News in Easy English: Aichi Pref. town rents high-price bikes for 1,000 yen a day
KANIE, Aichi -- High-price bicycles are now for rent in this central Japan town. Some are worth up to 1 million yen (approx. $6,320). They have famous
Kanie, a town in central Japan, has begun renting high-priced bicycles for 1,000 yen per day. Some of these bikes are worth up to 1 million yen. They feature famous parts from countries like Germany and Britain. Kanie is known for its flat terrain, making it ideal for cycling. The town is tiny, about one-thirtieth the size of its larger neighbor, Nagoya.
The bikes are available at the south exit of JR Kanie Station. Town officials suggest arriving by train, then switching to a bike to explore the area's attractions. Kanie has seven mini velo bikes, including Birdy and Brompton models. Each bike has a special Gokiso hub, made by Kondo Machine Corp., a company located in Kanie.
The Gokiso hubs are worth around 400,000 yen each, while the entire bikes range from 800,000 to 1 million yen. Despite their high value, daily rentals cost only 1,000 yen. Gokiso hubs use technology originally designed for aircraft engine parts, reducing pressure on small bearings. This allows riders to maintain speed even when they stop pedaling.
To rent a bike, visitors must reserve it in advance through the Kanie Taiken website. Questions can be directed to the municipal government's hometown promotion division at 0567-95-1111.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
