Q. What is the reputation of the public bicycle rental services on the Shimanami Kaido?

2025/7/19

Q. How is the reputation of the public rental bikes on the Shimanami Kaido?

A. In the past, when the rental fees were very low, there were many negative opinions about bicycle maintenance and staff quality. Since management changed and prices became more appropriate, the service has been gradually improving.

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Staff Quality Concerns

The public rental bikes are popular for their reasonable prices and convenient one-way system. However, it’s true that there have been negative reviews online and from visitors regarding customer service and bike quality. Many of the staff members are retirees, and from my own experience, I sometimes felt that the staff weren’t particularly enthusiastic about cycling or about welcoming tourists.

Maintenance and Bike Condition

Blog posts and social media reviews from users of the public rental bikes frequently mention maintenance issues. While people appreciate the one-way rental system, complaints such as “the bike was poorly maintained” are common. Specific issues include “gears that won’t shift,” “brakes constantly rubbing,” and “under-inflated tires”—problems that could potentially lead to accidents in serious cases.

Gradual Improvements

Balancing low prices with high-quality service is understandably difficult. Negative reviews were especially common when rental fees were kept very low. Since management was centralized under Shimanami Japan and pricing was adjusted to a more appropriate level, gradual improvements have been seen. I hope to see further improvements in the future.

Rental Options on the Shimanami Kaido

In addition to the public rental service, private rental shops—including sports bike stores—are increasingly available. Depending on your preferred route and bicycle type, you have several options. I have summarized these choices based on my own local research on the page below.

This page answered the common question: “Q. How is the reputation of the public rental bikes on the Shimanami Kaido?” with both a simple answer and detailed explanation. For more FAQs, please visit the page below. I hope this helps with your Shimanami Kaido travel planning!