While walking around Asakusa, I noticed something interesting: a bicycle sharing service. The pricing was surprisingly reasonable—70 yen for 15 minutes or 1,000 yen for 12 hours. Curious by nature, I decided to give it a try.
Registering for HELLO CYCLING
HELLO CYCLING is basically a smartphone-based service, but registration can also be completed on a computer. Although some people mention “no internet required,” the initial registration itself still needs an internet connection.
To get started, enter your email address and phone number, agree to the terms, and click the registration button. You’ll then receive a confirmation email with a link to complete your registration and set up payment.
Payment Methods
The following payment options are available. Note that debit cards are not recommended for credit card payments.
- Yahoo Wallet
- Credit cards (JCB, Visa, Mastercard, etc.)
- SoftBank bundled payment
- Docomo payment
- au Easy Payment
- HELLO Card (1-day pass or prepaid card)
- HELLO Mile payment (points)
Once payment is set up, install the HELLO CYCLING app on your smartphone.
Reserving a Bicycle via Smartphone
As you would expect from a Japanese service, the app is very user-friendly. When you open it, a map appears immediately. Select a nearby port (a bicycle parking location), and if bikes are available, tap the “Reserve” button.
After reserving, choose a bicycle. It’s a good idea to pick one with sufficient battery remaining.
Confirm your payment method, agree to the terms of use, and complete the reservation.
The reservation is held for 30 minutes, and no charge is applied until you actually start riding.
Make sure to take a screenshot of the bicycle number and PIN code. Without the bicycle number, it can be confusing to know which bike is yours. The PIN code is four digits.
Starting from a Bicycle Port
Bicycle ports are surprisingly easy to miss when walking around. They blend into the surroundings and don’t always stand out.
Use the terminal attached to the bike—located above the handlebars and behind the basket—to confirm your reservation.
When you press the power button, the display will show “Reserved,” which is normal.
You can choose between Japanese and English on the screen.
To unlock the bike, select either PIN code or IC card.
Entering the four-digit PIN completes the process. Interestingly, the keypad only uses numbers from 1 to 6.
High-Tech Features for a Comfortable Ride
On the left side of the handlebar, there is a control panel for the electric assist system. You can switch between uphill, normal, and eco modes using triangle icons.
The control panel also allows you to toggle between kilometers and miles, turn the lights on or off, and activate or deactivate the electric assist.
On the right side of the handlebar is a manual gear shifter. Gear “3” works well for most situations.
Returning the Bicycle
One of the best features of HELLO CYCLING is that you can return the bike to any available port.
Place the bike into a parking stand and press “RETURN” on the device. When prompted, confirm the return by pressing “1.” There is no physical connection at the stand, so the system likely uses GPS to confirm the location.
When instructed, manually lock the bike.
Make sure to wait until the return process is fully completed on the screen before leaving.
The final confirmation screen disappears quickly, but it’s important not to walk away too early.
Coverage Area
HELLO CYCLING operates not only in the Tokyo area but also across many regions in Japan. The service is available in major cities such as Saitama, Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto, and Fukuoka.
Final Thoughts
During periods when avoiding crowded trains and buses feels safer, bicycle sharing services like HELLO CYCLING can be a practical alternative.
The app is easy to use, and the condition of the bicycles felt far better than some share bikes I tried in Shenzhen in the past.
Another advantage is that even if you return from overseas without mobile internet access, you can complete the reservation at home and unlock the bike using only the PIN code.
One drawback is availability in busy city centers. Sometimes there are no bikes at nearby ports, meaning you may need to walk a bit to find one.
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