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Kyoto Bike tours

Our most recommended Kyoto Bike tours

Kyoto: 3.5-hours Historical Highlights Cycling Tour

1. Kyoto: 3.5-hours Historical Highlights Cycling Tour

Go on this cycling tour and explore the peaceful side of Kyoto.  Start this activity by learning about Nijo Castle. At Seimei Shrine you can find out how to pray at a Japanese shrine. Check out the Golden Pavilion and get ready to take great photos at Kamishichiken, the oldest geisha district in Japan.  After seeing the magical Golden Pavilion continue to cycle for a nice downhill ride to the Imperial Palace. Your guide will give you some insights into the history of this place.  At a traditional Japanese restaurant, you can discover the local cuisine with a variety of Soba dishes, as well as desserts with matcha and mochi. Feel free to visit a beautiful Japanese garden and a souvenir shop next door.  After this break, the tour will continue cycling back a relaxing ride along a beautiful route through the city. Finish your tour at the Kamogawa river and immerse yourself in this unique atmosphere while watching the locals enjoying their time.

Kyoto: Afternoon Bamboo Forest and Monkey Park Bike Tour

2. Kyoto: Afternoon Bamboo Forest and Monkey Park Bike Tour

Fall in love with Arashiyama on an afternoon biking and hiking tour in Kyoto. Spend the day in nature as you hike along the greenery of Iwatayama Monkey Park and bike through the towering bamboo of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Visit the UNESCO-certified Tenryuji Temple with included entry tickets. Start your trip by traveling back in time as you ride along the roads used in Kyoto today that were originally sub-temples of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tenryuji Temple. Become one with nature while exploring the temple’s Zen gardens. Continue the journey with a short hike up to the impressive panoramic view of Kyoto from Iwatayama Mountain and the accompanying Iwatayama Monkey Park. Spend the rest of the tour peddling through bamboo forests and visiting local spots not frequented by tourist crowds.

Kyoto: Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Morning Tour by Bike

3. Kyoto: Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Morning Tour by Bike

Embark on a guided tour by bike to see the outstanding beauty of the  Arashiyama Bamboo Forest away from the crowds. Benefit from the early hour to make your journey undisturbed by crowds, and see sights like Togetsukyo Bridge and the Tenryuji Zen Temple. Meet your guide in the morning and get ready to witness one of Kyoto's most quintessential districts. Beat the tourist crowds and head out to the city's far west on a bike in the company of your guide. Enjoy a tour where you explore the beauty of bamboo, the tranquility of temples, and some of the best scenic panoramas Kyoto has to offer. Visit the evocative forest, as well as the Togetsukyo Bridge, and the gardens of the Unesco World Heritage Site that is the Tenryuji Zen Temple. Speed through the district's streets by bicycle as you immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere. Admire the charming architecture and authentic urban landscape as your guide also takes you to some of their favorite spots off the beaten track.

Kyoto: 3-Hour Cycling Tour

4. Kyoto: 3-Hour Cycling Tour

Kyoto is a city that is best explored by bicycle. Your guides have carefully curated a selection of tours that focus on showing you the beautiful contours of this ancient capital. More than just visiting the busy tourist sites, these journeys are crafted on leisure, scenery, and culture, while uncovering some of the best-kept secrets in Kyoto. You begin with stops at World Heritage temples and shrines, and gradually make your way along cozy backstreets to quieter, more intimate Zen garden settings. You will be taken to places rarely seen by the average Kyoto dweller, tranquil environments carefully hidden from the hustle and bustle of the urban landscape. Treat yourself to a new and unique understanding of Kyoto, put down the guidebook, and allow us to give you a truly unforgettable experience. 

Kyoto: Full-Day City Highlights Bike Tour with Light Lunch

5. Kyoto: Full-Day City Highlights Bike Tour with Light Lunch

Enjoy a full day of riding around Kyoto on this guided bike tour to explore the best the city has to offer. Follow your guide at a leisurely pace with enough time to take in the sites including the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Gion district, Kiyomizu-dera, and Kinkaku-ji. Before you embark on a full day of riding, go through a safety briefing and bike fitting. When ready, set off to soak in the serenity of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Cycle among a seemingly endless forest of swaying bamboo stalks, one of the most photographed places in Kyoto. Next, explore the orange torii gates of the Fushimi Inari Shrine, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. Take a stroll throughout the shrine grounds seeing how many sorts of fox statues you can locate. After working up an appetite, stop for a light lunch. Navigate the scenic streets of the Gion entertainment district where you can spot hostesses in colorful kimonos on the wooden Tatsumi Bridge, or amid upscale Japanese restaurants and boutiques on Hanamikoji Street. Head toward the eastern hills on the outskirts of Kyoto to see the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kiyomizu-dera Buddhist Temple, celebrated for the medicinal pure waters of the Otowa Spring. Then, marvel at the glimmering 14th-century Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion, a Zen temple that rises above its reflecting pond like an apparition. Conclude your adventure with a ride back to the starting point in Arashiyama.

Kyoto: Randen Tram 1-Day Unlimited Pass & Bicycle Rental

6. Kyoto: Randen Tram 1-Day Unlimited Pass & Bicycle Rental

Explore the beauty of Kyoto in a unique way with the Randen Tram 1-day pass and ride from Kyoto to the famous Arashiyama district, where you can discover temples, gardens, and breathtaking views at your own pace on a 2-hour rental bike.  Choose between 2 different lines and visit numerous attractions along the routes. The Arashiyama Line runs east to west from Shijo-Omiya Station to Keifuku Arashiyama Station. The Kitano Line branches off from the Arashiyama Line at Katabiranotsuji Station and heads north to Kitano-Hakubaicho Station. The scenic routes along both lines are also very pleasant to ride. Last but not least, take advantage of the Gourmet Coupon and choose products from 3 out of 8 stores if you have chosen the option.

Frequently asked questions about Kyoto

What top attractions are a must-see in Kyoto?

The must-see attractions in Kyoto are:

What are the best day trips and excursions from Kyoto?

The best day trips and excursions from Kyoto are:

Arashiyama

Other Sightseeing Options in Kyoto

Want to discover all there is to do in Kyoto? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Kyoto

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 83 reviews

Great Tour. Informative.

Loved using these bikes, felt very calming cycling around the streets of Japan, tour guide was friendly, positive, informative - really good energy and up for a laugh! Saw some cool things I wouldn't have known to go see, in a short amount of time, and without any hassle of trying to find them. Learnt a lot of cool things about Japanese culture!

Very nice personal tour

We had a great morning with Leanca - she was flexible and found great solve even when my bike broke - a new bike was delivered and the tour lasted. 1,5 hours longer to be able to see all. Also all on eBike - very nice

We really liked the bike tour in Kyoto, we had an absolutely competent woman as our guide, who provided us with excellent background information and organized the tour well, even in the heat

A great way to experience Kyoto, on electric bikes.

Sean, our guide, was incredibly knowledgeable and took us to neighborhoods, shrines, temples and gardens we wouldn't have experienced otherwise.

Great tour with easy to ride bikes

Josh was a great guide. It was nice to get away from the crowds and go to some lovely quiet places and streets