glafit Co., Ltd. (Read: Glafit, Headquarters: Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture, President & CEO: Teizo Narumi, hereinafter glafit), which handles the development, manufacturing, and sales of electric personal mobility all in one stop, has begun a trial introduction of "WANDERIDE," a micro-sharing service utilizing "Tokutei Kogata Gen-dōkibutsu Jidōsha" (Special Small Motorized Bicycles, hereinafter Tokutei Kogata Gen-dōsha), at the highland resort hotel "Hotel Epinal Nasu" in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture.

Nasu Kogen, surrounded by rich nature, is a leading highland resort in Japan where you can enjoy seasonal scenery, hot springs, and activities. "Hotel Epinal Nasu," located in the heart of this area, is a comprehensive resort hotel popular with a wide range of guests, from families to couples, married couples, and girls' trips. It is also easily accessible from the Tokyo metropolitan area and serves as a base for sightseeing in the surrounding area.

On the other hand, this area, with its attractive spots scattered throughout the seasons, also has a challenging terrain with undulations and road congestion due to seasonal crowds. In this trial, by utilizing Tokutei Kogata Gen-dōsha starting from Hotel Epinal Nasu, one of the region's leading bases, we aim to provide a new mobility experience that allows guests to enjoy surrounding sightseeing more comfortably and actively, without worrying about the resort's unique terrain and environment.

Background of Introduction | "Short Trip Tourism" Updates the Mobility Experience in Highland Resorts

Around Hotel Epinal Nasu, various tourist spots are scattered, from cafes and sweet shops to farms and leisure facilities. While you can enjoy the open scenery unique to Nasu, the area has undulations and slopes, making some places feel a bit too far to walk. Sightseeing buses are also available, but their frequency and operating hours are limited, and during peak seasons such as Golden Week, summer vacation, and autumn foliage season, congestion on surrounding roads and parking lots is noticeable. Therefore, there is a growing interest in new mobility options for hotel guests who want to explore at their own pace for distances that are not quite far enough to warrant driving.

Additionally, for accommodation plans that include round-trip direct buses from stations in the Tokyo metropolitan area (excluding peak seasons), some guests expressed a desire to use the "gap time" between checkout and the departure time of the return bus for sightseeing.

WANDERIDE responds to these needs. The electric cycle used, the "NFR-01 Pro+ 4G LTE MODEL" (hereinafter NFR-01 Pro+), is a Tokutei Kogata Gen-dōsha equipped with the power to accelerate up to 20 km/h with accelerator operation alone and easily climb 30% slopes. Unlike electric-assist bicycles, there is no need to keep pedaling, reducing the burden even on hilly roads. Furthermore, anyone aged 16 and over can ride it without a driver's license, making it a new means of transportation that allows you to easily explore the surroundings at your own pace, with high compatibility with resort areas. It transforms the act of moving itself into a part of the travel enjoyment, while you feel the surrounding greenery of Nasu Kogen and the clear air.

Introduction Overview

Even exploring the vast grounds of approximately 50,000 tsubo can be a refreshing activity.

Introduction Destination: Hotel Epinal Nasu

Address: 1, Takanashi-aza, Nasu-cho, Nasu-gun, Tochigi Prefecture

Usage Fee: 1,500 yen per hour

Rental Hours: 8:00 AM to sunset

Number of Units Available: 4

Usage Requirements: Age 16 and over, no license required

Vehicle Used: Electric Cycle NFR-01 Pro+ (Tokutei Kogata Gen-dōsha)

By downloading the glafit app on your smartphone, you can smoothly complete reservations, payments, and vehicle unlocking all within the app.

Download the app here ▼iOS Version (iOS 13.4 or later) https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/glafit/id6480165798

▼Android Version (Android 8 or later) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.glafit.app

Comments on the Trial

Mahiro Kobayashi, Accommodation Floor Service, Hotel Epinal Nasu

This style of freely exploring nearby cafes and souvenir shops from our hotel using Tokutei Kogata Gen-dōsha is a new option that enriches the stay experience at a highland resort. We believe it is also highly compatible with how guests arriving by direct bus from the Tokyo metropolitan area spend their time after checkout. By leveraging the ease with which anyone aged 16 and over can travel lightly, we want them to first enjoy exploring the entire area more. With this introduction as an opportunity, we plan to consider future possibilities, including exploring new potential needs of domestic and international customers beyond the traditional family demographic.

Teizo Narumi, President & CEO, glafit Co., Ltd.

We are delighted to begin the trial of WANDERIDE at Hotel Epinal Nasu, a historic highland resort. By transforming the undulations and distances unique to highlands from inconveniences into enjoyment, we aim to create an environment where everyone, including those who cannot come by car, can savor the surrounding attractions at their own pace. We hope to continue expanding possibilities for regional cooperation and assist in further enhancing the value of the tourism experience by leveraging mobility to bring out the unique charms of each location.

Must-See Spots Around Hotel Epinal Nasu Explored with WANDERIDE

We introduce the must-see spots in Nasu Kogen that can be explored with WANDERIDE, starting from Hotel Epinal Nasu. Choose between a "short trip" route perfect for brief detours and an "outing" ride to explore a little further. Select according to your mood.

◆ "Eat & Buy" Route Rich in Spots

Many attractive cafes and souvenir shops are scattered around the hotel. Take advantage of the maneuverability of Tokutei Kogata Gen-dōsha and embark on a short trip to easily stop by places that catch your eye.

