Where to Ride: the 8 Best Hidden Gems Bike Tours in Japan

1.3h Tokyo E-Bike Tour: Hidden Gems, and Local Life with guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 670 reviews · from $63Our pick

See Tokyo by easy-riding e-bike, from Imperial Palace and Tsukiji to Akihabara and Asakusa, with a local guide in a small group.

“Kazu was our guide — he did a fantastic job touring us around Tokyo. The tour was fun and informative. The Group covered a lot of ground and we biked right thru the city, stopping at interesting areas with Kazu explaining the history. We would definitely do this activity again”

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

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

Review of Kyoto’s early Arashiyama bike tour, with bamboo, temples, quiet lanes, practical tips, pricing, and honest advice.

“What a great bike tour! Our hosts were Ray and Milo and they were excellent - knowledgeable about the area, sharing a bunch of Japanese culture history. We toured the bamboo forest (on foot, not bike), temples, and a rice field. The bikes were extremely good quality (Cannondale bikes, not e-bikes). Terrain is mostly flat. We did leave our bikes to walk in the forest and temples/shrines a few times. Ray and Milo took a ton of photos and videos, and shared them after the ride. We were a group of 4 adults and found this to be an easy tour to do. Would be a bit more challenging with…”

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3.3-hour Guided E-Bike Tour of the City’s Hidden Gems

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 251 reviews · from $65

Explore Tokyo by e-bike on a guided three-hour ride to temples, gardens, bridges, markets, and city views for $65.

“Excellent tour with great commentary from guide Shinobu. Great fun.”

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4.City Secrets eBike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 196 reviews · 3h 45m · from $127

Review of Kyoto’s 225-minute City Secrets eBike Tour, with Golden Pavilion, Zen temples, quiet lanes, guides, price, and practical tips.

“I liked riding through various areas of the city and visiting the temples on the way.”

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

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

Cycle Kyoto’s quieter eastern sights by e-bike with a friendly local guide, including Ginkaku-ji, Philosopher’s Path, Nanzen-ji, and Heian Jingu.

“Aska was the perfect guide. The just the right amount of information delivered with a smile. Her riding skills gave everyone confidence. It was so pleasant to see interesting temples and shrines without the crowds. I really enjoyed cycling along the river on such a beautiful day.”

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6.5-Hour Tokyo & Edo Hidden Gem Bike Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 113 reviews · from $85

Cycle Tokyo’s back streets, temples, sumo district, Edo sites, and local lunch on a relaxed small-group tour with bikes included.

“This was a great trip. The bikes were very good and the tour was well designed and well led. We say a lot of Tokyo without feeling rushed. Lunch was also a great experience and a lot of fun being with other travellers. Full marks.”

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7.3-Hour Bike or E-Bike Tour of City’s Hidden Gems

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 81 reviews · 3 hours · from $60Best value

See Tokyo by bike from Zojo-ji and the Imperial Palace to Shibuya, with quality bikes, local guides, and an e-bike option.

“Everything was detailed and explained well. Casey was very polite and cooperative. Loved the experience. Must doooo”

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

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

See Kyoto by e-bike on a four-hour small-group ride through Gion, quiet temples, shrines, and the Philosopher’s Path.

“Ben was the greatest guide I've had in a long time. Very knowledgeable, learned a lot about Kyoto and Japan in general. Bikes were very comfortable and we went to a lot of beautiful (quiet) places compared to all the crouded areas in Kyoto. Absolutely worth the money, would highly recommend!”

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