Electric bicycle: e-bike rental services on the Shimanami Kaido

2025/8/292025/9/13

On the Shimanami Kaido, you also have the option to rent electric-assist bicycles and e-bikes. In this guide, I’ll explain where you can rent them, how much they cost, and whether one-way rentals are available. If this is your first cycling trip or you’re worried about your stamina, renting an e-bike could be a great choice.

Cycling the Shimanami Kaido

One of Japan’s top cycling destinations

The Shimanami Kaido, a route that lets you cycle across the Seto Inland Sea, is one of Japan’s most famous cycling roads and was among the first to be designated as a National Cycling Route. The route connects Imabari in Ehime Prefecture and Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture. You can enjoy a variety of cycling styles, from short half-day rides to multi-day trips that cover the entire route.

Stretching about 70 to 80 km at minimum, the Shimanami Kaido offers a variety of rental bike services to suit different cycling styles and needs. You can choose from a wide range of bicycles, including cross bikes and road bikes for sports cycling, as well as electric-assist bicycles, tandem bikes, and more.

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Electric-assist bicycles

In Japan, the term “e-bike” usually refers to sportier electric-assist bicycles, while “electric-assist bicycle” generally refers to more casual city-type bikes.

Licenses for riding electric bicycles

Here’s a quick overview of Japanese regulations regarding electric-assist bicycles. An electric-assist bicycle is powered by a rechargeable battery and a motor that assists your pedaling. The motor only provides assistance when you pedal — it does not operate independently.

In Japan, these bicycles are legally classified as regular bicycles because the motor does not engage unless you pedal. By law, the assist function must also automatically stop when the bike reaches 24 km/h. If a bike exceeds these conditions, it is classified as a motorbike.

In other words, electric bicycles that can move without pedaling require a license plate and a valid driving license. Electric-assist bicycles do not require a license, so you can ride them just like regular bicycles. Be careful not to unintentionally violate the law.

Type of Vehicle	License Required?
Electric-Assist Bicycle	No
Moped / Small Motorbike	Yes
Full-Assist Electric Bicycle	Yes
Electric Kick Scooter	Depends on Conditions

Available lanes on the Shimanami Kaido

Because electric-assist bicycles are legally classified as bicycles, you must use the cycling and pedestrian paths on the Shimanami Kaido. They are not allowed on lanes designated for mopeds. The traffic rules for electric-assist bicycles are almost the same as for regular bicycles, making them beginner-friendly and easy to ride.

Type of Vehicle	Cycling & Pedestrian Path	Moped Lane
Bicycle	Allowed	Not Allowed
Moped (125cc or less)	Not Allowed	Allowed
Electric-Assist Bicycle	Allowed	Not Allowed
Full-Assist Electric Bicycle	Not Allowed	Allowed
Electric Kick Scooter	Not Allowed	Allowed

Battery improvements make long rides

For a long time, electric-assist bicycles had limitations due to small battery capacities. Since the Shimanami Kaido is at least 70–80 km long, older models often ran out of power before reaching the goal. However, recent advancements in battery technology — including smaller size, lighter weight, larger capacity, and better energy efficiency — have made it possible to cycle over 100 km on a single full charge.

Not only standard electric-assist city bikes but also sportier “e-bikes” are becoming increasingly popular. Bicycle manufacturers are releasing new models one after another, and e-bikes have become one of the major cycling trends worldwide.

Disadvantages and risks of e-bikes

When renting an electric-assist bicycle on the Shimanami Kaido, it’s helpful to be aware that there are a few potential disadvantages and risks specific to using an e-bike.

Electrical system issues

Compared to mechanical problems, electrical issues are almost impossible to fix on your own. If you’re riding through island areas where bicycle shops are scarce and your e-bike experiences an electrical malfunction, you may have no immediate solution. In such cases, you might need to push your bike to the nearest terminal or arrange for a bicycle transport service, which can be surprisingly expensive.

Handling flat tires

For cross bikes and road bikes, the wheels are designed to be removed easily, making flat tire repairs more straightforward. However, for electric-assist bicycles, the rear wheel is often much harder to remove since it’s connected to the motor. As a result, volunteer repair services along the Shimanami Kaido, such as “Shimanami Toso Rescue," may not be able to assist you with e-bike repairs.