Soft serve ice cream is available in milk chocolate, as well as dark chocolate and white chocolate.

"N. Cacao Chocolate," a specialty chocolate confectionery shop, is about a 5-minute ride from the hotel. Their rich soft serve ice cream and drinks are popular, and it's also perfect for finding souvenirs. It's an ideal spot to stop by when you want a little break.

"Banana Nut Pancakes" served with salted caramel sauce.

"Mori no voivoi," a pancake specialty cafe located in "Finnish Forest," which has a Nordic atmosphere. Their commitment is to mix the batter after receiving an order and carefully bake each pancake one by one on a special griddle. They offer a range of sweet and savory options, making it recommended for lunch as well.

The direct sales store offers fresh vegetables such as asparagus picked that morning.

"Michi-no-Eki Nasu Kogen Yuai no Mori" is a tourist hub located at the entrance of Nasu Kogen. In addition to fresh highland vegetables, Nasu Wagyu beef gourmet, and craft experiences, it also houses a tourist information center. It has parking space for motorcycles and is an essential place for souvenir shopping and resting.

◆ "See & Play" Route to Fully Enjoy Spots

Take a trip a little further afield to fully experience the unique activities of Nasu. Enjoy special moments at the spots that interest you while moving refreshingly with WANDERIDE.

Left: Rindo Lake Family Farm, Top Right: Nasu Teddy Bear Museum, Bottom Right: Nasu Buggy Park

Rindo Lake Family Farm

A farm-themed park spread around a lake. You can interact with alpacas and sheep, enjoy a Ferris wheel and go-karts, and the large zip line overlooking the Nasu mountain range is popular. Parking fees apply on weekends, holidays, and busy periods, but motorcycles are free.

Nasu Teddy Bear Museum

Located on the way to Rindo Lake Family Farm, this is a museum exhibiting teddy bears from around the world. Inside the brick building, reminiscent of a British aristocratic mansion, you can find rare items such as Steiff products over 100 years old.

Nasu Buggy Park

This is a full-fledged off-road experience facility that takes advantage of the undulating terrain of Nasu Kogen and is popular with foreign tourists. It is the highest altitude spot among those introduced here, and while a taxi ride would incur some cost, with the NFR-01 Pro+, you can enjoy the journey itself with a sense of adventure. If you love vehicles, why not visit?

About WANDERIDE

~Turning Mobility into Entertainment. Turning Cities into Theme Parks.~

WANDERIDE is a micro-sharing service utilizing Tokutei Kogata Gen-dōsha, developed and offered by glafit. By combining a dedicated app with IoT-enabled vehicles, we aim to implement new mobility experiences tailored to regional characteristics. It not only complements secondary transportation in tourist destinations and regional hubs but also contributes to improving circulation and enhancing regional experiential value as a system that makes moving itself enjoyable.

*WANDERIDE is a registered trademark of glafit.

HP: https://wanderide.travel/

References:

[WANDERIDE® Case Study] Starting with a Partnership Agreement with Shirahama Town, WANDERIDE® Introduction is Progressing in the Town. Towards New Activities to Enjoy Shirahama at Your Own Pace Without a Car

[WANDERIDE Case Study] Trial of WANDERIDE Circulation Experiment Begins in Tateyama Hot Spring Area! Towards "Surface" Tourism from "Point" with Electric Personal Mobility

[WANDERIDE Case Study] Trial of WANDERIDE Begins at Wakayama's Hot Spring Resort "Wakano-ura Onsen Manpa RESORT"! Race Through Japan Heritage While Gazing at Spectacular Views

About the Electric Cycle "NFR-01 Pro+" Used

The "NFR-01 Pro+" used in WANDERIDE is a popular glafit model that received the 2024 Good Design Award and was the first Tokutei Kogata Gen-dōsha project to exceed 100 million yen on the crowdfunding service Makuake. As a Tokutei Kogata Gen-dōsha, it can be used by individuals aged 16 and over without a driver's license, and it features powerful climbing performance, quiet operation, and IoT connectivity functions utilizing 4G LTE communication. Vehicle wrapping with original design stickers is also possible, supporting new mobility experiences in tourist destinations.

▶ Product Details: https://glafit.com/products/nfr/nfr-01-pro/

*"Electric Cycle" is a coined term proposed by glafit. It is a name that combines "electric" (using electricity as a power source) with the image of the ease of a bicycle and the "cycle" from motorcycle, and glafit uses it as a general term for bicycle-type seated models of Tokutei Kogata Gen-dōsha.

About glafit

glafit Co., Ltd. is a Wakayama-based hard mobility venture that handles everything from development to manufacturing and sales of electric personal mobility. With the brand message "Enjoy Moving!", we develop and provide mobility that transforms daily commutes into experiences of surprise and excitement, bringing smiles to people around the world.

[Overview of glafit Co., Ltd.]

Location: 579-1 Umehara, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture

Representative: President & CEO Teizo Narumi

Date of Establishment: September 1, 2017

Official Website: https://glafit.com/

[Inquiries Regarding This Release]

Public Relations: Ando, Fukui e-mail: [email protected]

[Inquiries Regarding WANDERIDE]

For businesses considering improving circulation in tourist destinations, developing secondary transportation, or introducing micro-sharing services centered around accommodation and tourist facilities, please feel free to contact us.

WANDERIDE Business Division e-mail: [email protected]

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: サービス導入