Exploring Tokyo in a New Way: My First Ride with LUUP’s Shared E-Bike
Introduction
Before the pandemic, I was an exchange student living in Tokyo, where LUUP’s shared e-bikes hadn’t yet been launched. Without a personal bike, my daily commuting was mostly on foot or by train. By 2022, LUUP had rolled out in Tokyo and had already established numerous parking stations (“port”) across the city. However, the service wasn’t yet open to foreign users, leaving me unable to try it.
This year (2024), during my long-awaited return to Tokyo, I was finally able to register for LUUP and experience it firsthand. As someone who previously worked at GoShare, Taiwan’s largest shared e-scooter company, I have a keen interest in micro-mobility services. This time, I got to experience LUUP’s full O2O (Online-to-Offline) journey, which gave me new insights into shared micro-vehicles and Tokyo’s public transport system.
If you’re planning a trip to Japan, consider reading this article and registering for LUUP in advance!
Background: LUUP’s Journey in Tokyo
Bringing LUUP to life in Japan wasn’t easy, given the country’s notoriously strict transportation regulations. Rules for both road use and parking are highly detailed — even bicycles require designated paid parking. Additionally, electric scooters in Japan are classified as motor vehicles and must be registered with a license plate. This regulatory landscape has posed challenges for micro-mobility services.
In contrast, Taipei’s shared bike program, YouBike, is government-led under a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model, utilizing public land for parking stations. LUUP, on the other hand, seems to rely heavily on dedicated government relations and business development teams to negotiate with authorities and private partners, establishing legal parking spaces and ensuring smooth operations in Tokyo.
Interestingly, the hotel I stayed at this time had a LUUP station right in front, which informed me that foreigners could now register and use the service. Seeing LUUP’s successful implementation in a bustling metropolis like Tokyo reflects the determination and hard work of its operating team.
Downloading the LUUP App and Registration Process
To download the LUUP app, simply search for it on the App Store or Google Play.
1. Phone Number Verification
Enter your phone number and verify it with an SMS code. LUUP now allows foreign users to register, so you can select phone numbers from different countries. If you’ve already swapped SIM cards after arriving in Japan, receiving the code might be challenging. It’s best to complete the registration before arrival. Dual-SIM phones or eSIM make this simpler, as receiving SMS abroad is generally free with most telecom providers, as long as you have roaming enabled (data roaming is not needed).
2. Filling in Basic Information
After phone verification, you need to enter your name, date of birth, and email address.
3. Credit Card Linking
As with other shared mobility apps like Uber, you need to link a payment method. Major credit cards like Visa or Mastercard should both work, while I used my Taiwanese JCB card, entering the card number, expiration date, and security code. There were no additional verification steps, making it relatively quick.
4. ID Verification
Japanese regulations require users to be at least 16 years old to use LUUP (no driver’s license needed), so uploading an ID is necessary to verify age. Foreign users can simply upload the personal information page of their passport. The system states that verification may take a few minutes to a few hours, likely using a combination of AI and manual review. While waiting, you can move on to the next step.
5. Traffic Safety and Regulations
This part is either required by Japanese authorities or added by LUUP to minimize risk. It’s a crucial step that not only reduces LUUP’s liability but also increases user confidence. The tutorial covers important topics such as riding directions, sidewalk access, turn signals, one-way street restrictions, and traffic light rules. It’s interactive, followed by 11 true-or-false questions with cute UI illustrations. Explanations of potential fines or penalties are also provided for each question.
Once you complete the quiz, the passport verification is usually done too. At this point, you’re all set to use LUUP.
The First Ride: Hitting the Streets of Tokyo
LUUP offers two types of vehicles: electric scooters and electric-assisted bicycles. The scooters are similar to those popular in Western countries, though less common in Asia. I had tried e-scooters in Europe and found them convenient. However, considering Tokyo’s crowded streets and my better handling of bicycles (which feel more stable to me), I chose the e-bike. Additionally, bikes are allowed on some sidewalks, whereas scooters must stay on the left side of the road.
In practice, LUUP seems to have more scooters than bikes, so it took me a while to find an e-bike at a station near Shinjuku. The app’s “FIND” feature lets you filter by vehicle type, showing only stations with your preferred vehicle option. After selecting a station, you can see available bikes and tap “RIDE” to reserve one.
It’s important to note that tapping “RIDE” only reserves the bike for 10 minutes, without starting the rental, and the reservation is free. While it’s similar to my experience with GoShare, LUUP’s unique feature allows users to reserve parking at the destination as well. This is essential in a dock-based system like LUUP’s, where improper parking can lead to penalties. If unsure about the destination, you can either reserve the departure port as the return port, or simply change it mid-ride. LUUP’s app also offers navigation, showing the recommended route from start to finish.
Upon reaching the starting station, locate your reserved bike using its number, then scan the QR code to unlock it. You can also scan directly on-site if you haven’t reserved. Once you tap “START RIDE,” billing begins and the bike is unlocked, ready to ride.
The Ride: Traversing Tokyo Streets
With the first 30 minutes free (use my promo code RFMBK1FH), I decided to attempt a longer route: from Shinjuku to Nihonbashi, about 7.8 kilometers across central Tokyo. The ride involved several inclines, but the electric-assist feature made it manageable, maintaining a steady speed.
The experience reminded me of cycling in Taipei: for faster travel, riding in the outermost lane is ideal, as it avoids pedestrian traffic. However, as in Taipei, you must be cautious of right-turning vehicles or buses at stops. Overall, drivers in Tokyo are more courteous and adhere to rules better than in Taipei, with clear bike lane markings providing guidance. When sidewalks allow bike access and pedestrian traffic is light, it’s an option, albeit slower.
LUUP’s sturdy phone mount allows you to follow navigation easily, which is particularly helpful for someone like me who’s unfamiliar with Tokyo’s streets. I also tried the “two-stage right turn,” which operates similarly to Taiwan’s two-stage left turn for scooters.
Midway through the ride, it started to rain lightly. Fortunately, it wasn’t too heavy, so I put on my cap and continued. The rain added an unexpected touch of nostalgia, reminding me of rainy shared bike rides in Shanghai years ago.
The route roughly followed the Toei Shinjuku Line corridor, passing through Shinjuku, Akebonobashi, and Ichigaya, then crossed over to Kudanshita. The latter half followed the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, passing Kudanshita, Takebashi, Otemachi, and finally reaching Nihonbashi. As a business hub, Nihonbashi has fewer docking stations, but I managed to find a small one tucked between tall office buildings and reserved a parking spot.
The Final Stretch: Ending the Ride
Arriving at Nihonbashi during rush hour, the streets were crowded. However, LUUP’s precise location feature and clear instructions helped me quickly locate the reserved docking port, hidden in a narrow space between two office buildings (like those often occupied by vending machines). The station could only fit three bikes, and I was the third.
After parking, I manually locked the rear wheel and tapped “RETURN” on the app. You must also take a photo to confirm the parking. The app then shows the total cost, deducting it from your linked credit card.
My total ride time was 36 minutes, originally priced at ¥590, but I paid just ¥90 after the new user discount (first 30 minutes free).
Conclusion
This ride with LUUP not only demonstrated the convenience of biking in Tokyo but also offered insights into the city’s strict yet bike-friendly rules. From registration to navigation and docking, LUUP’s user-focused design stood out. For me, it wasn’t just a way to explore the city, but also a newfound sense of freedom — one that you can’t quite get from subway or train commutes in Tokyo or Hong Kong.
For anyone looking to explore Tokyo differently, LUUP is definitely worth a try.