Battery degradation

Rental e-bikes tend to be used heavily, which naturally causes battery degradation over time. Unfortunately, you won’t know the actual condition of the battery when you rent the bike. If the battery is worn out, you may not be able to ride the expected distance, and in some cases, the remaining power could drop suddenly. Since many rental services don’t provide chargers, once the battery runs out, the e-bike becomes just a heavy regular bike.

Restrictions on ferries

Some electric bicycles, e-scooters, or even certain electric-assist bicycles may be treated as motorized vehicles, meaning they could be refused boarding on passenger ferries — even on routes that generally allow regular bicycles. Because regulations on these newer types of bikes are not always clearly defined, decisions are often made on a case-by-case basis. In some situations, you might not be able to take your e-bike on the ferry.

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Get e-bike on Shimanami Kaido

Public rental service

The most common option for renting a bicycle on the Shimanami Kaido is the public rental service called “Shimanami Rental Cycle.” They also provide electric-assist bicycles. There are about 10 rental terminals along the cycling route, and for regular city bikes and cross bikes, you can rent from one terminal and return to any other.

Where can you rent e-bikes?

There are two types of e-bikes available: “Electric-Assist City Cycles” (casual city-style bikes) and “E-Bikes” (sport-type electric-assist bikes). The rental fee, available locations, and reservation options differ depending on the bike type. Not all terminals stock e-bikes, so you need to rent them specifically from the terminals where they are available.

E-Bike Type	Rental Fee	Available Terminals	One-Way Drop-Off	Rental Period
Electric-Assist City Cycle	¥4,000	6 locations	Returnable at any terminal	Available for 2+ days
E-Bike (Sport Type)	¥8,000	3 locations	Returnable at any terminal	Same-day return only

For E-Bikes and tandem bicycles, you must return them on the same day. If you plan to cycle for two or more days, it’s better to choose an Electric-Assist City Cycle instead. Battery swaps are available at certain rental terminals, so be sure to confirm the available locations when renting.

Rental fees and deposit policy for city-type e-bikes

City-style electric-assist bicycles are available at six rental terminals across Ehime and Hiroshima prefectures. In the past, there used to be a refundable deposit system where you would receive a cashback upon returning the bike safely, but this system has now been discontinued. The rental fee is prepaid, and in addition to cash, most digital payment methods are accepted.

Since the policy update in September 2023, electric-assist bicycles can now be returned to any of the 10 rental terminals along the Shimanami Kaido, as long as you return them on the same day. However, the locations where you can rent these bikes remain limited to specific terminals.

Rental fees and drop-off policy for sporty-type e-bikes

Sport-type electric-assist bicycles (E-Bikes) can be rented for ¥8,000. The drop-off fee is already included in the rental price. Please note that E-Bikes are only available at three terminals: Onomichi Station, Imabari Station, and Sunrise Itoyama.

Terminals offering electric-assist city bikes

Some terminals have only a few bikes available, so I recommend renting from either “Sunrise Itoyama” or “Onomichi Station” for the best availability. Starting in February 2025, “Imabari Station Cycling Terminal” has also begun handling both E-Bikes and electric-assist city cycles.

Terminal	Facility Name	Scale	Business Hours	Address
Onomichi Station	JR Onomichi Station Building	Large	8:00–19:00	1-10 Higashigosho-cho, Onomichi City
Setoda Sunset Beach		Medium	9:00–17:00	1506-15 Tarumi, Setoda-cho, Onomichi City
Setoda Tourist Information Center		Small	9:00–17:00	200-5 Sawa, Setoda-cho, Onomichi City
Kamiura Rental Terminal	Michi-no-Eki Tatara Shimanami Park	Small	9:00–17:00	9180-2 Inokuchi, Kamiura-cho, Imabari City
Central Rental Terminal	Sunrise Itoyama	Large	8:00–20:00	2-8-1 Sunaba-cho, Imabari City
Imabari Station Cycling Terminal	JR Imabari Station	Medium	8:00–20:00	2-773-8 Kitahorai-cho, Imabari City

*Starting October 2025, the Onomichi Port Rental Cycle Terminal will move to the Onomichi Station area.
*From December to February, some terminals have shorter operating hours.

