The dilemma: there’s a great festival or sightseeing spot you’d want to go to, but no one you know is going and you have no transport. In cases like this, plus for the eternal intrepid traveller, Go Ride comes to the rescue. The concept is relatively similar to French-born Blablacar: you search for your chosen route and date, and if you’re lucky you’ll find a driver going your way. The difference is that you’re actually signing up for a full-blown trip with your driver and companions, rather than just sharing a ride. Search categories include snowboarding, concerts, sightseeing and the like, with drivers advertising their route, ideas and price per person.
The idea sprang from founder Toyo Hirashima’s own travels: growing up snowboarding in Hokkaido and having worked in the IT industry for many years, he had his first taste of surfing in California at age 25, and subsequently quit his job in 2013 to surf at different spots around the world. While working his way from wave to wave, he met loads of people on the road through rideshares, an experience he now wants to bring to the (Japanese) public through his latest venture, Go Ride.
Of course, it’s not a free-for-all: drivers get to set their own rules as well, such as female-only rides or non-smoking, and payment is requested once you arrive. And for those with more limited time on their hands, or just looking to get from A to B with some added entertainment, you’re not restricted to joining in on the activities specified by the driver – just let them know in advance. Signing up is through Facebook, to ‘ensure trust’, according to the website. So far, most entries have been in Japanese, but the website works in both English and Japanese – perfect for those looking to travel with locals as well.
Interested? Check out the website at goride.jp
– By Kirsty Bouwers