On the Oki Islands, the Ama Town Tourism Association (Ama Town, Oki District, Shimane Prefecture) has introduced WANDERIDE, a micro-sharing service built around specified small mopeds from Wakayama-based mobility company glafit (CEO: Teizo Narumi), launching a new electric mobility service called WANDERIDE AMA.
WANDERIDE AMA uses eight of glafit's electric cycles, the NFR-01 Pro+ 4G LTE MODEL (NFR-01 Pro+). Riders move using throttle control alone, without pedaling, making it comfortable to get around even on the island's hilly terrain. As an electric mobility option that produces no exhaust while riding, it offers a new way to tour Ama Town — taking in the sea breeze, the scent of the greenery, and the look of its villages while exploring the island's geology, history, culture, and way of life.
Background: Freer, More Enjoyable Ways to Get Around, Starting from the Port
Ama Town sits on Nakanoshima, one of the islands making up the Oki UNESCO Global Geopark. From Hishiura Port, the island's gateway, sites where visitors can feel the island's geological history and culture are scattered across town — including Oki Shrine, linked to Emperor Go-Toba, and Akiya Coast, known for its red cliffs formed by ancient volcanic activity and deep blue sea.
At the same time, visiting multiple spots within a limited stay calls for transportation options that can be matched to an itinerary and destination. Many of the island's roads are also hilly, creating a need for more ways to enjoy the trip to a destination without strain.
With this background, WANDERIDE AMA was launched to expand secondary transportation options and turn getting around from a mere "means" of travel into an "experience" of Ama Town through the five senses. It offers a new way to explore the island, one where riders can easily stop for small sights that a car would pass by and take detours at their own pace.
Three Features of WANDERIDE AMA
1. No Pedaling, Breeze Up Hills
The NFR-01 Pro+ is a "pedal-free" electric cycle that runs on throttle control alone. Its powerful motor eases the strain of getting around the island's ups and downs, and with a top speed of 20 km/h, riders can enjoy a refreshing ride while taking in the scenery up close.
2. Over 30 km per Battery
A single battery can cover more than 30 km, enough for trips to major spots around town such as Oki Shrine and Akiya Coast, as well as detours along the coastline and through villages. Battery swaps are also available at the rental location for ¥1,100 each.
Riding range varies depending on road conditions, gradient, temperature, load, and how the vehicle is operated.
3. Five Plans from 1 to 24 Hours to Match Your Itinerary
Five plans are available to match different stay styles, from a 60-minute plan for a short window of free time to a 24-hour plan for taking in the sunset, stars, and sunrise. It suits both day-trippers and those who want to savor a longer stay on the island.
Five Pricing Plans to Match Your Itinerary
1. 60-Minute Plan – ¥2,000
A Refreshing Ride to Oki Shrine
Ride through scenery typical of Ama Town to Oki Shrine, linked to Emperor Go-Toba. It's a classic route that's easy to enjoy even during a short stay.
2. 90-Minute Plan – ¥2,500
Cutting Through the Wind to the Stunning Akiya Coast
Head to Akiya Coast, where red cliffs formed by ancient volcanic activity meet a deep blue sea. It's a recommended route that also lets riders enjoy the island scenery changing along the way.
The walking path at Akiya Coast is currently closed due to the risk of falling rocks. Please follow the on-site signage and stay within the designated safe areas.
3. 180-Minute Plan – ¥3,000
Wander the Island at Your Own Pace
Take in the coastline and village scenery, stopping wherever catches your eye to experience the appeal of Ama Town at a relaxed pace. Riders can enjoy the encounters along the way, not just the destination.
4. Free Plan – ¥5,000
A Free Island Trip, Unbound by Time
Use the cycle for as many hours as you like at a flat rate, until 5:00 PM on the day of use. It's recommended for those who want to visit multiple spots or freely shape their trip around the mood of the day.
5. 24-Hour Plan – ¥7,000
Sunset, Stars, and Sunrise, All at Your Leisure
This plan can be used across day and night. Riders can enjoy the island's changing expression at their own pace, from dusk through the night and into the next morning. A charger that lets you charge the battery from a household outlet is also lent out free of charge.
