BEST OF · JAPAN CYCLING TOURS
Kyoto back lanes, rice-field tracks and island roads with a bridge every few kilometres. These 15 Japanese rides are priced and honest about heat, gradient and how much English the guide has.
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!”
Spend 6.5 hours cycling Tokyo with guide Gaku or another local guide, covering Shinjuku, Meiji Jingu, Omotesando, Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Bay, Ginza, the Imperial Palace, and a 48th-floor city view. The route uses regular cross-city bikes, not e-bikes, and includes a bento stop at a local supermarket.
“Amazing day - saw so many wonderful attractions- loved biking through the many neighborhoods- such a great way to see beautiful Tokyo! Our guide Gaiyku was fabulous- engaging - informative- just a lovely person.”
Start near Kyoto Station at 10 a.m. and spend five to six hours cycling with a small group of no more than eight. Your Cannondale bike, water, guidance, lunch, and Kinkakuji entry are included. Guides such as Mayko, Quinn, Indra, Karl, and Jay bring local stories to stops including Nishi Honganji, Kitano Tenmangu, the Golden Pavilion, and Gion.
“This was one of the best bike tours of a major city I have done in a while. Our guide Karl was fantastic: personable, witty and most importantly very knowledgable about the sites we visited. One of our best days in Kyoto!”
You’ll cycle Tokyo with a maximum of 12 people, visiting Tsukiji Jogai Market, Zojo-ji Temple, Meiji Jingu Shrine, the Imperial Palace, and several city neighborhoods. Guides such as Toshi, Nick, and Naoko focus on safety, local history, and keeping the group together. Expect about six hours of moderate physical activity.
“I saw so much of Tokyo in a day. Biking was definitely the way to go. My guide took very good care of me the whole time. Given the very hot weather that day, tge picnic was changed to a lunch at a izakaya. We visited shrines, stopped by arenas, and saw the imperial palace - all while learning a little about the neighborhoods we traversed.”
Start near Tsukiji and choose a City, Tokyo Bay sunset, or Tokyo Tower route. Ride an easy e-bike through local streets, shrines, gardens, and major landmarks with a guide such as Hiro, FK, or Shinobu. Your guide provides safety support, historical context, a Japanese snack, helmet, luggage storage, and a return to the starting point.
“It was a great tour with Miky. We visited several shrines, government buildings and Imperial palace. She even got us seeet treats. Thank you”
Ride an electric-assist bike through Tokyo with a local English-speaking guide. Morning routes visit Tokyo Station, the Imperial Palace, Ginza, Tsukiji, and Nihonbashi. Afternoon rides head toward Akihabara, Kappabashi, Asakusa, and Ryogoku. Groups are limited to six, with helmets, insurance, luggage storage, and a three-hour route included.
“Incredible ride through Tokyo! This was so much fun. We went as a family of 4, 2 adults, 2 kids (15,12) and they loved it too. Highly recommend, such a great way to see the city. Our guide was so knowledgeable and nice.”
Start at 8:00 am near Saga-Arashiyama Station for a private 3 to 4-hour ride with an English-speaking guide such as Rob, Yuki, Milo, or Ray. You will walk through the bamboo forest, visit Tenryu-ji’s Zen garden, pedal quiet lanes and rice fields, and finish at Togetsukyo Bridge on a standard Cannondale bike.
“Highly recommend! Pleasant and informative English speaking guide. They provided nice Cannondale bikes and gear. Not too strenuous...great for families!”
See Hiroshima’s major sights by bicycle in three to four hours, from the Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Dome to Hiroshima Castle and Shukkei-en Garden. Your guide handles the history, safety, and route, while bike, helmet, and water are included. The mostly flat ride suits first-time visitors, though an e-bike costs extra and riders must be at least 140 cm tall.
“Very informative and fun cycling tour Our guide Awais was very very good and would highly recommend this tour if you want to know more about the history of Hiroshima”
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 7 to 8 hours cycling Kyoto’s back streets and major sights, including Kinkaku-ji, Gion, Fushimi Inari, and the Imperial Palace grounds. Cycle Kyoto supplies a Cannondale bike, helmet, water, and lunch. Guides such as Jay, Karl, Juan, Paul, and Indra bring different personalities and strong local insight. Expect a long but mostly easy ride.
“Great way to see Kyoto. Generally flat, the route is safe and easy to follow. Much more fun to bike than to walk. And our guide Paul was knowledgeable, fun and very organized in sharing little stories at each stop. Our teens who would lose intRead more”
Ride through central Tokyo on a Bianchi or Fuji cross bike, or choose an e-bike if stamina is a concern. An English-speaking guide such as Naoki, Atsu, or KJ leads you from Zojo-ji Temple and the Imperial Palace to Cat Street and Shibuya Crossing, mixing major sights with quieter streets. Expect roughly 15 to 20 kilometers, some road riding, and a quick break along the way.
“Ken was an excellent guide we had a great trip - my advice would be to do this tour early in your stay gives you a great feel for the City”
Meet at the Peace Park Rest House for a two-hour electric-bike tour led by a Hiroshima-raised guide such as Shin or Kana. Ride through the Peace Memorial Park, visit key monuments, see the A-Bomb Dome from less familiar viewpoints, and explore rebuilt neighborhoods, including the route of Hiroshima’s surviving streetcars. Groups are limited to 10.
“Shin’s enthusiasm was infectious, and he shared some moving stories. Everyone was also very helpful with my bike. I’m 64 and not a cyclist but the riding was manageable. We covered a lot of ground and saw a lot.”
Start near Temmabashi at 10:00 am for a five-hour ride with a maximum of six people. Your guide leads you to Osaka Tenmangu, the Housing and Living Museum, Osaka Castle, and its park, with lunch, green tea, snacks, and tour photos included. Guides such as Mike, Hide, Masumi, Ken, and Yuzu bring local context to the ride.
“We enjoyed our ride with Remi K and it was her first time as a guide. It is a good way to see the Osaka Castle area and some temples, not to mention a close up view of Osaka traffic. Bicycles were dated but as they are reconditioned to support the homeless they were acceptable.”
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”
