Bicycle sharing is trending right now! A local travel writer living in Nagoya introduces the charm of “"Charichari"”

Attractive point 1: Stress-free and easy to use

Read the QR code with your smartphone to unlock it!

The first attraction is, of course, how easy it is . When renting a bicycle, it often takes time to fill out paperwork and pick up the bicycle. However, with "Charichari" , all you have to do is download the app, register your payment method, and scan the QR code on your bicycle at the port. No face-to-face procedures are required.

The number of bicycles at each port can be seen in a timely manner. The lightning mark indicates an electric assist bicycle *The map shows the location of the cycle port and the route to get there.

You can also use the app to see which ports have bicycles in a timely manner, and there are many ports around Meieki and Sakae, and since it is a shared cycle service, you can return your bicycle at any available port . Although it's not impossible to go on foot, it's great to be able to quickly travel to faraway places by bicycle.

Attraction 2: Comparable to the subway!? Minute settings and comfort

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"SANGI" Meieki 3-chome Port near Meieki

The second attraction is the low fares when getting on and off multiple times. "Charichari" has two types of bicycles: basic and electric assist. The key point is that prices are set by the minute.

Basic = 6 yen/1 minute

Electric assist = 15 yen/minute

In Nagoya, where there are a variety of spots in the city, it is rare that you will not be able to rent a car for a long time, such as 1 or 3 hours. It's more advantageous to be able to borrow a car over and over again for short periods of time .

This is where "Charichari"'s pricing comes into play. See below.

If you want to visit this spot by subway or on foot, a shared cycle is definitely more cost-effective.

This is an example of a weekday run, and the total cost was 732 yen (first-time discount ticket applied) from Nagoya Station to Endonji Shopping District to Nagoya Castle area to Culture Path to Tokugawaen to Nagoya Station! It's even cheaper than a one-day subway ticket.

Isn't it a little expensive compared to the time you spend riding? Some may say this, but at "Charichari", we take bicycle maintenance very seriously (we spend a lot of money on it, haha). It is also attractive that you can drive comfortably no matter when you use it .

Attraction 3: Park your bike at the port and relax and enjoy sightseeing

Shikemichi is located about 15 minutes walk from Meieki. A sudden trip back in time to the Edo period

As I just mentioned, "Charichari" charges by the minute. Personally, I think it is highly recommended for sightseeing in Nagoya . This is because Nagoya has many attractions concentrated in one area.

This is especially useful in situations where you don't need to rent a bicycle for 30 minutes, but you would be happy if you could rent a bicycle for 10 minutes . It also has a high degree of freedom, allowing you to go directly from port to port or connect several ports while moving.

``Culture Path Shumokukan'' is a place where you can take some time to relax. Full of history that lives on in modern times

You can also move from port to port and pay for the amount you ride each time, so you can enjoy sightseeing in a relaxed manner. You no longer have to worry about things like ``What time do I have to return the bicycle?'' or ``Is the bicycle parked over there okay?'' Another big advantage is that you can concentrate on your time at the spot.

Furthermore, it can also be used in conjunction with other means of transportation such as the subway . You can also make flexible plans, such as taking a shared cycle from Nagoya to Sakae and returning by subway. I felt that "Charichari" is a bicycle sharing service that hits exactly the right spot .

Stained glass at Shokokukan. A recommended spot with a retro feel A major feature of "Charichari" is that it has a strong area within Nagoya city. Particularly noteworthy areas are Atsuta Ward, Nagoya City , and Nishi Ward to Higashi Ward (Endonji Shopping Street - Culture Path - Tokugawaen) . Both are areas with few public transportation facilities and many attractions within a 15-30 minute walk from the station. However, if you use "Charichari", you can get around efficiently. Another point is that each area has many spots where you can rediscover Nagoya . Below, we will briefly introduce some of the highlights and spots in each area. [Nishi Ward] Endonji Shopping Street Matsurodo A long-established Japanese confectionery shop located in the Endonji shopping district. The specialty is ``Kinshachi Kintsuba'' , which is hand-baked using large-sized bean paste. [Nishi Ward] Nagoya Castle outer circumference It's surprisingly far to explore on foot, but you can easily explore the area by bicycle. Why not take a commemorative photo with your bicycle and Nagoya Castle ? [Nishi-ku] Cultural path Tokikan You can admire retro Western-style buildings from the Showa era, kitchens known as Real Ghibli, and modern architecture that continues to exist even today. It also houses SHUMOKU CAFE , which is famous for its eye-catching pancake sets . [Atsuta Ward] Miyanowatari Park This is the place where the ferry terminal was located, the only maritime route on the old Tokaido. There is also a night light, allowing you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Nagoya's road history . Is the only disadvantage an advantage? Blank space created by not being able to borrow Surprisingly, there are cultural paths that even people from Nagoya don't know much about. Since you cannot reserve a bicycle at "Charichari", there is also the disadvantage that you do not know if you will be able to start riding again from the spot where you returned it. However, depending on how you look at it, this disadvantage can turn into an advantage . Because if you can't rent a bicycle, wouldn't you look for a nearby port and head there? This strolling time may lead to the discovery of unexpected spots and shops. I think one of the charms of "Charichari" is that it adds fun to the mechanical sightseeing tours. It is also recommended that you dare to run towards the back alleys. Recommended for transportation for business purposes such as around sales offices! My name is Kojiro, and I work as a writer for SaaS services in the Nagoya area. I have a lot of work to do in order to introduce our company's services to customers in Nagoya, but surprisingly there are many customers that can't be easily reached by public transportation, so I often use "Charichari" to visit customers. there is. The Nagoya area is convenient as there are many ports in front of the station and it is easy to rent. Before renting a bicycle, I used public transportation to get as close as possible and then took a taxi. Taxis are convenient, but you should make a reservation in advance, call one and then wait for one, or if you visit at a time when there are fewer taxis, move early in case you don't get caught, or walk or run if you don't get caught. I was talking about it. Since I started using "Charichari" in conjunction with the bike, I have been able to use the app to check ports near the station in advance, and then rent a bike flexibly depending on the time of my arrival, and even return home after a business meeting. There is the advantage of being able to return by bicycle without having to wait or have to call a taxi. Of course, there is a risk of rain or stormy weather, so I will continue to use taxis as an option, but I like "Charichari" as an option because there are no complicated reservations or rental procedures, and you can quickly rent one using your smartphone. Since I need to carry a helmet with me, I decided to attach it to my backpack, but the fact that it increases my luggage is something to keep in mind. I repurposed a plastic bottle holder and attached it to my bag. "Charichari"includes bicycle insurance , so have your company's department in charge check the insurance details in advance, and if it is determined that it is okay to use the bicycle as a means of transportation for work if it is deemed necessary. I am. I keep my helmet in a bag that I can carry with me. “"Charichari"” is a useful tool for walking around Nagoya. "Charichari" that you can easily ride for a few minutes anytime, anywhere What did you think. This time, from the perspective of a travel writer, we introduce the charms and recommended spots of "Charichari" , and at the end, we have Mr. Kojiro, who loves "Charichari" in his sales activities, introduce the benefits. "Charichari" will be your best companion when you are unable to walk to your destination, but it is a little far away, or you want to visit multiple locations within 10 to 30 minutes on foot. The hurdles are lower than you think, so why not download the app and try using "Charichari"? Interview: Text/Photos: Yuhei Tonosho, Kojiro