Pioneering Post-Pandemic Travel: Beer Bikes Stir Up New Tourism Trends in Japan

As the pandemic abates, the dormant tourism industry is gradually regaining its vigor. However, travel in the post-pandemic era shows notable changes compared to pre-pandemic times. Alongside an emphasis on localized in-depth tours, smaller group trips seem to be gaining more popularity. A case in point is Yokohama’s recent addition, the “Beer Bike” tour, which is poised to set off a fresh wave of tourist frenzy this summer.

The Beer Bike, an initiative originating from the Netherlands, is a pedal-powered vehicle that can accommodate up to 16 passengers who pedal while enjoying their drinks at a built-in bar. Accompanying the group is a dedicated driver, responsible for steering and braking, while the passengers chat over a beer, the bike moving forward as long as they keep pedaling.

Before the pandemic, similar multi-person bikes sporadically surfaced in various parts of Japan but lacked a suitable use-case until a car repair company based in Kobe, Shinki Shoko, decided to step in. Harnessing the expertise of their in-house craftsmen specialized in metalwork and painting, they procured a Beer Bike from the Netherlands and carried out reverse engineering to build Japan’s first Beer Bike.