Top 14 Kyoto Cycling Tours

1.Explore Hidden Alleyway with a Local Expert (Morning tour)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 61 reviews · from $103Our pick

Start at 9:00 am and spend three hours cycling Kyoto with a private guide such as Rich, Yuichi, or Annie. Use an e-bike to reach Miyagawacho, Gion, Tatsumi Bridge, Kyoto Imperial Palace, and the Kamo River, with room for questions, photo stops, and a possible café break.

“Fantastic tour. Rich-San answered questions and gave such great information. A great way to see so much of Kyoto at once”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.KIYOTO’s Kyoto Private E-Cycling Tour: Highlights & Hidden Gems

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews · from $198

Ride a private route through Kyoto with guides such as Yonnie, Yuhey, Yuichi, Mana, and others. You’ll cover major sights including Fushimi Inari, Tofuku-ji, Gion, Nanzen-ji, and the Philosopher’s Walk, while your guide adjusts the pace and adds local history.

“We had an amazing e-bike tour in Kyoto with Mana. She was very kind and helpful even before the trip, reaching out to answer my questions and giving great advice about Kyoto and also Kobe, the city she is from. During the tour, we visited Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Cycle Kyoto’s Hidden Gems & Gion Stroll

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · from $73

Ride Kyoto’s riverside paths and quieter streets with an English-speaking guide such as Benjamin, Ko, Claire, or Mr. Go. Visit the Imperial Palace, a Zen temple, and Shimo-gamo Shrine, then stroll Gion or Pontocho for tea, sweets, geisha culture, and restaurant tips.

“We took our two kids who are 9 and 10 on the tour and our guide Mr. Go was incredibly kind and patient with them. We saw some beautiful sites in Kyoto we had not visited and it was such a joy to bike next to the river on a hot and humid day.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Kyoto Satoyama Cycling with Lunch and English Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · from $78

Join local guides Maki, her husband, or Yasu for a private e-bike tour through Sonobe, about 30 minutes from Kyoto City by train. Visit shrines and castle ruins, choose soba-making or a farmhouse lunch, and add options such as kimono photos, koto music, and Mt. Komugi, linked to Super Mario.

“Along the countryside road, with fresh environment and air, views of mountains, fields, Japanese houses, shrines, and trees, cycling becomes even more enjoyable. We had a wonderful cycling tour, exploring the area and learning about JapRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Explore Hidden Alleyway with a Local Expert (Afternoon Tour)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · from $102

Spend three hours cycling Kyoto’s quiet lanes with a professionally trained local guide. Pass Miyagawacho, Gion, Tatsumi Bridge, the Imperial Palace, and the Kamo River. Groups hold 2 to 6 people, and e-bikes may be available. Guide Yuichi is praised for his humor and clear local insight.

“Great way to get around the city and visit a few sites - especially if under time pressure. Worked well with the family.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Kyoto Shogun Cycling Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · from $153

Ride an easy downhill route through Kyoto with a private guide, visiting the Golden Pavilion, quiet Toji-in Temple, and Nijo Castle. Guides such as Seiya, Makoto, Nozomi, and Yasunobu have led similar tours, adding clear English commentary and local context. Bikes, helmets, and rainwear are included.

“We had a great time with Yanai-San!!! The cycle tour was beautiful and we visited some very pretty temples & shrines. Makoto is very personable and knowledgeable and made the experience soo much fun.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Cycling Tour at Uji’s Matcha Green Tea Fields and Heritage

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 4h 30m · from $160

Explore Uji by BROMPTON bicycle with an English-speaking local guide, visiting Chazuna, ancient shrines, Kosho-ji Temple, quiet river paths, Tō-no-shima Island, and Byodoin. You’ll also stop for Uji snacks and matcha specialties. Takashi is a frequent guide, and the small group is limited to six people.

“It was an amazing experience. Biking around the Uji river was my favorite part. Uji is so beautiful and peaceful. Our guide was very patient since I was a slow biker and knowledgeable guiding us with different places. I highly recommend the tour!”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Higashiyama Slow Cycling Tour along the quiet waterfront

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · from $129

Ride about 12 km on a Brompton folding bicycle through Kyoto’s quieter lanes, riversides, temples, and gardens. A private navigator leads a small group of up to six from Demachiyanagi Station, with flexible stops and food suggestions along the way.

“Cycling is a great way to explore Kyoto. So many tiny laneways, quiet streets and bike paths along the rivers and streams. Great local knowledge for finding hidden gems and tranquil alternatives when some places were way too crowRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Cycle Kyoto’s Hidden Gems & Gion Stroll

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $65

Ride peaceful Kamogawa riverside paths, visit Shimogamo Shrine, pass the Imperial Palace and a Zen temple, then return your bike for a 30-minute Gion walk. Guide Honoka explains geisha culture, with tea and Japanese sweets at Sanjo Bridge. Electric bikes cost 1,000 yen extra.

“Great tour to shinto shirne and coffee. Taught how to make an offering. Guide had great English. Could have ridden bikes a bit longer”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.North Kyoto Guided Cycling Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 6h 30m · from $103

Spend about six and a half hours cycling from Kyoto Station through quiet backstreets and major sights. Your English-speaking guide leads you into Nishi Honganji, Kitano Tenmangu, Kinkaku-ji, the Imperial Palace, Gion, and along the Kamo River. Lunch, bike, helmet, water, and admissions are included.

“Excellente façon de découvrir Kyoto à travers les ruelles tranquilles des anciens quartiers et des arrêts aux temples à visiter !”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.City cycle (no gear change)

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 5 reviews · from $7Best value

Rent a simple no-gear-change bicycle for about eight hours from central Kyoto, near Shijo Karasuma and Karasuma Oike. You can pedal between sightseeing areas, shops, and meals at your own pace. Bring 3,000 yen in cash for the refundable vehicle deposit, but verify the shop is operating before paying.

“Bike rental does not excist, it is a beauty shop now, no bikes for rent so we had no bikes at the end”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Kyoto Satoyama Cycling with Lunch and English guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $97

Spend about five hours cycling Kyoto’s countryside with local guide Maki and an electric-assist bicycle. Visit Kyoto Taishakuten Temple, ring 108 bells, pass through a purification ring, eat homemade food at a renovated folk house, and finish with wagashi or local shopping. The private tour runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“It was my first time cycling and I was anxious at first, but I was able to start with peace of mind after receiving Maki's personality and firm explanation!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Ine Funaya e-BIKE Cycling Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 2 reviews · from $85

You’ll ride a Yamaha PAS Brace e-bike around Ine Bay with a local guide, stopping inside a private Funaya and at Mukai Shuzo brewery for sake and a treat. The 90-minute to two-hour private tour suits beginners and older riders, with pickup offered and a return to the Ine Town Information Center.

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Rent a Road Bike to Explore Kyoto and Beyond

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $47

Pick up a Trek or Cannondale touring bike at Road Bike Rental Japan in Fushimi, Kyoto, then set your own route through the city and Kansai. Gareth and the team can share suggested navigation routes. Helmets, lights, locks, bottle cages, and pedal choices are included.

“Kyoto is an amazing city to explore by road bike. There are many shrines to visit, and the views are spectacular. I also really enjoyed the ride along the Kamo River.”

Check availability →Read our full review