Wheelchair Rental Service Now Available from Welfare Equipment Rental Offices

JR East Japan Planning Co., Ltd. is working to expand the reach of its wheelchair rental service 'Wheelchair Rental Service by Babycal', which allows reservations and use outside the home. From June 12, the company will start a service that enables people who need support when going out to easily rent wheelchairs from welfare equipment rental offices.

To promote this initiative, JR East Japan Planning Co., Ltd., Max Co., Ltd., and Kawamura Cycle Co., Ltd. are collaborating to expand the environment for wheelchair rental.

Going forward, the company will continue to work towards a society where all customers who need support when going out can go out more freely and with peace of mind, starting with expanding the locations where wheelchairs can be rented.

1. Overview

Service Start Date

June 12, 2026 (Friday) (*1)

Installation Location / Wheelchair Rental Hours

[BABYCAL STATION (Staffed)] ・Jack Welfare Equipment Station: Weekdays 8:00-17:30 (Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays)

Project Entity

JR East Japan Planning Co., Ltd.

Usage Fee (Tax Excluded)

First 1 hour: 250 yen, thereafter 100 yen per 30 minutes

Maximum 1,500 yen for 12 hours, thereafter 100 yen per 30 minutes (*2)

Customer Inquiries

0120-619-305 (Business hours: 8:00-21:00, open year-round)

*1 Please note that the service may be closed, changed, or suspended without notice. Reservations will be accepted from 2:00 PM on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.

*2 To use Babycal, membership registration via the website (https://babycal-jre.com/) or app is required. The accompanying customer is requested to register. Payment will be made online via credit card.

<Installation Location>

Jack Welfare Equipment Station

202-3 Shimonainai, Sumoto City, Hyogo Prefecture

We have decided to launch this service in response to requests from local residents and tourists visiting Awaji Island for wheelchair rentals outside of long-term care insurance (self-pay).

Our company operates multiple businesses including home-visit nursing care, rehabilitation, and care consultation, and our strength lies in our ability to provide 'total support'. We support a richer life with reliable and trustworthy services.

2. About the Wheelchair

Kawamura Cycle Co., Ltd. Attendant-Propelled Wheelchair WAVITRoo

Load Capacity: 100kg (including load)

Features:

A wheelchair that is less tiring even when sitting for long periods thanks to a unique seating system (Ravic Support)

Compact design allows smooth operation in crowds and narrow passages

Puncture-proof wheels that eliminate worries about flats on bumpy roads

3. Service Features

Previously, self-pay wheelchair rental was mainly handled individually by each welfare equipment rental office, placing a heavy operational burden on the offices in terms of phone responses, inventory management, adjusting visit times, and setting fees. On the other hand, customers also faced challenges such as unclear procedures and fee structures for using the service.

With this service, customers can reserve a wheelchair for a minimum of 1 hour up to a maximum of 7 days, at the required time and place. While those eligible for long-term care insurance can continue to use insurance-based rentals as before, this service provides a mechanism for those not covered by long-term care insurance, those who have not yet been certified as needing care, and those who want to use a wheelchair for travel or temporary outings to easily experience and use a wheelchair. This helps reduce anxiety when going out or traveling, supporting planned and safe mobility.

Furthermore, for welfare equipment rental offices, complex procedures such as reservations and payments can be centrally managed online, reducing the operational burden on the offices while also enabling them to meet new demand for self-pay rentals.

<Recruiting Member Stores>

We are recruiting welfare equipment rental businesses that wish to participate in this initiative.

Businesses wishing to participate in this initiative can inquire here: Max Co., Ltd. https://www.max-ltd.co.jp/toiawase/newbiz/

About Max Co., Ltd. and Kawamura Cycle Co., Ltd.

Under its corporate vision of 'Making life and work around the world easier and more fun', Max Co., Ltd. responds to customer needs with a thorough on-site and customer-first approach, captures social changes, and creates and disseminates products that do not exist elsewhere, thereby creating new markets and establishing itself as number one and one of a kind.

◆ Max Co., Ltd. Overview

Business: Manufacture and sale of office equipment such as staplers, and construction tools such as nailers and rebar tying machines.

Website: https://www.max-ltd.co.jp/

◆ Kawamura Cycle Co., Ltd. Overview

(Consolidated subsidiary of Max Co., Ltd.)

Business: Manufacture and sale of wheelchairs and other welfare equipment.

Website: https://www.kawamura-cycle.co.jp/

About Babycal

With the concept of 'Creating a society where people can go out more easily!', this is a rental service for strollers and wheelchairs that can be reserved and conveniently used outside the home, aiming to realize a society where families with children and those who need support can easily go out. It can be used not only for sightseeing and travel, but also for short outings like shopping or lunch.

Website: https://babycal-jre.com

* 'WAVIT' and 'Roo' are registered trademarks of Kawamura Cycle Co., Ltd.