We offer a rental service for 'play equipment' on Amami Oshima, a southern island in Japan.
I am not able to speak any language other than Japanese fluently, but I have guided many groups of tourists from outside Japan.
Fortunately, translation apps are well-developed nowadays, and even someone like me who is not good at languages can handle exchanges via short messages or emails without any problems.
Although I am like this, I wrote an article in English, albeit a bit clumsily, hoping that more people planning to visit Amami Oshima from overseas will get to know our services as one option to enjoy their trip.
This time, we will introduce it in the following 2 parts.
１．Services that are frequently used by overseas tourists in 2025． 2．Recommended ways to contact us
１．Services that are frequently used by overseas tourists in 2025
Entire building rental inn
The items we rent out range widely, including entire rental houses, rental cars, electric bicycles, paddleboards, and sea kayaks.
The biggest appeal of the vacation rentals we offer is that they are close to the airport. From Amami Airport to this accommodation, it takes only 3 minutes by car.
Also, the accommodation fee for one night is approximately 21,000 yen, and this lodging can accommodate up to four people.
By the way, there is no additional charge based on the number of guests. Another attractive feature is that you can freely choose your check-in and check-out times between 9:00 and 18:00. This allows you to rest immediately after getting off the plane and to relax until just before boarding your flight.
Additionally, there is a free shuttle service to Amami Airport, and guests can also rent rental cars and other recreational equipment at a 20% discount, making it a great deal.
Car rental usage
At our shop, we mainly offer small cars that can accommodate up to 4 people as rental cars. The special feature of using our rental cars is that there are no additional charges for scratches or dirt. We want travelers to enjoy themselves to the fullest, so we believe it's best to have a car that can be used without worry.
However, please be very careful to avoid accidents that could affect your life or future plans.
We carefully check to ensure there are no issues affecting driving, and we thoroughly clean the cars before renting them out, but minor scratches that don’t affect driving are left as they are. However, please be very careful to avoid accidents that could affect your life or future plans.
Also, even if you do not stay at our accommodations, rental car users can use other items at a 20% discount. However, please note that the rental car fee itself is not eligible for this discount.
To use a rental car at our shop, you must present a valid Japanese driver's license and identification such as a passport. Please note that even if you have a reservation, we will not be able to rent a car to you if we cannot verify these documents on-site.
Various types of electric bicycles
Currently, our store offers two kinds and three types of vehicles that can be called electric bicycles. Please note that our store does not carry regular motorcycles that require a driver's license and run on gasoline.
What they have in common is that they are "vehicles using an electric motor that do not require a driver's license."
Below are the characteristics of each type and the names we use for them in our store.
・Electric-assist bicycle
You need to pedal yourself, but this type features an electric motor that assists your pedaling power.
It can travel the longest distances, and with a single charge, it can cover 80 to 100 km. It is also appealing because it is easy to ride, similar to a regular bicycle.
While it has electric motor assistance, your physical strength is necessary for uphill and long-distance rides.
・Electric scooter
This is an electric kickboard that requires no pedaling at all and can run solely on the power of its electric motor.
Even on uphill slopes, it won't tire you out, and a single charge allows for approximately 80 km of travel.
However, if the battery runs out or the slope is steeper than what the motor can handle, it will stop working. In the northern part of Amami Oshima, it was possible to ride uphill in most areas without any issues, but depending on the rider's weight and the terrain, some places can be challenging.
・E-cycle (Bicycle-type specified small motorcycle)
This resembles the most ordinary type of bicycle, but it is a vehicle that moves solely using the power of an electric motor, with no need to pedal at all.
As it looks, many people feel that it is easy to ride, and its ease of use can be said to have the highest affinity, but the driving range on a single charge is about 30 km, so this point must be taken into consideration.
Aside from enjoying short cycling trips, many people use them for getting around nearby areas while staying at accommodations, or take advantage of their portability to combine them with buses and enjoy traveling in this way.
Additional information about other available items and rental services
Various other items are also available for rental, but for items other than accommodation and rental cars, an additional service is available.
This service is [free delivery to the accommodation you will be staying at in the northern part of Amami Oshima].
By using this free delivery service, you no longer need to go to the store to pick up items yourself. For example, it becomes easier to explore the area near your accommodation by electric bicycle, and you can keep paddleboards or sea kayaks at your accommodation and enjoy them whenever you feel like it. Of course, we also offer free collection of items when returning them.
There are several conditions for using this free delivery service, which are listed below in bullet points.
・If you use the delivery service, payment in cash (Japanese yen) is required upon receipt. Credit cards and electronic money cannot be used.
・When receiving and returning the rental, the person renting it must be present. Lending or returning in their absence is not allowed.
・The use of the free delivery service is generally allowed for periods of one day or more. The free delivery service cannot be used for short-term use.
In addition, this applies not only to delivery services but to all item rentals, which are conducted under the rules shown in the image below. These are items meant for enjoyment, so we want you to use them casually; however, that does not mean you can ignore safety while using them.
2．Recommended ways to contact us
As I mentioned at the beginning, I am unable to speak any language other than Japanese. Additionally, tourists from abroad are not limited to English-speaking countries; some can only speak the language of their own region. Here are 3 communication methods that we currently use frequently.
①e-mail (e-mail contact to the store's computer address)
It is one of the main means of communication. We can translate and respond to messages in any language. However, if we are busy with other tasks or dealing with other issues, it may take some time to check and respond. Please also note that this email will be checked during store hours in Japan.
The store's email address is as follows.
asubiya-1111@po4.synapse.ne.jp
②Text message (direct message to the store's main mobile phone)
You will send a message directly to the store representative's mobile phone. In most cases, this method of contact will get you the fastest response. However, if you are still overseas, you will need to tolerate some delay in the response due to the time difference.
The mobile phone number for text messages to the store representative is as follows.
+81 90 7988 9116
③ＬＩＮＥ (LINE is Japan’s most popular messaging app, similar to WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.)
Asubiya has an official LINE account for the store.
If you already have a LINE account, or are willing to create one, it is recommended because you can expect a quick reply to your messages here.
You can register Asubiya's official LINE as a friend and send a message from the link below.
How was it? Although we cannot yet say that our store is able to provide sufficient services for overseas customers, we are willing to offer all the cooperation we can. We would be grateful if you could consider us as one option to help you enjoy your trip to Amami Oshima.
