Shortlisted in the Time Out Love Tokyo Awards 2017
It could be said that Tokyobike is the design embodiment of the Yanaka mindset. The company have been knocking out simple, attractive bicycles, just a hop and a skip from Nezu Station, ever since they opened in 2002. The concept is simple: comfort above speed (Yanaka in a nutshell), ideally put together for the local life. The minimalist brand has been such a success in its home city, in fact, that they now have outlets in London, New York, Berlin and Singapore. This new outpost, opened in May 2016, offers both same-day and overnight rentals but requires advance bookings. The reservation website is only in Japanese, but can be navigated even without advanced language ability – just scroll down to the 'reservation' button to secure your ride for as soon as the following day. A one-day rental costs ¥2,500, with a ¥1,500 surcharge for every additional day. As far as we're concerned, there's no better vehicular way to see the neighbourhood, which is also just a quick ride from Ueno's parks and museums. And if you fall in love with one of these stylish bikes and would like to make it your own, head straight for the nearby Tokyobike store.