Previously, electric-assist bicycles could not be returned at a different terminal, but now they can be returned at any terminal. Additionally, with growing demand for electric bikes, the same-day return requirement has been removed, allowing multi-day rentals. You can now use electric-assist bicycles for longer cycling plans, such as crossing the entire Shimanami Kaido over two or more days.

Rental cycle terminals offering e-bikes

Sports-type electric-assist bicycles (E-bikes) are currently available only at the following three locations: Imabari Station Cycling Terminal, Sunrise Itoyama, and Onomichi Station.

Terminal	Facility	Hours	Address
Imabari Station Cycling Terminal	JR Imabari Station	8:00–20:00	2-773-8 Kitahorai-cho, Imabari City
Onomichi Station Rental Cycle Terminal	JR Onomichi Station Building	8:00–19:00	1-10 Higashi-Gosho-cho, Onomichi City
Chuo Rental Cycle Terminal	Sunrise Itoyama	8:00–20:00	2-8-1 Sunaba-cho, Imabari City

*Starting October 2025, the Onomichi Port Rental Cycle Terminal will relocate to the Onomichi Station area.
*From December to February, some terminals have shorter operating hours.

E-bikes can also be returned at any terminal. While their rental fee is slightly higher than that of city-type electric-assist bicycles, E-bikes offer significant advantages. They are especially useful if you and your cycling partner have different fitness levels or if you want to explore a wider area during your ride.

Multi-Day rentals available

As mentioned earlier, city-type electric-assist bicycles can be rented for two or more days. Battery replacement is available at three locations: Kamiura Rental Cycle Terminal on Omishima, Setoda Tourist Information Center on Ikuchijima, and Setoda Sunset Beach. However, E-bikes must be returned on the same day and cannot be rented for multiple consecutive days, making them best suited for one-day cycling trips.

Helmet rental

All Shimanami Japan rental bicycles include a helmet rental. Both Ehime and Hiroshima prefectures require helmet use by local ordinance. Additionally, Japan’s national traffic laws were recently updated, making it strongly recommended for all cyclists to wear helmets. Always wear a helmet when riding a rental bicycle.

Reservations and inquiries

The public rental cycle service along the Shimanami Kaido, called “Shimanami Rental Cycle," is managed by the organization Shimanami Japan. You can book electric-assist bicycles and E-bikes through the official Shimanami Japan website up to three days in advance. Same-day rentals without reservations are also possible if bicycles are still available.

Reservation Contact	Shimanami Japan
Address	3F Imabari Civic Hall, 1-4-1 Bekku-cho, Imabari City
Phone	0848-22-3911

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Renting from private bicycle shops

E-bikes at GIANT stores

Both Imabari and Onomichi host official stores of the Taiwanese bicycle brand GIANT, offering rental services for Shimanami Kaido cyclists. While GIANT Stores mainly focus on road bike rentals, they also offer their own E-bike model, the ESCAPE RX-E+. Recently, more cyclists are choosing to rent this E-bike for the Shimanami Kaido experience.

GIANT Store	GIANT Store Onomichi	GIANT Store Imabari
Location	500 m from Onomichi Station (inside U2)	Inside Imabari Station
Address	5-11 Nishi-Goshocho, Onomichi	1-729-8 Kitahorai-cho, Imabari
Phone	0848-21-0068	0898-25-1175
Hours	9:00–19:00	9:00–19:00
Closed	No regular closing day	Tuesdays

E-bike rental fees at GIANT stores

GIANT Store E-bikes generally cannot be returned at a different location, but you can choose from rental periods of 5 hours, day trip, or 1 night/2 days. Longer rental periods are available for an additional fee. A day-trip rental starts from 9,900 yen. Depending on the assist mode, the battery can last for around 110 km in normal mode.

