JAPAN · CYCLING TOURS
Japanese cities keep quiet backstreets one block off every main road, and the temple precincts let bikes through. These 15 rides are compared on distance, surface and how much English the guide has.
Explore Kyoto by easy e-bike, visiting Kinkakuji, Daitokuji, quiet Zen gardens, and local streets with an English-speaking guide.
“Excellent bike tour with our guide Shizuka. Small group of 6, good quality bikes, interesting history, charming backstreet, temples, & riding in the hills. Really special afternoon & highly recommend.”
Cycle 20 miles through Tokyo’s shrines, parks, backstreets, bay, Imperial Palace, and skyline with a small-group local guide.
“We had the most amazing day with our guide! We felt like we saw the entire city, and had the benefit of learning from a Tokyo native. He went above and beyond and even took us to an extra couple of stops when we made good time in our day. Also enjoyed an amazing sushi lunch we got to shop for in the grocery store, and a visit to the famous 7-11 for guidance on the best items to buy. Cannot recommend this tour highly enough - excellent!”
Ride through North Kyoto to temples, shrines, Gion, and lunch on a small-group bike tour with guides, bikes, water, and entry fees included.
“This was one of the best bike tours of a major city I have done in a while. Our guide Karl was fantastic: personable, witty and most importantly very knowledgable about the sites we visited. One of our best days in Kyoto!”
Review of Tokyo Great Cycling Tour, a six-hour small-group ride linking Tsukiji, temples, shrines, and the Imperial Palace for $99.49.
“I saw so much of Tokyo in a day. Biking was definitely the way to go. My guide took very good care of me the whole time. Given the very hot weather that day, tge picnic was changed to a lunch at a izakaya. We visited shrines, stopped by arenas, and saw the imperial palace - all while learning a little about the neighborhoods we traversed.”
See Tokyo by e-bike on a small-group tour covering temples, gardens, Tokyo Bay, Tokyo Tower, snacks, and local neighborhoods.
“Tokyo is gorgeous by bike! I went in early December and the trees still felt like fall. I happened to be the only person who booked that morning so it was a solo tour w my guide Hiro - who was SO friendly & patient & made sure I was safe the entire journey”
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”
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…”
Cycle Hiroshima’s key sights, from Peace Park to Shukkei-en, with an English-speaking guide, bikes, helmets, and thoughtful history.
“Fantastic bike tour. Our guide, Awais, was so informative and very knowledgable on Japanese history. The bikes were in good condition and the tour went at a steady but not rushed pace.”
Cycle 44 kilometers through Kyoto to see Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari, Gion, Kiyomizu-dera, and Kinkakuji in one full day.
“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!”
Cycle Kyoto’s temples, shrines, Gion, and quiet backstreets on a full-day small-group tour with lunch, bike, and helmet included.
“Fantastic cycle tour of Kyoto. Indra was a witty, well informed guide who both gave us detailed information about the various locations we visited along with a sly outsiders insight into the culture. Thoroughly recommended.”
Ride through Tokyo’s temples, parks, palace district, Harajuku, and Shibuya on a guided 3-hour bike or e-bike tour.
“Sho and Keiji made the tour perfect for our family-group of 8. They were open for all the questions, very knowledgeable and good fun to explore the city with. Highly recommended!”
Review of Hiroshima’s 2-hour Peace Cycling Tour, with e-bikes, local guides, memorial sites, practical tips, value, and rainy-day options.
“Amazing experience! We had the best tour guide ever (Kana-San)! The electric bikes made it easy, and the tour was extremely easy to follow. Thank you, Kana-San! - Hayleigh and Jeremy”
Review of Osaka’s five-hour small-group bike tour, with Osaka Castle, shrines, local food, museum time, practical tips, and honest value advice.
“Absolutely wonderful tour! They were knowledgeable and fun! Thank you Mike and Hide we had such a fun time.”
Explore Kyoto by e-bike on a six-hour small-group tour covering Kinkakuji, Arashiyama, Tenryuji, and Kitano Tenmangu.
“Myself and my 2 boys aged 14 and 10 did this tour today and we all agreed it was the best thing we had done in Japan so far, and we have done a lot. Our tour guide, Benjamin, was really lovely and very knowledgeable. Nothing was too much trouble for him. Highly recommend this tour!”
Explore Kyoto by e-bike on a small-group tour of temples, gardens, Gion, riverside paths, and quiet backstreets with an expert local guide.
“Kevin gave lots of information about Japanese religion, traditions, and practices. Besides explaining about the design and rituals of the shrines and temples, he took us through neighborhoods to talk about the houses and daily lives of the locals.”
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