Japan · CYCLING TOURS IN KYOTO

15 Cycling Tours in Kyoto to Build a Day Around

28 tours  ·  from $69 a head

This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 cycling tours in Kyoto worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.

Bike Tour Exploring North Kyoto plus Lunch - Kitano Tenmangu brings daily shrine life into view
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Bike Tour Exploring North Kyoto plus Lunch

1.Bike Tour Exploring North Kyoto plus Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,087 reviews · from $106Our pick

Spend five to six hours cycling Kyoto with guides such as Mayko, Julian, Indra, Quinn, Karl, Jay, or Jamie. You’ll visit Nishi Honganji, Kitano Tenmangu, Kinkakuji, the former imperial grounds, and Gion, with temple admission, water, a Cannondale bike, guidance, and lunch included. Expect about 13 miles of mostly manageable riding.

“our guide Quinn was awesome. A native American, whose English was extremely good and also a Shinto priest with in depth knowledge of all the temples and shrines we would be seeing. He also added many other interesting stops along the way. yeah, obviously enjoyed his jobs and telling us the history in the region. He added another hour to the length of the tour.”

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Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Hidden Gems Bike Tour (Early Bird) - The bamboo grove before the crowds
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Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Hidden Gems Bike Tour (Early Bird)

2.Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Hidden Gems Bike Tour (Early Bird)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 613 reviews · from $106

Start at 8:00 am near Saga-Arashiyama Station for a private 3 to 4-hour ride with guides such as Rob, Yuki, Ray, Milo, or Cass. You’ll use standard Cannondale city bikes, walk through the bamboo grove and Tenryu-ji’s garden, then pedal quiet lanes, rice fields, temples, shrines, and Togetsukyo Bridge. The route is family-friendly for ages 10 and up.

“Ideal way to see Kyoto … cover a lot of locations in between fun bike rides. Highlight of our time in Kyoto.”

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5 Top Highlights of Kyoto Full Day Bike Tour (E-bike option) - Bamboo Forest Street: beautiful, brief, and busy
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5 Top Highlights of Kyoto Full Day Bike Tour (E-bike option)

3.5 Top Highlights of Kyoto Full Day Bike Tour (E-bike option)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 511 reviews · from $172

Start at Saga-Arashiyama Station for a 7 to 8 hour ride covering up to 27 miles. Your English-speaking guide leads you to the bamboo forest, Fushimi Inari, Gion, Kiyomizu-dera, and Kinkakuji, with local streets, river paths, lunch, snacks, and photo stops along the way. Standard bikes are included, while e-bikes cost extra.

“The historic sights were wonderful! Tour guides so knowledgable and fun! Seeing the city from a bicycle is truly the best way to explore a new place. The tour went everywhere in Kyoto!!! A perfect day for my husband, my 21 year-old, my 18 year-old and me!”

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E-Bike Tours of the highlights of Kyoto!!! - West Kyoto: gold leaf, bamboo, and Zen stone
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E-Bike Tours of the highlights of Kyoto!!!

4.E-Bike Tours of the highlights of Kyoto!!!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 291 reviews · from $109

Ride Kyoto’s quieter lanes on an included e-bike with a guide such as Philippe, Kevin, or Niall. Choose an east-side route with Heian Shrine, Ginkakuji, and the Philosopher’s Walk, or a west-side route covering Kinkakuji, Arashiyama, and Ryoan-ji. Expect temple visits, local stories, photo stops, and about five and a half hours on the road.

“This was one of the least biking heavy bike tours I've ever done, but in a good way. It involves small/medium segments going between locations followed by decent amounts of time spent at those spots waling around and talking. Traditional Read more”

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Afternoon Kyoto Bike Tour: Bamboo Forest, Monkeys & Hidden Spots - Iwatayama Monkey Park and the climb to the top
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Afternoon Kyoto Bike Tour: Bamboo Forest, Monkeys & Hidden Spots

5.Afternoon Kyoto Bike Tour: Bamboo Forest, Monkeys & Hidden Spots

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 283 reviews · from $106

Meet your English-speaking guide at Saga-Arashiyama Station for a four-hour ride through Arashiyama. You’ll cycle standard Cannondale city bikes to Iwatayama Monkey Park, the Bamboo Forest, Tenryu-ji’s Sogenchi Garden, and Togetsukyo Bridge. Guides such as Yuki, Rob, Peter, and Ray add local history, culture, photos, and practical help along the way.

“This tour is unique and fun yet gives insight into Japanese culture and their way of life. Highly recommend doing this tour.”

