Afternoon Kyoto Bike Tour: Bamboo Forest, Monkeys & Hidden Spots
Description
Enjoy a late start and absolutely fall in love with Arashiyama on this amazing afternoon tour! Take a trip back in time where the very roads you ride were sub-temples of our World Heritage Tenryuji Zen Temple followed by a short hike up to the impressive panoramic view of Kyoto from Iwatayama Mountain and the accompanying Iwatayama Monkey Park. You will even experience some bamboo forest viewing and visits to some local shrines and temples not frequented by the crowds of tourists. *AGE REQUIREMENT: Children must be at least 10 years old to participate. Please book our "Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Family Bike Tour (Infants & Toddlers)" for families with children under 10 years of age.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Take a pleasant 20 minute walk up to the top of Iwata mountain to the Monkey Park. Enjoy possible monkey viewing and an amazing view of Kyoto City.
Explore the beauty of the bamboo and be transfixed by one of the top soundscapes of Japan!
Stroll through one of the most beautiful Japanese gardens in Kyoto at the World Heritage Tenryuji Temple.
Take in the breathtaking mountain landscape of Arashiyama as you admire one of Japan's most iconic bridges- a view that perfectly captures the region's timeless beauty.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- E-bikes and youth bikes are available upon request (additional fee may apply)
- *AGE REQUIREMENT: Children must be at least 10 years old to participate. Please book our "Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Family Bike Tour (Infants & Toddlers)" for families with children under 10 years of age.
Reviews(328)
This tour and our guide Dan were awesome. The bikes were well maintained, the helmets fit perfectly, and the water was ice cold on a warm day. The monkey park was fascinating. The humans were in a cage and the monkeys roamed free. The Shinto shrine was conducting it semi-annual purification ritual and, with Dan’s guidance, we all got to cleanse our souls. The Buddhist temple was located in the bamboo forest. The bamboo forest was amazing and the temple garden was stunning. It’s easy to see why it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Throughout the tour Dan regaled us with historical references, anecdotes and insightful information. The tour met all my expectations - and more. It was truly a memorable experience. I highly recommend Kyoto Bike Tours and our guide - Dan. Thank for a splendid afternoon.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so pleased to hear the tour exceeded your expectations. It’s especially rewarding to know you enjoyed the unique mix of Arashiyama’s famous highlights, quieter hidden corners, and the opportunity to experience a traditional Shinto purification ceremony. Moments like these often become the most memorable part of a visit to Kyoto. Thank you as well for your kind words about Don. Our guides are passionate about sharing the history, culture, and traditions that make Kyoto so special, and we’re thrilled you had such an enjoyable afternoon. Thank you for your kind recommendation. We hope to welcome you back to Kyoto again in the future. Kind regards, Kyoto Bike Tour
I had an incredible experience on this bike tour, and Yuki was the best tour guide! He shared so much fascinating knowledge about Kyoto's history, culture, and attractions, making every stop interesting and meaningful. He was incredibly friendly, enthusiastic, and made the whole tour so much fun. It was the perfect way to explore Kyoto, and I learned so much along the way. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kyoto. Thank you, Yuki, for such an unforgettable experience!
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so pleased to hear you had such a memorable experience exploring Kyoto with us. It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed learning about the city’s history, culture, and traditions while discovering some of Arashiyama’s famous sights as well as its quieter hidden corners. Thank you for your kind words about Yuki. Our guides are passionate about creating fun, engaging, and informative experiences, so we’re thrilled your afternoon tour was such a highlight. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to Kyoto again in the future. Kind regards, Kyoto Bike Tour
The bike ride and tour guide were great and easy! Seeing the bamboo forest and monkeys, temples was a great experience!!
We’re happy to hear you enjoyed exploring the Bamboo Forest, Monkey Park, and temples by bike. It’s great to know you found the ride comfortable and had an enjoyable experience with your guide. Thank you for choosing Kyoto Bike Tour, and we appreciate your thoughtful review. Kind regards, Kyoto Bike Tour
Out guide, Cass, was great. Knowledgeable and chill.
We’re glad you enjoyed the tour and that the monkeys were a highlight of the afternoon. It’s also wonderful to hear that Cass helped make the experience both enjoyable and informative. Thank you for your review and for choosing Kyoto Bike Tour. Kind regards, Kyoto Bike Tour
My family of four highly enjoyed this tour. Our guide Yuki was so knowledgeable and friendly, answering all our questions and telling us fun facts about Japanese history and culture. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kyoto.
Thank you for your positive feedback. We’re happy to hear that your whole family enjoyed the experience. One of the great things about exploring Kyoto by bike is having the opportunity to ask questions and learn about the history and culture along the way, so we’re glad Yuki helped make the afternoon both enjoyable and informative. Thank you for your recommendation and for choosing to spend part of your time in Kyoto with us. Kind regards, Kyoto Bike Tour
Great way to spend an afternoon! Bike tour was wonderful with Cass guiding us through streets, parks, and sites. His knowledge was much appreciated. Great way to cover places you’ll want to visit!
Thank you so much for joining our Afternoon Kyoto Bike Tour: Bamboo Forest, Monkeys & Hidden Spots with Cass. We’re glad you enjoyed discovering Kyoto’s streets, parks, and scenic sites along the way. Exploring by bike is a fantastic way to cover more ground while experiencing parts of the city that many visitors might otherwise miss. We hope to welcome you back to Kyoto again in the future. Kind regards, Kyoto Bike Tour
Our family loved our biking tour with Don! He was so insightful about the places we visited and talked to everyone and ensured they had the best tour and best overall trip to Kyoto. The monkey park was so much fun and had a beautiful view. The bamboo forest, shrines and gardens were beautiful! Definitely a highlight of our vacation.
We had an amazing afternoon on the Kyoto Bike and Monkey Tour! The bike ride was mostly flat and easy, while the Monkey Park hike was more challenging but absolutely worth it for the incredible views and the chance to feed the monkeys. Cass was a fantastic guide—friendly, knowledgeable, and made the experience even more enjoyable. Highly recommend this tour!
Amazing tour with Rob. It was just me and my 19 year old daughter and we had a fantastic time. Loved that we were on less crowded roads, and the timing of all the attractions seemed perfect - less crowded made each one more enjoyable.
Cass was a great guide. Fun dude, very knowledgeable, good sense of humor. Very amiable. The bikes were in great shape, too! Well tuned, and comfortable seats.
That is heartwarming to hear! I am so lucky to meet great people like yourselves! I am so pleased that you enjoyed the tour. It was a real pleasure exploring Arashiyama together and great to also hear the bikes were to your liking. Our mechanic will be thrilled to hear that! Thanks again! Many thanks, Cass & Kyoto Bike Tour