Unlike the public rental E-bikes, GIANT Stores also offer a women’s model, the ESCAPE RX W-E+, which is a great option. Another advantage is that you can make reservations online in advance. Public rental E-bikes cannot be reserved, so renting from a GIANT Store provides peace of mind.

GIANT Store’s one-way rental plan, available for road bikes, is not offered for E-bikes. You generally need to return the bike to the same store. However, by using the rental return service at the cycling support facility WAKKA on Omishima, you can still enjoy a one-way E-bike ride along the Shimanami Kaido.

Red bicycles onomichi

The bicycle shop Red Bicycles Onomichi, located in Onomichi’s shopping street, offers rental services for road bikes as well as E-bikes. The E-bikes available here are cross-bike types, which are easy to ride even for beginners.

Bike Shop	Red Bicycles Onomichi
Address	1-10-1 Tsuchido, Onomichi
Phone	0848-21-0655
Hours	8:00–17:30
Closed	Wednesday, Thursday
Features	Independently operated shop in Onomichi shopping street

You can rent the same class of E-bikes here at lower prices than at public rental services or GIANT Stores, making it a highly recommended option.

E-Bike rental fees at Red bicycles Onomichi

Rental fees for E-bikes at Red Bicycles Onomichi are 6,600 yen for a single day and 11,000 yen for 1 night/2 days. Since the shop is only in Onomichi’s shopping street, one-way rentals are not available. You must return the bike to the shop within the rental period. Similar to GIANT Stores, you can use the rental return service at the Omishima cycling support facility WAKKA for one-way rides along the Shimanami Kaido.

Onomichi base

This is another private rental option. At Onomichi Base, a rental station in Onomichi specializing in small-wheeled bicycles (minivelos), you can rent a mini-velo type E-bike. The store is very close to Onomichi Station. You can make reservations through Onomichi Base’s website, and their mini-velo E-bike, suitable for cycling the Shimanami Kaido, can be rented for about ¥7,000 per day. Onomichi Base’s E-bikes can be charged at affiliated accommodations on the islands, which act as “charging stations,” with each charge costing ¥500.

Since Onomichi Base only has a store in Onomichi, you generally need to return the E-bike to the same location. Similar to other rental services like the Giant Store, you can use the bicycle return service at the cycling support complex WAKKA on Omishima, which allows you to enjoy a one-way cycling trip.

E-bike Rental	Onomichi Base Rental Station
Address	3-24 Higashigoshocho, Onomichi
Phone	0848-21-5120
Hours	9:00–18:00 (Closed Tue & Wed)

Ono-chari 100

Ono-chari 100 is a specialized E-bike rental service. This relatively new private rental shop is located in Onomichi’s shopping street, very close to Onomichi Station.

Ono-chari 100 uniquely rents only electric-assist bicycles, making it a specialized service for the Shimanami Kaido. The name “100” comes from the fact that they always have 100 bikes ready. Rental prices range from around 3,000 yen for 5 hours, to 5,000 yen for a full day. Rates may be slightly higher on weekends and public holidays. You can also rent for 1 night and 2 days, but since the shop is only in Onomichi shopping street, you must return the bike there. One-way drop-off is not available.

WAKKA’s bike return service

On Ōmishima Island, “WAKKA” offers a bike return service for private rental bicycles. By reserving this service in advance, you can return your rental bike at a location of your choice. Participating rental services are listed on WAKKA’s website.

This service charges a return handling fee per bike in addition to basic transport costs. Since highway tolls on the Shimanami Kaido are high, longer transport distances increase the basic transport cost. Therefore, returning a single bike may feel relatively expensive. Up to 10 bikes can be picked up at once, so this service is mainly suitable for groups.

Bicycle Return Service	WAKKA
Address	6691-1 Iguchi, Kamiura-cho, Imabari City
Phone	0897-72-8705
Hours	9:00–18:00
Closed	Tuesday
Features	Cycling support complex on Omishima Island

On this page, I have provided a detailed guide on renting electric-assist bicycles and E-bikes in Imabari and Onomichi along the Shimanami Kaido. One of the Shimanami Kaido’s greatest features is that even beginners can enjoy cycling with confidence. For more detailed information about cycling the Shimanami Kaido, please refer to the page below.