Where to Ride: the 4 Best Hidden Gems Bike Tours in Kyoto

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

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

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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2.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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3.Hidden Gems E-Bike Tour with Local Japanese Guide

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

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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4.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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