Guided tour

Kyoto: 3.5-Hour Small Group Cycling Tour

4.7 / 5

83 reviews

    Add to wishlist
    Guided tour

    Kyoto: 3.5-Hour Small Group Cycling Tour

    4.7

    83 reviews

    From US$ 59.58 per person

    Jump on a bike to experience the real Kyoto on this half-day cycling tour of Japan’s imperial capital. This is the local transportation of choice, and there’s no better way to discover the city's historic temples, beautiful parks, and picturesque views.

    About this activity

    Free cancellation
    Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
    Covid-19 precautions
    Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
    Mobile ticketing
    Use your phone or print your voucher
    Duration 3.5 hours
    Check availability to see starting times.
    Instant confirmation
    Live tour guide
    English

    Experience

    Highlights
    • Cycle along the ancient canals of Kyoto
    • Learn about the city’s history at Heian-Jingu Shrine
    • Stroll through the expansive grounds at Nanzenji Temple
    • Discover the meaning of tranquillity along the famous Path of Philosophy
    • Cycle under the shade of hundreds of cherry trees
    • Discover a pocket of Kyoto’s ancient forests at Shimogamo Shrine
    Full description
    Discover the real Kyoto while cruising the streets of Japan’s cultural capital on this half-day Kyoto bike tour. With a history spanning over 1,200 years, the city streets have a lot to say, so make like the locals and jump on a bike to discover it all. Start the day cycling along the Kamo River, taking in the views of the city’s downtown and passing the wealth of traditional riverside restaurants. Call by the Heian-Jingu Shrine, built in 1894 to commemorate the 1,100 anniversary of the foundation of the capital. Next, weave your way along quaint canals to reach the impressive Nanzenji Temple. Admire the temple’s spacious grounds with a surprising feature: a scenic aqueduct, with the Higashiyama Mountains as their backdrop. This is one of the most important Zen temples in all of Japan, so soak up the surrounds before jumping back on your bike and heading off down the Path of Philosophy. Arguably the most popular walking path in Kyoto, the Path of Philosophy is shaded by hundreds of cherry trees that erupt into bloom every April. It's a spectacular sight to see then, but it's rather beautiful the rest of the year as well. It's a great place to contemplate the tranquillity and beauty of the area, just like Nishida Kitaro, one of Japan's most famous philosophers, did when he named this route on his daily commute to Kyoto University. Cycle back towards Kyoto Station, along a beautiful canal with old teahouses and traditional bathhouses among the cherry trees and traditional narrow backroads. We'll end this Kyoto city tour back at the city's buzzing station.
    Includes
    • English-speaking guide
    • Bicycle and helmet
    • Personal items
    • Tips for your guide
    Not suitable for
    • People with mobility impairments
    Covid-19 precautions
    Safety measures in place
    • You must keep social distance while in vehicles
    • The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds
    • All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
    Traveler requirements
    • You are required to bring and wear a mask
    • All participants who are over 18 years old must present proof of full vaccination. Participants aged 6-17 must present either proof of full vaccination, proof of Covid-19 infection in the past 9 months, or a negative PCR or lateral flow Covid-19 test taken no more than 72 hours before the activity starts

    Select participants and date

    Participants

    Date

    Meeting point

    In front of Kyoto Tourist Information Center on 2nd floor of Kyoto Station next to Isetan Department Store. In Japanese: “Kyoto-kan-koo-annai-jo” Address: 600-8216 2nd Floor Kyoto Station, Karasuma, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City , Kyoto Prefecture

    Open in Google Maps ⟶
    Important information

    What to bring

    • Comfortable shoes
    • Comfortable clothes

    Know before you go

    • Please note that this tour covers about 15 kilometers (around 9 miles) by bicycle, and can be quite strenuous for travelers who are not used to cycling. We recommend this tour for guests who have at least a medium level of fitness ability.
    • Maximum group size is 12 people.
    Customer reviews

    Overall rating

    4.7 /5

    based on 83 reviews

    Review summary

    • Guide
      4.9/5
    • Transportation
      4.2/5
    • Value for money
      4.5/5
    • Safety
      4.8/5

    Sort by:

    Traveler type:

    Star rating:

    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.

    Read more

    December 27, 2019

    s
    swee – Singapore Verified booking

    Helpful?

    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!

    Read more

    June 30, 2019

    M
    Maureen – United States Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Great tour around the quieter and beautiful shrines and temples

    Our tour guide, Michael, was great - good English and had a lot of local knowledge and history to tell us. We had a nice small group of 6 of us and the cycle was at a good pace. You get helmets and cycling around the area felt safe. I felt like we saw a lot of places in the 3.5 hours we were going around and there was a good mix of cycling and also stopping to see some of the shrines and temples. The only thing I would recommend would be to add a stop for water or food as you have to bring your own but some people may forget, or it wasn't obvious.

    Read more

    June 27, 2019

    V
    Virunee – United Kingdom Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Organized by
    Intrepid Urban Adventures - Japan

    Product ID: 15369

    Date