Group Discount for 2 or More Vehicles
When the same group uses two or more vehicles, each one gets a ¥500 discount, making it easier for friends or families to enjoy exploring the island together.
Example: Using the 90-minute plan for 2 vehicles = (¥2,500 − ¥500) × 2 = ¥4,000
The Free Plan and 24-Hour Plan are not eligible for the group discount.
Free Vehicle Options
The following options are available free of charge, depending on your needs and luggage:
- Helmet
- Front basket
- Rear carrier
- Cargo strap
- Cargo net
- Phone stand
- In-vehicle phone charger
Paid Service
- Battery swap: ¥1,100 per swap (available at the rental location)
Service Overview
- Service name: WANDERIDE AMA
- Launch: September 2026
- Vehicle: NFR-01 Pro+ 4G LTE MODEL (a specified small moped)
- Number of vehicles: 8
- Eligibility: Ages 16 and up (no driver's license required)
- Rental / return location: Ama Town Tourism Association counter, 1st floor of Hishiura Port Ferry Terminal
- Reservations: By phone or email
- Phone: 08514-2-0101
- Email: travel@oki-ama.org
Depending on availability, the vehicle may not be ready at your preferred time.
For Safe Use
The NFR-01 Pro+ is not a pedal-assist e-bike but a specified small moped under the Road Traffic Act. No driver's license is required for riders aged 16 and up, but traffic rules must still be followed. For safety, WANDERIDE AMA requires helmets to be worn while riding, and staff explain how to operate the vehicle and the rules of the road before rental. Drunk driving, riding two to a vehicle, and operating a smartphone while riding are all prohibited.
Comments
Shigeki Murao, Representative Director, Ama Town Tourism Association
In Ama Town, there's a lot worth stopping for beyond the sightseeing spots themselves — the color of the sea, the seasonal breeze, the look of the villages along the way. We want to grow WANDERIDE AMA into more than just a way to get around, but a tourism experience where visitors feel the island's scenery and time with their whole body. We hope you'll enjoy the appeal of Ama Town, the kind you can only find on an electric cycle, at your own pace.
Teizo Narumi, CEO, glafit
We're very happy that WANDERIDE AMA is starting in Ama Town, a place alive with rich nature, history, and culture. We hope riders will use the NFR-01 Pro+ to head out easily from the port to the places they want to visit and explore the island at their own pace. Going forward, glafit will keep addressing regional mobility challenges while expanding the possibilities for travel that only mobility can create.
About WANDERIDE
Turning movement into entertainment. Turning towns into theme parks.
WANDERIDE is a micro-sharing service that combines the NFR-01 Pro+, a specified small moped developed and manufactured by glafit, with a dedicated app. It can be used by anyone aged 16 or older without a driver's license, and its universal-design electric bike, easy to ride regardless of age, gender, or nationality, can be introduced in small numbers at tourist destinations, accommodations, and other locations. The dedicated app handles age verification, a traffic rules test, and vehicle reservation and unlocking. It also offers WANDERMAP, a map introducing spots unique to each area, helping to improve regional circulation and create new tourism experiences centered on enjoying movement itself.
WANDERIDE is a registered trademark of glafit.
Website: https://wanderide.travel/
About the Electric Cycle: NFR-01 Pro+
The NFR-01 Pro+ used for WANDERIDE is a popular glafit model that won the 2024 Good Design Award and became the first specified small moped project on the crowdfunding platform Makuake to raise over ¥100 million. As a specified small moped, it can be ridden by anyone aged 16 or older without a driver's license, and it offers powerful hill-climbing ability, a quiet motor, and IoT connectivity via 4G LTE. The bike's body can also be wrapped with original sticker designs, supporting new mobility experiences at tourist destinations.
Product details: https://glafit.com/products/nfr/nfr-01-pro/
"Electric cycle" is a term coined by glafit, combining "electric" — denoting its electric power source — with the easy, casual image of a bicycle and the "cycle" in "motorcycle." glafit uses it as a general term for its bicycle-style, seated models of specified small mopeds.
