We easily found our guide at the train station and walked a short way to our bikes. Riding the bikes around Kyoto was a great way to see the city in a way that you would not normally see it. The first half of the bike ride was on wide levees along the river and made for a very easy bike ride. There was some rolling hills but not too difficult to manage. We made a few stops to see some really interesting sites and our guide had great knowledge of the historical sites as well as great command of the English language. On the way back the trip was a little more technical in the sense that we were weaving in and out of people, buses, and traffic. If you were familiar with bikes and riding then it was pretty easy to manage however if you get flustered with city writing then this section may be a bit of a struggle. We left our guide Ryo! She traveled at the perfect pace and seemed to know the exact time that we needed to stop for some ice cold green tea on a hot day!

We booked a full day tour with local guide Kaori and we loved the experience! She was very well prepared and had already discussed with us what we would like to visit before the tour started. She had made a good program so we could see a lot of Kyoto without having to rush from one site to another. We visited Kinkakuji temple (the Golden pavilion), Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Fushimi Inari shrine !Thousands of Shinto gates) and Gion where Kaori gave us extra information on Japanese history and tradition. At noon we had lunch in a traditional Japanese restaurant, sitting on the floor. Very nice experience and very good choice of her! At the end of tour she gave us some tips on other things to do/visit in Kyoto and even arranged a taxi for us. We were very happy to have booked this tour and would like to thank Kaori again for the wonderfull experience!

We had a wonderful day traveling through some of the most beautiful temples and shrines in Kyoto. Andrew arranged the route based on our interest and by location, so that we could use the time efficiently sightseeing and not in transit. He had many interesting insights to share at each sight: on its history, references to mythology, art, and the philosophy and practicality of gardening and landscape architecture. Overall a wonderful trip and great value for money. We can absolutely recommend this trip to anyone who wants to experience the beauty of Kyoto outside of tourist masses and the few top seen sights!

Fantabulous way to see the natural beauty of Kyoto even though it is winter time! Blessed to have sunny weather. I like the nature and the eco-friendly way of viewing the city. Glad to have an experienced guide, Ryo, so we didn't get lost and heard anecdotal stories of the various places. It was a pleasant ride by the river, along the small streets of Gion, and a gradual ascend to the top to the many scenic shrines and temples. I didn't feel that I was going uphill because Ryo directed us in zigzag manner upwards. Thoughtful of her.

Kyoto’s historic and rich history was reflected in our guides knowledge of the history and ancient lanes around the city. An extremely enjoyable morning.