BEST OF · KYOTO CYCLING TOURS
Good kyoto cycling tours fill up weeks ahead and the best ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
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 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!”
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!”
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”
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”
Ride a standard Cannondale city bike through Arashiyama with guides such as Yuki, Rob, Peter, or Ray. In four hours, you’ll visit Iwatayama Monkey Park, the Bamboo Forest, Tenryu-ji Garden, and Togetsukyo Bridge. Bikes, helmets, water, admission fees, and an English-speaking guide are included.
“This was one of my top two favorite activities since being in Japan. Peter is an excellent guide—making it fun and educational. Be ready for a serious hike up to those monkeys, though! I’m glad I did it; it was rewarding at the top. Peter rRead 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 Kyoto with a guide, beginning near Kyoto Station and heading to Kennin-ji, Nanzen-ji, Heian Shrine, and the Kamogawa River. Your 4.5-hour outing includes a bicycle, insurance, optional helmet, temple entry, photos, and a traditional local lunch. Groups are limited to five people, and guides such as Yusuke and Naru have led the route.
“Great way to get out of Kyoto and see sites! Biking is a favorite activity in any town/city... this was no exception! Loved the ride along the river, all the things we saw as we moved around town and out to the edges to see shrines and temples. Lunch was fantastic, and Naru was an awesome guide!”
Set out early with an English-speaking guide such as Ray, Rob, Milo, Peter, or Yuki for a 3.5-hour bike tour of Arashiyama. You will visit the bamboo forest, Togetsukyo Bridge, Tenryuji gardens, temples, shrines, rice fields, and quiet residential lanes. Bikes, helmets, water, and admission fees are included.
“Our tour guide Ray was brilliant. He was very knowledgeable about Kyoto. He was kind and patient. He had some beautiful spots to show, and took some beautiful photos for great memories.”
Spend four hours exploring Arashiyama by bike and on foot with a small group of up to eight. Ride through bamboo and quiet local lanes, visit Tenryuji Temple, hike 20 minutes to Monkey Park, and enjoy views from Iwatayama Mountain. Guides such as Ray, Peter, Yuki, and JS are known for clear explanations and a friendly pace.
“excellent tour highly recommend it..Ray is very nice and offered a lot of info and was happy to answer all questions”
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.”
