The Setouchi Vocational College of Tourism and next-generation mobility device rental company Regional Mobility-Life Hub have joined hands in promoting tours on three-wheeled electric bikes around Kagawa Prefecture's Shodo Island in the Seto Inland Sea.
The bikes are compact yet powerful and can easily maneuver even on narrow paths and on slopes.
"We hope visitors will be able to discover new sightseeing spots that have been overlooked when traveling by car," an official involved in the project said.
The electric bikes can run for about 50 to 60 kilometers on a full battery charge, at a maximum speed of 45 kilometers per hour. There is a rear basket to hold luggage and the bikes are convenient for short sightseeing trips as they do not require more than a bicycle-size parking space.
Anyone with a standard driver's license can use the bikes.
Students taking part in the project visited Shodo Island between June and August to research locations that would be fun to visit on the electric bikes, categorizing them into different themes such as artwork and "love."
At the kickoff event held on Nov. 28 at Ohkido Hotel in the town of Tonosho, a video of the students' findings was shown and members of the local professional basketball team Shodoshima Stones rode on the bikes to try them out.
Two bikes are available at each of five hotels on the island until mid-May 2024. They can be rented for 3,000 yen per day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The five hotels are Tenku Hotel Kairo, Shodoshima International Hotel, Ohkido Hotel, Olivean Shodoshima Yuhigaoka Hotel, and Bay Resort Hotel Shodoshima.
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