Explore Hidden Alleyway with a Local Expert (Afternoon Tour)
Description
Step off the beaten path and explore the real Kyoto with a knowledgeable local guide who knows every corner of the city. This 3-hour guided bike tour takes you through quiet backstreets far from the tourist crowds, offering an authentic glimpse into the daily lives of Kyoto’s residents. As you pedal through narrow alleyways, each twist and turn brings a shift in atmosphere—the scents, the light, the sounds—immersing you in the city’s hidden charm. Then, just as suddenly, you’ll emerge onto a bustling main street, reconnecting with the familiar Kyoto of guidebooks and postcards. Our guides are professionally trained through our original program, ensuring not only a deep understanding of Kyoto’s culture but also full proficiency in traffic safety, group cycling techniques, and local etiquette. Your safety and comfort are our top priorities. Join us and experience Kyoto not just as a visitor, but as if you were part of the city itself.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Miyagawacho is the second biggest among the five Geisha districts in Kyoto. This an alley that is lined on both sides with many Japanese traditional wooden houses. You can feel the calm atmosphere of the old days of Kyoto.
This is Kyoto! Gion developed as a major Geisha district with Maiko girls and Geiko women in Kyoto. The elegant and refined atmosphere of old times still remains here.
Your heart will be refreshed by the path as it goes along a limped stream. The willow's swing in the breeze gives you a special feeling about Kyoto.
The Kyoto Imperial Palace used to be the residence of Japan's Imperial Family. Now open for the public as a national garden with beautiful seasonal flowers. We cycle along the gravel paths there.
You can relax at local residents’ beloved river (Kamo River).
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Min. 2 and Max. 6 guests can be accepted per guide (1 person participants are not accepted). In case your group is 7-12 people, an extra guide can be arranged.
- If you wish to cancel the tour, please kindly let us know at least 3 days prior to the tour date (by 18:00; JST) and your tour fee can be refunded.
- Tour will operate in rain. However, the customer can choose from one of the following options: 1) The tour will continue as usual on bikes (with rain poncho; free of charge), 2) Switch to a walking tour using public transportation (bus or metro; included in tour fee).
- Children must be at least 10 years old; 145 cm or above; and be able to ride a bicycle safely on the road unassisted.
- If you wish to reschedule your booking, please notify us by 6:00 PM (Japan time) at least three days before the tour date. Changes made after this deadline will require cancellation and a new reservation.
Reviews(25)
The guide was very excited and very informative. We learned a lot and he made our day with little facts about kyoto and his private temple! Keep up the good work!!🙂
We had a great and very interesting afternoon with Seiya. What a great person! I went with my wife, brother and stepsister on the biking tour with Seiya. What a experience, learned a lot, saw a lot a had a lot of laughs. He is also a sports lover , just like we are. Lots of talks about soccer, baseball and of course Shihei Ohtani between his stories about Kyoto, history, Maiko’s and Geiko’s. Absolutely a top afternoon!👍👍👍👍
Our tour guide, Kazuhiro Yoshida, was very friendly and knowledgeable. Really knew his history and gave great instruction on all the sites. Also, very friendly.
Dear Matthew C-san, Thank you very much for joining the tour and leaving a nice review. I really appreciate your positive comments on how you enjoyed the tour. I wish you all the best and hope to have another opportunity to host you again. Kazuhiro Yoshida
A very big thanks to Kay and Nozomi for the wonderful cycling tour through Kyoto! We had such a great time! Kay and Nozomi made sure we were okay while showing us the beautiful city. A must do when visiting Kyoto!
We had such a fun time on our Backstreet Kyoto Tour with Makoto! He was very personable and funny, and had a wonderful positive energy and smile, which made us feel like fast friends. He was open to sharing himself along with his culture, and we all felt connected, which we truly appreciate and treasure. He also took great photos at scenic stops! One of our best experiences here! Thank you again Makoto :)
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! I'm truly happy that you enjoyed our time together. It means a lot to hear that you felt a genuine connection and enjoyed learning about Kyoto and Japanese culture. I'm also glad you liked the photos! Thank you again for your kindness. I hope to see you again in Kyoto someday! Makoto
Kazuhiro (Kaz) was a terrific guide! We had a great experience biking around Kyoto. The bikes are very good and the whole experience was relaxed and highly entertaining! Thank you Kaz!
Dear Gina V-san, Thank you very much for providing a nice, lovely review! I am glad to hear that the tour was relaxed, but also highly entertaining, and your kind words encourage me a lot. I also appreciate your compliments about the bikes. Thank you! Kind regards, Kazuhiro Yoshida
Kayo did a masterful job directing us through Kyoto to see cherry blossoms, temples, shrines, geisha districts, canals and picturesque views. She explained historical fact and cultural traditions verbally as well as with printed pictures. She helped us with directions to addition sites after the tour. We had a wonderful experience and took tons of pictures.
Superb tour! Out guide Kaz(uhiro) was knowledgeable and interesting. Pace was gentle on city bikes with frequent stops to explain areas, like the geisha district. Kaz was also a really nice guy who deserved his tip. Don’t worry if you aren’t a cyclist- bikes are lightweight city bikes with hub gears and chain guards. They also have a basket at front to put things in. You get a full briefing before setting off. Absolutely terrific/ fully recommended
This tour was a definite highlight of our whole trip to Japan. It was great to explore the back streets of Kyoto by bike. Our awesome guide, Makoto, took us to some AMAZING sites and gave us very comprehensive explanations of everything we saw.
It was our last day of 6 in Kyoto and we wanted to skip the tourist sites and explore the other areas of Kyoto. Makoto created a route on the fly that took us through the backstreets, local markets, the river, and a couple of other off the beaten path areas. It was a great last day for us to have a more relaxed and non-touristy day around Kyoto.
Thank you so much for joining my tour on your last day in Kyoto, and for taking the time to write such a beautiful review. I’m truly happy that you enjoyed exploring the backstreets, local markets, and quiet riverside areas away from the busy tourist spots. Creating that relaxed, non-touristy route for you was a real pleasure for me. I’m honored that I could be part of your final memories in Kyoto, and I sincerely appreciate your kind words. Thank you again for riding with me, and I hope our paths will cross again someday! Warm regards, Makoto
