Shared bikes and small electric vehicles are handy for short trips in Tokyo, such as shopping or getting from a station to your apartment. Four services to know are HELLO CYCLING, LUUP, docomo Bike Share and Lime.
Start with the service that has a pick-up point near you and a return point near where you are going. A "port" is the marked place where you borrow or return a vehicle.
HELLO CYCLING: shared bicycles
The HELLO CYCLING app lets you find stations, reserve a bicycle and check for free return spaces. Electric-assist bicycles help while you pedal; check which type your station has.
Check the price and the battery level before you unlock a bicycle. You can return it to any eligible station shown in the app, so you do not have to ride back to where you started.
LUUP: e-bikes and e-scooters
LUUP has small electric-assist bicycles and e-scooters. The app shows which vehicles and ports are near you.
To ride an e-scooter, LUUP asks for proof that you are at least 16 and a pass in its traffic-rules test. Do both before your first trip, and follow the app's instructions for choosing a port to return to.
docomo Bike Share: electric-assist bicycles
docomo Bike Share runs the red electric-assist bicycles you see around central Tokyo. Its app shows the bicycles and the ports where you can return them.
The Tokyo registration guide explains the account and payment set-up. You need a phone that can receive SMS. You can register an IC card as a key to unlock bicycles, but the rental fee is not paid from the card's balance.
Lime: LimeBike and seated electric vehicles
Lime (announcement in Japanese) has two vehicle types in Japan: the pedal-assist LimeBike and the seated electric Lime Rakumo (Limeラクモ). A seated electric vehicle is not a bicycle, so check its riding rules before you choose it.
The Lime app shows nearby vehicles, current prices, the area where you may ride and the return ports.
Which service suits your route
| Service | Vehicle | Before you start |
|---|---|---|
| HELLO CYCLING | Shared bicycle; check the model | Price, battery and a free return space |
| LUUP | E-bike or e-scooter | For scooters: age check and rules test |
| docomo Bike Share | Electric-assist bicycle | SMS registration and a return port |
| Lime | LimeBike or seated Lime Rakumo | Rules for that vehicle and the return area |
Check the likely total cost in the app, including any starting fee, time charge or pass. Prices and vehicles change.
Some ports are shared by more than one company. Lime and HELLO CYCLING share selected ports in Tokyo, but each still uses its own app. Use a port only when your app shows that it accepts your vehicle.
Ride and return carefully
Check the brakes, tyres, lights and battery before you set off. Wear a helmet, stop before you use your phone and never ride after drinking alcohol. Keep to the left side of the road and follow signals and signs.
For bicycles, read the Tokyo police bicycle rules (in Japanese). For e-scooters, the National Police Agency's English guide (PDF) explains the age limit, where you may ride and how to turn. The rules for bicycles and scooters are not the same.
At your destination, park inside the port and complete every lock, photo or app step. Make sure the app shows that the ride has ended before you walk away. Parking alone may not stop the charge.
If you stay with LOHUS, look for ports near your apartment and near your destination, and always return the vehicle to a port. Please do not leave it at the apartment entrance.
Cover photo: RuinDig/Yuki Uchida, CC BY 4.0, cropped
