South Kyoto in a Nutshell: Gentle Backstreet Bike Tour!
Description
**Must be 13+ to participate as a rider** Join Cycle Kyoto for a morning bike tour around south Kyoto's most beautiful locations. Stay safe riding on quiet backstreets, explore the mighty Fushimi Inari Shrine as well as a host of specially selected locations. Starts with a visit to the temples of central Kyoto before following the Takase Canal and Kamo River into Gion. After weaving through the backstreets of Kyoto’s famous geisha and teahouse district, we head up to the spectacular Tofukuji Temple for pictures. We then roll down to the other side of the slope and straight into Fushimi Inari Shrine (The most visited attraction in Japan!). After a stroll around the famous orange Torii gates, we head home.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Start at our shop, meet your guide and other travellers, get your bike fitted and get ready for the day!
Enter one of the least visited religious sites in the city and one of the largest wooden buildings in the entire world!
Follow the serene Takase Canal on two wheels, learn about its place in Kyoto's history and get some great photos!
Stop off in Kyoto's famous geisha district, discover the secrets of this hidden world and maybe even catch a glimpse of one these entertainers hidden away!
Swing by the spectacular Tofukuji Temple. Enjoy stunning views from the bridge and admire the spacious surroundings of the one of the oldest and largest Zen temples in the country!
The most visited attraction in Kyoto can be tough to navigate. Allow our guides to expertly pick a path between the crowds for you to enjoy!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Riders must be at least 13 years old and be comfortable riding a bike
Reviews(257)
We had a great time on our tour with Momo. He was knowledgeable, friendly and super down to earth. He clearly knows the area and took us places a little off the beaten path we never would have seen or found on our own. He also took pictures for us throughout and they were amazing! The ride was easy enough for our 12 year old to keep up easily. We agreed it was going to be a highlight of our whole Japan trip!
Fantastic ride with Momo! Clearly showed us so much of the area, we particularly enjoyed Gion - and we were fortunate to see a geisha. Great intro to Kyoto!
Fabulous trip, great host and wonderful all round. Momo was a great tour leader. He had fantastic knowledge about not only the temples and cultural aspects, but also some of Japan's traditions and how they have progressed through the ages. It was a fantastic tour, an easy ride, and it was so much less hassle than trying to hire bikes on our own. As there are many road laws, and we really did find the quieter back streets, and then we were shown the more touristy areas. So we were really happy we did this tour. I would recommend it to anyone. Momo was very sttentive to all our group, we lovee that there were only 5 people. The free water at start and finish was a nice treat.
Very enjoyable and informative tour led by Paul.
Jay was our guide and did a fantastic job navigating us through the crowds and streets of Kyoto. He showed us the must see sights while also taking us off the beaten path to avoid crowds. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the area and we enjoyed getting to spend a few hours with him. Highly recommend!
Julian was spot on to understand the wishes of the family during our private tour. It was a great way to explore the city. Bikes in good condition. (Give Jules a beer)
We had a great time on this tour with Quinn. We had several lovely stops and Quinn was an excellent guide. The weather was hotter than we expected but the bike tour turned out to be the perfect way to feel the breeze and explore the city. We would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Kyoto!
We loved our cycle tour.... Jay the part time rockstar and university English teach from NY was a really great guide. His lockup was really easy to find, about 5 mins walk from Kyoto station. Our bikes were modern and well maintained. Although my wife loved her e-bike, Kyoto is fairly flat and it probably wasn't necessary. We covered about 12km over 4 hours and Jay made sure we missed most of the traffic and madding crowds. He was really passionate and knowledgeable about every site we visited. This is definitely one not to be missed.
Our ride was rescheduled due to rain, which we appreciated. Jay was a delightful guide! We had a wonderful time cruising around Kyoto. He shared tons of great cultural information and recommendations with us. He made the experience smooth and fun. We really appreciate him taking photos and videos during our tour and sharing them with us. It was a great way to see some landmarks early in our visit to Kyoto.
Our family bike tour with Momoto was easily the highlight of our trip to Kyoto! Momoto is an incredible guide with deep local expertise. He didn’t just show us the main sights; he took us to remarkable, hidden spots we never would have found on our own. Beyond the cycling, the historical and cultural insights he shared were fascinating and gave us a much deeper appreciation for Japan. He also ended the tour by giving us a list of fantastic local restaurant recommendations that were spot-on. If you’re in Kyoto, do yourself a favor and book a cycling tour with Cycle Kyoto!