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South Kyoto in a Nutshell: Gentle Backstreet Bike Tour! - Nishi Honganji and Kyoto’s grand wooden architecture
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South Kyoto in a Nutshell: Gentle Backstreet Bike Tour!

6.South Kyoto in a Nutshell: Gentle Backstreet Bike Tour!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 225 reviews · from $79

Start at Cycle Kyoto at 9:00 am for a three to four hour ride through southern Kyoto. Your guide leads a small group of up to eight on Cannondale bikes through backstreets, past Nishi Honganji, Gion, Tofukuji Temple, Takase Canal, and Fushimi Inari. Helmets and water are included, and guides such as Jay, Indra, Juan, and Sam add local stories along the way.

“We had a brilliant tour around Kyoto seeing the sites. Our guide took us to a lot of places off the beaten track so we avoided the tourist traps. He really looked after us and made the tour enjoyable. I would highly recommend doing this tour.”

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Kyoto: Hidden Gems E-Bike Tour with Local Japanese Guide - Starting with the Kamogawa River
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Kyoto: Hidden Gems E-Bike Tour with Local Japanese Guide

7.Hidden Gems E-Bike Tour with Local Japanese Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 189 reviews · 3h 30m · from $75

Spend 3 to 3.5 hours cycling northeast Kyoto with Aska or another English-speaking Japanese guide. Ride an easy electric bike along the Kamogawa River, visit Ginkaku-ji, follow the Philosopher’s Path, and stop at Nanzen-ji and Heian Jingu. The small group is limited to eight, with time for conversation and local tips.

“Our e-bike tour with Asuka was fantastic! It was a great way to get around Kyoto & see sites and temples that we otherwise would not have gone to. She was so knowledgeable about the area as well as about Japan in general :) Great tour and I would definitely recommend it! Thank you :)”

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Pedal Adventure Kyoto's iconic landmarks on an e-bike tour - Gion: geisha culture without the rush
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Pedal Adventure Kyoto’s iconic landmarks on an e-bike tour

8.Pedal Adventure Kyoto’s iconic landmarks on an e-bike tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 189 reviews · from $86

Ride Kyoto’s back streets and river paths on a comfortable e-bike with local guides Maki or Mika. In about four hours, you visit Gion, Higashiyama, Fushimi Inari, and Tōfuku-ji while learning about Shinto, Buddhism, samurai, and geisha culture. Water, snacks, a helmet, and the bike are included.

“Great energy, history and fun time had by all. Maki was delightful and very knowledgeable. Lots of fun stories about many topics along the way.”

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Historical Kyoto E-Bike Tour - Meeting in central Kyoto and finding your wheels
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Historical Kyoto E-Bike Tour

9.Historical Kyoto E-Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 181 reviews · from $99

Cycle Kyoto’s back streets with a group of no more than eight, stopping at Kitano Tenmangu, Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, and Tenryu-ji. Guides such as Jody, Pohan, Diego, and Jorge explain shrine customs, temple history, and bike safety. Expect five to six hours, plenty of walking, included water, and lunch money in yen.

“If you have limited time in Kyoto, this is a great way to see as much as possible of the sights and culture the City has to offer. Our guide was terrific, and the small party size of 5 of us meant that we were able to move swiftly across the City aRead more”

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4.5-Hour Kyoto Bike Tour with Lunch and UNESCO Zen Temples - Kennin-ji: a quiet start in Gion
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4.5-Hour Kyoto Bike Tour with Lunch and UNESCO Zen Temples

10.4.5-Hour Kyoto Bike Tour with Lunch and UNESCO Zen Temples

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 122 reviews · from $99

Start near Kyoto Station and pedal into Gion, where you’ll visit Kennin-ji and Nanzen-ji, pass Heian Shrine, and ride beside the Kamogawa River. A guide such as Yusuke or Naru leads the way, with bikes, helmets, photos, temple admission, and a local lunch at a Japanese house included. Plan for four and a half hours of steady cycling.

“I had a great day biking around Kyoto with Yusuke! I wasn’t expecting it to be a private tour but that was a nice surprise because I could go at my own pace. Yusuke was a super friendly and knowledgeable guide - he made sure I was comfoRead more”

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Kyoto: Afternoon Bamboo Forest and Monkey Park Bike Tour - Meeting at Saga-Arashiyama Station
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Kyoto: Afternoon Bamboo Forest and Monkey Park Bike Tour

11.Afternoon Bamboo Forest and Monkey Park Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 83 reviews · 4 hours · from $106

Meet your English-speaking guide at Saga-Arashiyama Station for a four-hour ride through bamboo lanes, temple grounds, quiet countryside, and Arashiyama’s famous sights. You’ll use a provided bicycle and helmet, enter Tenryuji Temple, hike 20 minutes to Monkey Park, and return by bike. Guides include Ray, Peter, Yuki, Rob, and JS.

