Rent a Bicycle
What better way to explore the city and beyond than by renting a bicycle for a day. Kumamoto City is a great place to cycle around with wide pavements and very few slopes. You can reach Suizenji Park or Tatsuda Nature Park from the city center within a leisurely 30 minute bike ride or head a little further afield to Ezu Lake and Kumamoto Zoo. Cycling in Japan is very safe, you are permitted to ride on the pavements though pedestrians have right of way. Its only in the covered shopping arcades that you must get off and push your bike.
Cycle to the Yamaga Countryside
If you fancy getting out of the city to see some of the surrounding countryside you can cycle the Yuka Family Road a 34 km cycle route which runs north from the city center all the way to Yamaga. The route starts on the Isseri river behind Kumamoto Castle and follows the river north behind the Kamikumamoto Station and continues to Ueki Station from where it follows a disused rail track across the plains to the Yamaga City Cycle Terminal. Ask for details when you rent your bike.
The Kumamoto International Center in the City Center has bicycles for rent, there are currently two electric power assisted bicycles – useful for exploring the hillier castle area or for longer distances, and ten regular (gearless) bicycles available.
Rental Fees:
Regular Bicycles: Up to 6 hours – 300 yen
Over 6 hours to one day – 500 yen**
Electric power-assisted bicycles: Up to 6 hours – 500 yen
Over 6 hours to one day – 700 yen***
Rental fees are payable in advance.
For day rentals bicycles must be returned by 21:30
(by 17:00 on second and fourth Mondays of the month).
** It is possible to rent regular bicycles for a maximum of 7 days in a row.
***Electric power-assisted bicycles must be returned on the same day of rental.
For more details, please contact the International Center tel: 096-359-2020.