From Tourist Information Center to Pottery Shopping Mall! To Museums! To the Sea! And to the Northern and Southern Areas!

The hilly town of Tokoname can be easily explored with electric assist. This will solve the mobility challenges for travelers visiting by public transport and expand tourist circulation throughout the city.

The General Incorporated Association Tokoname Tourism Association will begin operating a shared bicycle service "HELLO CYCLING" with electric-assist bicycles at the Tokoname Tourist Information Center starting July 15, 2026 (Wed).

The purpose of this initiative is to broaden the scope of tourist activities. The Tokoname Tourist Information Center is located at the starting point of the Pottery Walking Path and is a tourist hub visited by approximately 120,000 people annually, of whom about 30,000 are foreign tourists. Many also visit Tokoname using public transportation.

On the other hand, in Tokoname, attractive tourist spots are scattered throughout the city, not only within walking distance of the Pottery Walking Path but also including the INAX Tile Museum, the pottery shopping mall "Ceramall," Tokoname Tou-no-Mori, Rinku Beach, and the northern and southern areas. For tourists visiting by public transport, it has been a challenge to extend their reach to places far from the station or the Pottery Walking Path.

With the introduction of shared bicycles with electric assist, visitors can easily travel from the tourist information center to surrounding areas that are a bit too far to walk. Enjoy the Pottery Walking Path on foot, and then use the electric-assist bicycles to visit museums, Ceramall, the seaside, and the northern and southern areas. We are creating a new tourist route that allows for easy exploration of the hilly town of Tokoname with electric assist.

Furthermore, we expect the shared bicycle service not only to serve as a means of transportation but also as a system for understanding tourist circulation patterns. By analyzing usage data on "where tourists go if they have access to electric-assist bicycles," we will utilize this information for future model course creation, information dissemination, and tourism strategies.

The Tokoname Tourism Association aims to extend the duration of tourist stays, increase local consumption, and promote circular tourism that allows visitors to enjoy Tokoname as a whole through this shared bicycle service.

Tokoname Circulation Map Expanded by Shared Cycles

From the tourist information center, access spots that were previously far on foot with electric-assist bicycles. The idea is to enjoy the Pottery Walking Path on foot and then easily extend your reach to surrounding areas with electric-assist bicycles.

*This is an illustrative diagram showing the relative positions. Please check on-site guidance for actual roads, distances, and routes.

Six Areas to Expand Your Enjoyment of Tokoname Tourism

We will initially focus on promoting circulation from the tourist information center area to Ceramall, the Pottery Culture Area, and the Rinku Area, while also looking ahead to expanded circulation throughout the city, including the northern and southern areas.

Area

How to Enjoy

Pottery Walking Path Area

An area where you can enjoy walking through a townscape unique to Tokoname, featuring the Tokoname landmark "Mamore-neko Tokonyan," the Dokan-zaka slope, climbing kilns, pottery studios and Tokoname ware shops, a cafe renovated from a pipe factory, galleries, general stores, and restaurants where you can enjoy Tokoname milk and street food.

Pottery Shopping Mall

"Ceramall"

A specialized shopping mall for Tokoname ware where you can purchase items such as teapots, teacups, and Maneki-neko (beckoning cats).

Pottery Culture Area

An area where you can experience and purchase Tokoname ware and craftsmanship, including the INAX Tile Museum, Tokoname Tou-no-Mori, and Machi-no-Eki Yamatane.

Rinku Area

An area where you can enjoy seaside scenery, shopping, and sunsets, including Rinku Beach and Aeon Mall Tokoname.

Northern Area

An area where you can enjoy the charms of northern Tokoname, including Ono Beach, Ono Castle, historic townscapes, temples and shrines, and restaurants.

Southern Area

An area that leads to relaxed stays and wider regional circulation, featuring Sakai Coast, hot spring inns, seaside views, and farm-to-table restaurants.

Background of Introduction

Tokoname has attractive spots beyond walking distance, such as the "Pottery Walking Path" where you can experience the culture of Tokoname ware, one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns, as well as shopping, craft experiences, seaside scenery, and historic townscapes.

However, travelers visiting by public transport, especially foreign tourists, have faced challenges in moving to tourist spots far from the station or the Pottery Walking Path. By introducing shared bicycles with electric assist, we will combine "enjoying the Pottery Walking Path on foot" with "extending your reach to surrounding areas by electric-assist bicycle," leading to longer stays and increased tourist spending.

Towards Tourism Strategies Utilizing Data

A crucial objective of this initiative is to understand tourist circulation patterns by utilizing data such as usage status. The tourism association will analyze which areas shared bicycle users travel to and which tourist resources they are most compatible with, and use this information for future model course creation and information dissemination.

Service Overview

Start Date

July 15, 2026 (Wed)

Location

Tokoname Tourist Information Center (within Tokoname Ceramic Industry Hall)

Address

3-8 Sakae-machi, Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture

Service

HELLO CYCLING

Vehicles Deployed

Electric-assist bicycles (easy circulation of the hilly town of Tokoname with electric assist)

Usage and Payment Methods

Can be used via a dedicated app and paid for with credit cards, PayPay, etc.

Usage Fees

100 yen per 15 minutes, up to 1,500 yen for 12 hours

Notes on Rental and Return

Vehicles rented at the Tokoname Tourist Information Center can only be returned to the Tokoname Tourist Information Center. Vehicles rented in other areas cannot be returned to the Tokoname Tourist Information Center.

Safety

To prepare for accidents during use, the insurance stipulated by HELLO CYCLING applies. Additionally, helmets will be available for rent at the Tokoname Tourist Information Center.

Key Points

- This initiative aims to expand the scope of tourist activities, starting from the tourist information center visited by approximately 120,000 people annually.

- It is proposed as a means of transportation for approximately 30,000 foreign tourists to enjoy Tokoname efficiently in a short time.

- Due to electric-assist bicycles, it is easy to tour the hilly town of Tokoname.

- We are creating a route that allows visitors to enjoy the Pottery Walking Path on foot and then expand to museums, Ceramall, and the Rinku Area by shared bicycle.

- This will expand tourist circulation throughout the city, including the northern and southern areas, leading to extended stays and increased tourist spending.

- By analyzing usage data, we will utilize "where tourists go if they have electric-assist bicycles" for future tourism strategies.