“We did a lot of activities and tours in our week across 3 cities in Japan and this was by far our absolute favorite!! Yuki was so knowledgeable and fun as our guide. We loved being able to see the temples and shrines with a tour guide so we knew what we were looking at and the history behind it. Highly recommend this over just visiting them without a guide. Monkey park was so great! This was truly our favorite day of our honeymoon trip.”

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Best of Kyoto: Ginkakuji & Path of Philosophy E-Bike Tour - The Philosopher’s Path, Best Taken Slowly
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Best of Kyoto: Ginkakuji & Path of Philosophy E-Bike Tour

12.Best of Kyoto: Ginkakuji & Path of Philosophy E-Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 79 reviews · 3h 30m · from $69Best value

Ride an e-bike through Kyoto with a local guide such as Philippe, Kevin, or Salomé. The East Side route visits Ginkakuji, the Philosopher’s Path, Nanzenji, and Heian Shrine, with Zen gardens and quiet lanes along the way. An optional West Side route covers Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Kinkakuji, and Ryoanji.

“Such a relaxed Trip on our bikes to the most beautiful places. Great Group! I Highlights recommend cycling aroundcKyoto with Philippe!”

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Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Shrine and Tofukuji Temple E-Bike Tour - Starting near Higashiyama-Sanjo
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Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Shrine and Tofukuji Temple E-Bike Tour

13.Fushimi Inari Shrine and Tofukuji Temple E-Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 75 reviews · 4 hours · from $83

Spend four hours cycling Kyoto with an English-speaking guide, often Maki, in a group of no more than eight. Learn about Gion, geisha customs, Shinto and Buddhism, then visit Fushimi Inari Shrine and Tofukuji Temple. Electric bikes handle the hills, while frequent stops, snacks, water, and entrance fees keep the ride easy and practical.

“amazing tour with great guide. I can totally recommend this trip :)”

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Kyoto: Hidden Gems E-Bike Tour Through Backstreets & Temples - Meeting in Gion and setting out
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Kyoto: Hidden Gems E-Bike Tour Through Backstreets & Temples

14.Hidden Gems E-Bike Tour Through Backstreets & Temples

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 54 reviews · 4 hours · from $87

Spend four hours cycling Kyoto with an English-speaking local guide such as Ben, Yuki, or Kenji. Comfortable e-bikes carry you from Gion to Nanzenji, Heian Shrine, the Philosopher’s Path, Shimogamo-jinja, and the Imperial Palace, with quieter streets, cultural stories, photo stops, and room to adjust the ride to your group.

“We did our tour with Yuki. He was great! He is from Kyoto and had lots of pride in his home town which was really lovely. He brought us to beautiful and peaceful places that were very special to visit. We would highly recommend this tour but do advise to wear some insect repellant. We would definitely do this tour again - we did it on our first day in Kyoto and found it a great way to be introduced to the city. Thanks Yuki!!”

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Kyoto: Full-Day City Highlights Bike Tour with Light Lunch - Fushimi Inari and its endless vermilion gates
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Kyoto: Full-Day City Highlights Bike Tour with Light Lunch

15.Full-Day City Highlights Bike Tour with Light Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 52 reviews · 8 hours · from $167

Spend eight hours cycling Kyoto’s major sights and quieter lanes with an English-speaking guide such as Rob, Cass, Peter, or Ray. You’ll visit Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, Gion, and Kinkaku-ji, with a light lunch, water, helmet, bicycle, and entry fees included. An e-bike is worth considering for the 44 km route.

“Our guide Cass was phenomenal. Friendly and organized with just enough detail on each stop without overwhelming us. He was a pleasure from start to finish. An action-packed day that hit just the right number of spots. Really enjoyed seeing locals fishing and working in their gardens.”

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New in Cycling Tours in Kyoto

★ 5.0Kyoto Shogun Cycling TourFrom $15313 reviews
★ 5.0Start from Kyoto Station: Early Morning E-Bike Tour with KyotoiteFrom $8415 reviews
★ 5.0Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Family Bike Tour ( Infants & Kids )15 reviews
★ 5.0Kyoto Satoyama Cycling with Lunch and English GuideFrom $7819 reviews
★ 4.9Half-day Guided Bike Tour with Fushimi InariFrom $7721 reviews
★ 5.0Early Bird E-Bike Tour with LunchFrom $13514 reviews
★ 4.74.5-hr Kyoto Historical Highlights Bike Tour with UNESCOFrom $9613 reviews

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