Discover Kyoto by Bike Full Day Tour
Description
Discover Kyoto like a local—on two wheels! This immersive full-day bike tour blends famous landmarks like the Silver Pavilion and Gion with lesser-known gems such as HonenIn Garden and the charming alleys of Miyagawacho. Our small-group experience offers a relaxed pace, personal insights from a local guide, and plenty of photo stops along the way. You’ll explore quiet backstreets, historic shrines, and riverside paths that tour buses simply can’t reach. Perfect for those who want to see the real Kyoto beyond the guidebooks.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We begin the tour at Toji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its five-story pagoda—the tallest wooden tower in Japan. You'll enjoy a peaceful stroll through its temple grounds and learn about its role in Kyoto’s spiritual history.
As we arrive at Umekoji Park, you'll feel the shift from city stress to wide open green spaces. This park is a favorite escape for locals, with seasonal flowers, shady trees, and a serene pond where you can pause and breathe. It's the perfect spot to stretch your legs, enjoy the fresh air, and take in a different side of Kyoto before we continue our ride.
Pass through the campus of one of Kyoto’s oldest private universities, founded by the Nishi Hongwanji sect of Buddhism. It's an opportunity to glimpse daily life in modern Kyoto and appreciate the blend of tradition and education.
A major temple of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, this UNESCO site is known for its exquisite wooden architecture and historical significance. Your guide will walk you through its vast courtyard and explain its influence on Kyoto’s culture.
Cycle along the picturesque Kamo River, a favorite spot for locals to relax, jog, and enjoy nature. It’s the perfect way to experience the harmony between Kyoto’s urban life and natural surroundings.
A lesser-known but equally enchanting geisha district located near Gion. We go here with a quiet ride through its beautiful alleys, where the traditions of old Kyoto are still very much alive.
The Heian Shrine was built in 1895 to mark Kyoto's 1,100th anniversary. Its bright vermilion gate and buildings are modeled after the ancient Imperial Palace. Just down the road you'll see one of Japan's largest torii gates- hard to miss!
welcome to the Biwa Aqueduct Museum. This small museum tells the story of the Lake Biwa Canal, an engineering project from the 1890s that brought water, electricity, and new life to Kyoto after the capital moved to Tokyo.
Nanzenji is one of the most important Zen temples, founded in the 13th century. It's famous for its massive wooden Sanmon gate, peaceful Zen Gardens and the red brick aqueduct that runs right through the grounds. Nanzenji has been a symbol of Zen culture in Kyoto for centuries.
The Philosopher's Path is a stone walkway that follows a canal lined with cherry trees. It's named after Kyoto University professor, Nishida Kitaro, who used to walk here while meditating on his ideas. In spring the cherry blossoms make it one of Kyoto's most beautiful spots, but it's peaceful year-round. We'll ride along part of it as we head toward our next stop.
Up ahead is Honen-in, a quiet temple tucked into the hills. It was founded in the 1600s to honor the Buddhist priest Honen, who spread the teachings of the Pure Land sect. The mossy gate and white sand patterns here give it a hidden, peaceful atmosphere- very different from Kyoto's busier temples.
We've arrived at Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pavilion, built in the late 1400s by shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa. Although is called the Silver Pavilion, it was never actually covered in silver. We'll take a few minutes to walk around, enjoy the gardens and raked sand, and soak in the historic architecture.
Explore Kyoto’s most famous geisha district, with its traditional wooden machiya houses and historical charm. Learn about the geiko and maiko culture while we ride through the lantern-lit lanes.
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
- You need to be fit enough to ride 32 kilometers and maneuver safely on narrow paths
Reviews(28)
The tour was amazing! We went to so many places and the tour guide was very knowledgeable and also funny! It was not too hard to bike because every bike trip was pretty short and the electric bikes do all the uphill work for you. I have recommended this trip to all of my friends.
