BEST OF · E-BIKE TOURS IN KYOTO
The 12 best e-bike tours in Kyoto you can book right now, with what each one costs, how far you actually pedal and who it suits. Number one is first for a reason.
Start at NORU Kyoto Bike Tours for an easy e-bike ride through northern Kyoto. Visit Kinkakuji, Daitokuji, Kitano Tenmangu, Koto-in, and Zuihoin while guides such as Yuta, Michael, Sean, and Henry explain Zen, Shinto, geisha culture, and local customs. Bikes, helmets, and water are included.
“Wonderful way to see interesting sites. The guide provided rich history of the area. Provided needed training for e-bikes!”
Start near Saga-Arashiyama Station and ride up to 44 kilometers with a small group of no more than eight. Your English-speaking guide leads you to the bamboo forest, Fushimi Inari, Gion, Kiyomizu-dera, and Kinkakuji, adding quieter streets, river paths, cultural context, lunch, snacks, and photo stops. Standard bikes are included, while e-bikes cost extra.
“Highly recommended, great way to see these spectacular places, our guide Cass was awesome. Very hot day but enjoyable. We did not have the ebikes & found we did not need them.”
Spend six hours cycling Kyoto with an English-speaking guide and a group of no more than eight. Visit Kitano Tenmangu, Kinkakuji, Tenryuji, and the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, using e-bikes to cover ground without wearing yourself out. Guides such as Pohan, Jody, Benjamin, Diego, and Jorge add history, local stories, and careful route guidance.
“Pohan, our tour guide, was awesome. He was informative and kind to everyone. The bikes were of excellent quality and we got to go to 4 tourist spots plus more. It was safe and many times riding through neighborhoods. Pohan took us to the lake close to the bamboo forest where we would never would have seen without his leadership. It was beautiful! We took the trip at the height of cherry blossom season so crowded but Pohan knew how to maneuver us easily through and away from the crowds. The trip lasted 6 hours including lunch. Pohan took us to a local diner and showed us how to order…”
Ride an included e-bike through Kyoto with guides such as Philippe, Kevin, and Niall. Choose an east-side route with Heian Shrine, Ginkaku-ji, and the Philosopher’s Walk, or a west-side route covering Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama, and Ryoan-ji. Expect temple walks, local stories, and about 5.5 hours on the move.
“Kevin B, our host, was awesome. My partner and I are spending 2 nights in Kyoto on our first Japan trip. He spoke multiple languages, was very knowledgeable about Kyoto and Japan, and even gave my partner and me food recommenRead more”
Spend 225 minutes riding a 9-kilometer route through Kyoto with an English-speaking guide such as Yuta, Michael, Henry, Sean, or Shizuka. Expect the Golden Pavilion, old geisha streets, shrines, Zen gardens, quiet mountain roads, and possible stops for tea or traditional mochi. Electric bikes make the hills manageable, but you should already ride confidently.
“Guide was enthusiastic , energetic , knowledgeable and friendly . Bikes were great too !”
Spend 210 minutes cycling northeast Kyoto on an electric bike with Aska or another English-speaking Japanese guide who has lived abroad. Ride beside the Kamogawa River, visit Ginkaku-ji, follow the Philosopher’s Path, see Nanzen-ji and Heian Jingu, and get local advice on food and sightseeing in a small group of up to eight.
“The tour was superb! Aska was an excellent guide, and there could not be a nicer way to explore Kyoto than on a bike. Each site was beautiful, and Aska provided such a great insight into Japanese culture. Highly recommend this tour!”
Ride an e-bike through Kyoto’s back streets with guides such as Jody, Pohan, Diego, and George. In five to six hours, you visit Kitano Tenmangu, Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, and Tenryu-ji, with time for lunch and walking at each site. The group is capped at eight, and bikes, helmets, and water are included.
“This bike tour not only visits the main attractions, but it takes you through the narrow streets of Kyoto and is full of information and good food! Jody was very knowledgeable, and shared a lot of tips and tricks that have helped us through our travels in Kyoto and Japan! It was fascinating learning about the religions of Japan while biking all along the way! The e-bikes were great! Would absolutely do it again!”
Ride through eastern Kyoto on an e-bike with guides such as Philippe, Kevin, or Niall. Visit Ginkakuji, the Philosopher’s Path, Nanzenji, and Heian Shrine while learning about Zen, Shinto, and local life. The 210-minute tour suits confident cyclists and includes bikes, helmets, guide service, and garden entry.
“Great experience, Kevin, the guide, was very flexible for the itinerary.”
Ride an easy-to-use e-bike through Gion, Kyoto neighborhoods, Fushimi Inari Shrine, and Tofukuji Temple with local guide Maki. Over four hours, you’ll learn about Shinto, Buddhism, geisha customs, and daily life, with frequent stops, a snack, water, and entrance fees included.
“Maki is a brilliant guide. She's bubbly and full of fun and obviously loves sharing information on Kyoto and the japanese lifestyle. We had a fantastic tour, Thank-you”
You’ll spend four hours cycling Kyoto with an English-speaking local guide such as Ben or Yuki. Comfortable e-bikes link famous sights with quiet temples, shrines, lanes, and riverside paths. The small group, limited to eight, makes it easy to adjust the pace, ask questions, and stop for photos.
“Ben was the greatest guide I've had in a long time. Very knowledgeable, learned a lot about Kyoto and Japan in general. Bikes were very comfortable and we went to a lot of beautiful (quiet) places compared to all the crouded areas in Kyoto. Absolutely worth the money, would highly recommend!”
Ride an electric-assist bike through Kyoto with a local guide such as Kiyoto, Takuma, Rika, or Paulina. Expect famous sights, quiet temples, Gion streets, markets, sweets shops, and local food stops, with plenty of time for questions and photos. The relaxed three-hour format works well for first-time visitors and returning Kyoto fans.
“Discover Kyoto by bike in an amazing concept. Where you can visit only a few places on foot, you can explore the whole city by bike. With the warm temperatures, it is perfect to be able to cycle with a breeze. We definitely recommend asking Yonnie as a guide. An amazing woman who wants to do everything to make sure you have the best day. It starts as the day before where she sends through the schedule and you get to make any adjustments you want. Throughout the trip, she tries to adapt as much as possible to the group itself. A very friendly woman who we thank very much…”
Spend seven hours cycling Kyoto with a small group of up to eight. Your English-speaking guide leads you to Fushimi Inari, Tofukuji, Ginkakuji, Nanzenji, Heian Shrine, Gion, and Higashi Honganji, with coffee and a sit-down lunch included. E-bikes help with Kyoto’s hills and keep the long route manageable.
“Geweldige tour, Indra onze gids kon veel vertellen, veel geleerd, heerlijke lunch, echt een aanrader!”
