The 6 best urban cycling cities in Asia
Jessica Yam explains why bike-friendly cities like Osaka and Xiamen are perfect cycling and eating getaways
Touring a city on a bicycle gives you more flexibility to stop and look at things you would miss if you were in a train or a car. Cycling is also a great way to burn some of that holiday weight off! Here are six of our favourite cities in Asia to explore on two wheels.
1. Osaka
Dubbed Japan’s bike city, predominantly flat Osaka is exceptionally bicycle-friendly, so much so, for many locals biking is their main mode of transport. Riding and eating your way through the Dotonbori area – a street about 2.5km long, lined with small shops and hole-in-the-walls – is a fun way to get a taste of the local culture, cuisine, and nightlife. Sections of the street can get crowded with pedestrians but you can steer to the side streets along the Dotonbori River to get through. You can also cycle around the surrounding area of Osaka Castle which can be pretty taxing on foot.
Many hotels in Osaka offer guests bicycle rentals complimentary or for a nominal fee. Community bikes, Umegle-Chari, can also be found in the city centre and easily rented with an IC card (Japan’s version of the Hong Kong Octopus card) or credit card.
Pro tip: Don’t go overboard with the Japanese sake and whisky, cycling under the influence is against the law in Japan!
2. Xiamen