SUGOI! This was one of the best days of our entire Japan adventure. I was a little nervous about booking a 7-hour tour, as it seemed a bit long, but the day flew by. The e-bikes were cruiser-style, worked well, and were comfortable with baskets (no helmets). Jamie was the best host! He was like touring Kyoto with a fun friend. Thanks to him, we got the perfect combination of Kyoto's history, culture, religion, and beauty. Along the way, Jamie says hello to everyone he sees, giving us a unique opportunity to engage with the kind people of Kyoto that we wouldn't have otherwise. I would recommend that you be fairly comfortable on a bike, as we sometimes had to maneuver through busy streets, though he did his best to avoid them. We went in early March, and it was a bit chilly in the morning and early afternoon, so bring a hat, gloves, layers, and sunscreen. I would also recommend bringing a snack if you didn't have a big breakfast; lunch is a bit later in the tour. If you don't have time for a 7-hour tour, he does offer shorter tours. Jamie also takes a ton of pictures on his phone and shares them with you at the end :). Arigato gozaimasu, Jamie, for a day full of majestic memories!!
Sugoi!! Saikou!! Okini!! We appreciate so much your words and we’ll keep paying attention to every aspect of our tours to make them every time more enjoyable and memorable!! Meccha Arigatou 🙏
The Discover Kyoto Full Day Tour was an amazing experience from start to finish. We visited beautiful temples, historic streets, and famous landmarks while learning so much about Kyoto’s culture and history. The guide was friendly, organized, and explained everything clearly. The schedule was well planned, and we had enough time at each stop to enjoy and take photos. It was a great way to see many highlights of Kyoto in one day without feeling rushed. Highly recommended for first-time visitors! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This trip is a must do during your stay in Kyoto. Jaime was an excellent guide and came equipped with lively energy and extensive knowledge on the rich culture that rests here in Japan. We visited temples, a beautiful zen garden, rode through exclusive parts of the city that buses and taxis could never reach, ate authentic Japanese lunch/snacks, and were introduced to and tested on the Japanese language/vocabulary. This was an unmatched experience that one could not get if they merely walked around for a few days. The pace of our travels were perfect for beginner and novice riders with plenty of breaks. Let Jaime take you on a truly amazing adventure and you will not be disappointed. 🚲
We had a super fun, interesting and informative day with Jaime discovering beautiful kyoto and the japanese language and culture. Covered so much ground yet it felt relaxed and comfortable, and always engaging. This is really the best way to see and experience this fantastic city! Jamie is extremely knowledgable, entertaining and has a passion for his chosen home of Kyoto. We learnt a number of useful japanese words and phrases. Thanks Jaime, and best wishes to you. Jaime has good english, bikes easy to ride, good lunch, well paced tour with lots of stops. We couldnt believe how fast the day went. Totally recommend this tour.
We toured Kyoto with Jaime and the experience was excellent. Jaime is very friendly, professional and has a way of explaining Japanese culture that really hooks. You can see that he knows deeply the history and traditions of the place. In addition, he speaks several languages, which made the tour very clear and comfortable for everyone. We are very happy with the tour and fully recommend it for those who want to know Kyoto completely and with a first-rate guide.
Delightful and informative tour. It was a wonderful overview of Kyoto and John was very entertaining. The tour was jam packed with the sights and sounds of the city. As a bonus, the included lunch was excellent.
Jamie is a great guide, very friendly and knows a huge amount about Kyoto and Japan. He showed us lots of different areas and we got to see things we would never have done on our own. He also taught us to count in Japanese. I am so glad we did this tour on our first day, it really helped us know what else we wanted to do. I would highly recommend this as an activity plus the e bikes made it super easy
Jaime was an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and his quirky sense of humour made the trip fun. Great to ride around the back streets and see the real Japan as well as the sights you tick off as a tourist. The lunch spot and the lunch were a highlight. He can teach you how to count to ten in Japanese in 2 minutes in a way you will never forget! Bikes were in excellent condition. A fun day out with a great local who speaks English well.
This was so much fun! Riding an e-bike all day through beautiful Kyoto, seeing hidden gems off the beaten path, eating a yummy lunch, and learning Kyoto history was all amazing! Oh and laughing a lot because Jaime the guide is very funny, plus very knowledgable, and he taught us Japanese! If you have a day, definitely recommend this tour! Thanks for the memories Jaime!
