【Tokyo Stroll】Renting a bike and riding through Yanaka – the town reminiscent of old-fashioned Tokyo

14.June.2017 | SPOT

Yanaka is a Tokyo district in Taitō that has retained a ‘shitamachi’ atmosphere, one that resembles an old-fashioned Japanese down from the distant past. It’s a popular tourist spot for not only foreigners but Japanese people too, with bustling traditional shops in Yanaka Ginza, long-standing wagashi shops and general stores selling old-fashioned Japanese goods, the Yanaka Cemetary, countless temples and more. Today, we take a stroll down to Yanaka with Hikari Shibata and her stylish bike which she rented from tokyobike.

 

 

Rental bikes are fun, but so are the stores and cafés of Yanaka

“tokyobike,” the stylish bicycle brand with awesome designs. Renting your own from “Tokyobike Rentals Yanaka” means that you can cycle around the streets of Tokyo with ease. The closest train station to the store is Sendagaya Station via the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line. Nippori Station is another option. It’s about 30-minutes to Nippori Station from Shibuya Station via the outer loop of the Yamanote Line, so it’s very easy to reach.

 

As well as being able to rent a bike, there’s also a café area where you can order coffee or alcohol. The inside décor consisting of handicrafts and such truly convey that Japanese atmosphere.

 

The trainers and bag feel nice to touch and wear. The designs are polished and look great – they go well with the bike. There are lots of good items selected to go on display that make everyday life more fun and exciting.

 

Renting a fancy looking bicycle from “tokyobike”

Let’s go ahead and try renting our own bike! While it is possible to rent one on the same day, the process will be made a lot easier if you make a reservation online first. You can also feel more at ease by quickly reserving the exact model you want to ride. You will need ID, so make sure you don’t forget to take it.

It costs ¥500 yen for 1 hour or ¥3,000 for the day. If you want it until the next day, there is an additional charge of ¥1,500, so it’s very affordable. You can also rent a helmet for ¥500. Moreover, people who rent a bike for one day will receive a tokyobike original bag, a notebook, and a Yanaka guide map for free as a present.

There are 3 different bikes in total you can use: the “TOKYOBIKE 26” is for people who are beginners at riding sports bikes to enjoy, the “TOKYOBIKE ULS” is a simple model with no gears and the “TOKYOBIKE BISOU 26” is a tall bike that can be ridden with ease.  You can pick from whichever suits you best.

 

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Peddling into town with our new rental bike

 

The bicycles at tokyobike are made with Tokyo’s numerous traffic lights and hill roads in mind so that you can ride along comfortably and easily. You can ride around and have fun all over, from the traditional and rustic atmosphere of Shitamachi, to Ueno, Asakua, and maybe even Tokyo Skytree.

The colour design of the bicycle looks nice too – it’s reminiscent of the town atmosphere. By taking a ride and viewing the scenery from on top of a bike, you should be able to discover a whole new perspective of Tokyo.

By the way, “Tokyobike Rentals Yanaka” not only rents out bicycles. It’s also the place to go to find out about the best spots in Yanaka. They will be setting up a site to showcase Yanaka in July, so be sure to use it as reference if you plan to travel there.

 

Refresh yourself in the café area

It’s nice to take a breather at the café once you return from your cycling journey. “tokyobike Rentals Yanaka” is actually an 80-year old renovated building that used to be an “Isego Hoten” – a ‘sakaya’ or liquor store that has been around for more than 300 years. It still has ties to the store – you can still drink Isego Honten seasonal alcohol there.

Cycling can be tiring work, so it’s really refreshing to sit back and enjoy a coffee or some alcohol afterward. Please be sure to do the same – kick back and bask in the afterglow of your productive day.

 

■information

Tokyobike Rentals Yanaka

Address: 4 Chome-2-39 Yanaka, Taitō-ku, Tokyo

Access: 8-minutes walk from Nippori Station / 7-minutes walk from Sendagi Station via the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line

Open: 10:00-19:00 (closed on Wednesdays) *except for National Holidays on Wednesday

TEL: 03-5809-0980

URL:https://tokyobikerentals.com

 

I’m back from tokyobike Rentals Yabaka, so that’s it for my Tokyo stroll today! It’s been a fulfilling day, cycling around Yanaka with its shitamachi atmosphere, and enjoying some coffee and alcohol. What did you think?

 

If you’re planning to tour around Tokyo, please be sure to use this article as reference and add Yanaka to your list of places to go.

 

Model: Hikari Shibata

Hikari Shibata is a model for numerous popular fashion magazines. She gives a fresh and eloquent impression with her fashion sense that goes hand in hand with her unique style. She also posts lifestyle content across her social media, including on her Instagram and Twitter accounts, which receives huge support and attention from her female readers of the same generation. As well as working as a model, she is also active in the field of photography, and has even held photo exhibitions inside and outside Tokyo. Hikari also maintains her very own portfolio website which features her photography work.  Instagram:@_sbthkr

Photograph & Writer:Haruka Yamamoto

Translator::Joshua Kitosi-Isanga

Editor:Sayuri Mizuno (ASOBI SYSTEM)

 

Related article:【Tokyo Stroll】Strolling around Asakusa for half of the day finding the stereo typical sightseeing spots and new spots.

 

Related article:【Tokyo Stroll】 Half-day Stroll in Kappabashi: Lively Shopping Street where You Can Get Variety of Cooking Tools and Dishes at Good Price

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    TALENT PROFILE

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