gareth there to help us at every step of the way.
The bike comes equipped with a helmet, bottle cage, light, lock, saddle bag, spare tube, pump, and a multi-tool. That means all you have to worry about is wearing comfortable clothes and bringing a drink.
I brought two friends along this was their first time riding a road bike.

So that’s it! Helmets on and we’re off.

■Cycling in Osaka on a road bike

Right in front of Road Bike Rental Japan is one of Osaka’s best cycle paths, in Kema Sakuranomiya Park. The weather was beautiful and we got to ride through the lush riverside park.

Since the terrain is relatively flat, it was easy riding. And this was a good place to practice all the gear-changing that Gareth taught us about. Riding along the river, we could really unwind.

We headed over to Sakuranomiya Bridge aka Ginbashi (Silver Bridge), as it’s known for its silver color.
The breeze feels so good when you’re on the river and we loved how light and easy it was to pedal the road bikes.
On the west bank of the river we found a brick building with a spiral staircase. This is the kind of thing you notice when you’re on a bike.

We would have sped right by without giving it a second glance if we’d been in a car. And I doubt we would have walked this far on foot. This must be the joy of cycling Gareth was talking about.
Next we passed in front of the Japan Mint and Tenmabashi Bridge. Then we headed to Osaka Castle. This is a little known spot that has beautiful sunsets. There are people who wake up early on New Year’s Day to see the first sunrise here. The sun comes up between the castle tower and Osaka Business Park.

Heading towards Osaka Castle, we crossed another bridge. Osaka is really easy to cycle because it’s so flat, except for the bridges. They take a little effort to get up, but these road bikes are really easy to ride. Way faster than the mama-chari’s my friends are used to.
The other nice thing about being on a bike, is that even if you make a wrong turn, you can make up the distance quickly. It’s hard to put into words, but riding around around is so relaxing. All three of us were carefree cruising on our road bikes.
And then we arrived at the castle.

Osaka Castle Park has amazing stone walls. Just look how big these are. Absolutely massive!
This is the Kyobashi-guchi Gate on the northwest side of the castle. The rock known as Higoishi is 33 times the size of a tatami mat.
Riding bikes on the castle grounds is fun too!

We got up close to the tower for a shot with the castle. Cheese!
Then we stopped for a much needed break. Not that we were tired of riding, just that we wanted to stop and rehydrate. Make sure you take breaks and drink enough fluid while you’re cycling. Especially if it’s hot out!

The park is huge so there is a lot to explore.

Then we went through the impressive Aoyamon Gate.

Osaka Castle Park is great for cycling because the paths are wide and there are no cars. The long course around the castle is about 3.5km.
We stopped at the nearby YTV building to take a picture with the Detective Conan statue and then headed back to the river. It was so much fun to visit so many places by bicycle.

When you’re on a bike, Osaka doesn’t feel that big at all, especially if it’s a road bike. This is a great way to cover a lot of ground sightseeing.
We headed back to Road Bike Rental Japan. I have to say, I was a little worried we would get tired on our trip, but it was way easier on the legs than I had imagined.

And Gareth was waiting for us when we got back to the shop.

■Rental, bike-wash, and maintenance!

Reserve your bike rental on the Road Bike Rental Japan website.

Official website▶https://roadbikerentaljapan.com/

Reservations are easy to make and the site includes all you need to know about preparing for your ride, rental hours, payment methods, and everything else on the FAQ section.
Look here to find out more!

After you make a reservation, just show up at the shop on the day you booked. From there, it should go as smoothly as I described above.
Oh, and there is one more very special thing about RBRJ!
The

CYCLE CAFE!

After our ride, we got ourselves a well-deserved treat.

This hit the spot after a day of cycling. The cafe is a great place to grab a coffee before you head out too!

These are the cutest!♥

Bike-wash time!

The best way to keep your road bike looking good for a long time is to put the time in to care for it properly.
If you have your own bike, stop in for a wash or borrow their equipment for ¥100/10 min. What a nice service for local bike enthusiasts. They’ve even got a DIY bike maintenance studio, so feel free to pop in and work on your own bike.

■Here’s why we loved our outing with Road Bike Rental Japan!

To sum up, here is why we enjoyed our time on Road Bike Rental Japan bikes so much!

Road Bike features:

1. Exercise is good for you!
2. Easy to ride with out getting tired!
3. The wind in our hair feels so good!
4. Easy to visit many sightseeing spots!
5. Stress-free activity!

Why we love Road Bike Rental Japan:

1. You can easily rent a nice road bike!
2. The bikes are well-equipped!
3. The rental includes everything you need. Just wear comfortable clothes and bring a drink!
4. The location is great, a short walk from JR Sakuranomiya Station!
5. Explanations are included & road-bike beginners are welcomed!

The owner, Gareth was so kind and friendly. He have us advice on our route before we left.
He recommends a trip out of the city to Arashiyama in Kyoto, or Katsuoji Temple in Minoh. A trip outside of the city to breath fresh air and take in new scenery is so refreshing. He told us 
“That’s the best medicine for the stress that we carry with us in our busy day-to-day lives.” Our ride convinced me. I think he’s right!
A group ride with friends is a great way to share some fun time together. Solo riding gives you a chance to make time for yourself. A bike adventure really is so freeing.
Try it! Explore Osaka on a bike from Road Bike Rental Japan.

Start your adventure here!

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