Renting a bicycle is an excellent option for getting around Kanazawa. The distances between the most popular tourist locations are not too far and most of the roads are fairly smooth and flat. With a bicycle you can move between Kanazawa Station, Omicho Market, Kenrokuen Garden, the Higashi Chaya district, and other central sights without waiting for buses or being tied to a fixed route. A bicycle also gives you the freedom to explore parts of Kanazawa that are not on the usual tourist trail. Fortunately Kanazawa has a public bicycle sharing service called Machi-Nori. This service lets users rent and return electric-assist bicycles at ports around the city.
Machi-Nori Cycle Port at Kanazawa Station
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Machi-Nori Bicycle Sharing by App
Machi-Nori is a share-cycle service rather than a traditional rental shop. You can borrow a bicycle at one official Machi-Nori port and return it to another port near your destination. Kanazawa City lists 100 ports and 720 electric-assist bicycles for the third-phase service that began on 1-Apr-2025. For port locations, bike availability, and battery levels, use the Machi-Nori app or the official port map.
A Machi-Nori cycle port in Kanazawa
- For member use, download the Bike Share Service app, select “Kanazawa City Machi-nori” as the area, and register with a smartphone and credit card or Docomo payment.
- For app-based one-time use, the first 30 minutes cost 165 yen. If one ride exceeds 30 minutes, an additional 165 yen is charged for each additional 30 minutes, with a daily overcharge limit of 2,200 yen.
- Payment for membership plans is by registered credit card or Docomo payment. Debit and prepaid cards are not accepted.
- Rental and return are available 24 hours a day, though some ports may have different operating hours.
- The 30-minute pricing works best for short rides between ports. If you want to keep the same bicycle for sightseeing without watching the clock, use a one-day pass or the office-only Carippa rental.
- To unlock a bike, follow the app instructions for the type of bike terminal. Some bicycles use a four-digit passcode, while others use a QR code or registered card key.
- A transportation IC card can be registered as a card key, but it is not used to pay the fare. Payment is handled through your registered payment method.
- Machi-Nori does not provide children’s bicycles or bikes with child seats. Its 20-inch bicycles are intended for riders over 145 cm tall.
Machi-Nori instructions at Kanazawa Station
The One-Day Pass Option
If you do not want to register as a regular member, you can use a Machi-Nori one-day pass. A one-day pass costs 1,650 yen and is valid until 23:59 on the day of use. Counter-purchased passes are available at the Machi-Nori Office and one-day pass sales counters, with cash accepted and other payment methods varying by counter. A website-purchased pass can also be bought by credit card.
Each pass can be used for one bicycle. A one-day pass allows repeated use during the pass period, but it does not guarantee that a bicycle will always be available at a given port. During busy periods, check nearby ports and battery levels before setting off. At the end of use, return the bicycle properly to a Machi-Nori port.
An office-rental bicycle at Machi-Nori
Rental Bicycle Carippa
Machi-Nori also offers an office-only rental bicycle service called Carippa. These are electric-assist bicycles rented and returned at the Machi-Nori Head Office. This option is useful if you want to keep the same bicycle for a longer ride instead of returning it to a share-cycle port every 30 minutes.
Advance reservations are not accepted, payment is cash only, and a smartphone or mobile phone is required. The fee is 700 yen for up to four hours or 1,000 yen for more than four hours. Available time is 9:00-18:00.
An electric-assist rental bicycle
The Machi-Nori Head Office
The Machi-Nori Head Office is a short walk from Kanazawa Station and is open from 9:00-18:00. Here is the address:
Live 1 Kanazawa (1st Floor)
3-2 Konohana-machi
Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture
TEL 076-255-1747
The Machi-Nori Head Office
The office also offers luggage storage and delivery services. Luggage storage costs 500 yen for up to two items, or 1,000 yen for three items, with the same flat rate for all sizes including oversized luggage. Items must be picked up during office hours. The stated limit is 200 cm in height and 30 kg in weight. Some items, such as valuables, fragile goods, refrigerated or frozen goods, pets, and hazardous goods, cannot be stored. Machi-Nori also lists a luggage delivery service from affiliated accommodation to the Head Office for 700 yen per bag.
For more detailed information, check the official Machi-Nori website, the Machi-Nori port map, the Machi-Nori price page, and the one-day pass counter map.
A cycle port at Honda-machi
A cycle port at Higashiyama
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 25-May-2026.
