Osaka Bob FAMILY

Bob

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.

[Contents]

■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.
Osaka road bike rental

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.

Osaka Road Bike Rental Japan

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.

ROAD BIKE RENTAL JAPAN, Osaka
ROAD BIKE RENTAL JAPAN, Osaka

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.

ROAD BIKE RENTAL JAPAN owner

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.

road bike seat adjustment

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

lecture on how to ride road bikes
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.

ROAD BIKE RENTAL JAPAN, first-time riders
ROAD BIKE RENTAL JAPAN, ride experience

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.
cycling in Osaka on a riverside bike path

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.

first-time cycling in Osaka

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.

brick building in Osaka & rental bikes

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.

view of Osaka Castle on rental bikes

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.

Kyobashi-guchi gate at Osaka 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!

exploring Osaka Castle on bicycle

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!

exploring Osaka Castle on bicycle

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

大阪でロードバイク体験

Then we went through the impressive Aoyamon Gate.

cycling in Osaka on rental bikes

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.

cycling in Osaka on rental bikes

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.
cycling in Osaka on bikes from Road Bike Rental Japan

■Rental, bike-wash, and maintenance!

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

Osaka bicycle rental, ROAD BIKE RENTAL JAPAN reservation 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!
ROAD BIKE RENTAL JAPAN FAQs

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.

homemade waffles at ROAD BIKE RENTAL JAPAN's cycle cafe

▲Road Bike Rental Japan homemade waffles

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

souvenir coffee cups from ROAD BIKE RENTAL JAPAN

▲Road Bike Rental Japan coffee mugs

These are the cutest!♥

Bike-wash time!

bike-wash and bicycle cleaning at ROAD BIKE RENTAL JAPAN

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:

cycling riverside in Osaka, Japan

  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!


cycling experience in Osaka, ROAD BIKE RENTAL JAPAN

Why we love Road Bike Rental Japan:

road bike helmets at 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!


ROAD BIKE RENTAL JAPAN

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.

ROAD BIKE RENTAL JAPAN

Start your adventure here!

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Osaka Bob FAMILY

Bob

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