Kyoto: Heian Shrine & Nanzen-ji Bike or E-Bike Tour

Kyoto, Japan
  1. Home
  2. Activities
  3. Kyoto
Duration3h
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Group sizeUp to 16 travelers

Overview

Tokyo's No.1 bike tour (the most-reviewed bike tour in Tokyo on GetYourGuide, Viator, Klook and Google, as of October 2026) is now in Kyoto. This small-group tour with an English-speaking local guide starts at Heian Shrine and takes you through quiet backstreets, along canals and the Kamo River.

Grand Opening price for tours in November 2026. From December, the regular price is 10,000 yen with a cross bike and 14,000 yen with an e-bike.

The route was created with a Kyoto City Visitor's Host, a guide certified by the City of Kyoto. We are a member of the Kyoto City Tourism Association.

Choose a morning (10:15) or afternoon (14:30) departure. Both follow the same loop back to Heian Shrine: Nanzen-ji Temple and its brick aqueduct, the Philosopher's Path, the Kamo River Delta, Nashinoki Shrine, the Kamo River, the Shirakawa canal in Gion and the Lake Biwa Canal.

Ride a Bianchi cross bike or a Panasonic e-bike with pedal assist.

Options

Private Tour: E-Bike

E-Bike
Private tour

Customized Private Tour

Custom route for your group: Private, up to 6. We plan the route with you. E-bikes or 7+ by message.

Private Tour: Cross Bike

Cross bike
Private tour

E-BIKE TOUR

E-Bike

CROSS BIKE TOUR

Cross bike

What's included

  • English-speaking local guide
  • Helmet (free rental for tours in November 2026)
  • Cross bike (Bianchi) or electric-assist bike (Panasonic), depending on the option you book
  • Food and Drink

What to expect

  1. Heian Shrine
    15m
    The tour starts and ends here. Walk under one of Japan's largest torii gates and through the vermilion gate of Heian Shrine, built in 1895 to mark Kyoto's 1,100th anniversary. Your guide explains the shrine's history and how to pray at a Shinto shrine.
  2. Nanzen-ji Temple
    15m
    See the massive Sanmon gate of Nanzen-ji, one of Japan's most important Zen temples, and the red-brick Meiji-era aqueduct that still carries water from Lake Biwa through the temple grounds.
  3. The philosophers path
    15m
    Ride along the Philosopher's Path, a quiet stone path beside a canal lined with cherry trees, named after the philosopher Nishida Kitaro who walked here every day.
  4. Kamogawa Delta (Kyoto Prefectural Kamogawa Park)
    15m
    Stop at the Kamo River Delta, where the Takano and Kamo rivers meet. A favorite local spot, with stepping stones across the water.
  5. Nashinoki Shrine
    10m
    A quiet shrine next to the Kyoto Imperial Palace grounds, home to Somei-no-mizu, one of the three famous springs of Kyoto, where locals still come to fill bottles with water.
  6. Kamogawa River
    20m
    Cycle along the open riverside of the Kamo River, Kyoto's favorite place to relax, with mountain views and the stepping stones near the Kamogawa Delta where locals gather.
  7. Gion Shirakawa
    15m
    Follow the Shirakawa canal past old wooden townhouses and weeping willows into Gion Shirakawa, one of the most beautiful streets in Kyoto's geisha district.
  8. Lake Biwa Canal
    10m
    Ride along the Lake Biwa Canal, built in 1890 to bring water from Lake Biwa and help Kyoto recover after the capital moved to Tokyo. Your guide explains the story on the way back to Heian Shrine.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Meeting point: the Pokémon manhole cover right in front of Heian Shrine's main gate (Otenmon). https://maps.app.goo.gl/izHXnpSPNCi5yLtB7

End point

Additional information

  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • For safety reasons, we ask that all pregnant women refrain from participating.
  • If your riding causes damage to the bicycle (such as damage to the side stand or frame), we may charge you for the repair costs, depending on the circumstances.
  • If we determine that it would be difficult or dangerous for a participant to ride a bicycle at the starting point, we may refuse to allow them to participate in the tour, in which case no refund will be issued.
  • Total Duration includes the travel time between stops
  • Please arrive at the meeting point before the scheduled tour start time. To ensure the best experience for all guests, our tours depart on schedule. Guests who do not arrive by the scheduled start time, regardless of the reason, will be considered a No Show. No refunds or rescheduling will be provided. Exceptions: Tours cancelled by the operator due to severe weather.
  • Both the morning and afternoon tours follow the same loop route and end at Heian Shrine.
  • Not recommended for participants under 150 cm tall

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
From
5,000.00 JPY per person
Check availability & book
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
  • Instant confirmation
  • You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.
Operated by TRB BIKE TOUR · Booked through Viator
More activities in Kyoto
From
5,000.00 JPY per person
Check availability