Kyoto is home to numerous historical landmarks and breathtaking gardens, making it an ideal place to explore by bicycle. Cycling allows you to efficiently visit various attractions and experience the city’s atmosphere in a way that’s impossible through a car window. Riding through Kyoto while feeling the breeze is sure to be a memorable experience.
Unlike buses or trains that pass by quickly, a bicycle lets you savor the sights and places at your own pace. You might even stumble upon delightful cafés or shops in unexpected places.
In this article, we’ll introduce four cycling routes to enhance your Kyoto sightseeing experience, along with important tips for enjoying your ride safely.
1.The Appeal of Cycling in Kyoto
Cycling in Kyoto offers the unique charm of exploring the city’s many landmarks at your own pace, allowing for a sense of adventure and freedom.
Kyoto’s streets are laid out in a grid pattern, making navigation easy even for beginners. As you leisurely cycle through the city, you’ll encounter hidden alleyways, scenic backstreets, and the seasonal beauty of Kyoto’s nature that can’t be seen from a car window.
Using a bicycle also makes it easy to stop by tucked-away shops or cafes in areas that are hard to reach by public transportation. It’s an opportunity to discover your own version of Kyoto. Compared to cars or trains, bicycles offer the flexibility to travel freely at your own speed. You can avoid crowded places, enjoy a more relaxed schedule, and move smoothly between destinations.
2. Tips for Cycling in Kyoto
Cycling through Kyoto’s picturesque streets can be an unforgettable experience, especially for international visitors. However, to enjoy a safe and smooth cycling trip, it’s essential to keep a few key points in mind.
2-1.How to Rent a Bicycle
Kyoto offers a variety of bicycle rental and sharing services, making it easy to find an option that suits your needs. However, it can be difficult to decide between the two.
Bicycle Rental Services
Traditional rental services are typically offered by bicycle shops, where you pick up and return the bike to the same location. Pricing is usually based on hourly or daily rates. If you plan to use the bike for an extended period or wish to ride a specific type of bicycle, such as a road bike or cross bike, rental services are the better choice.
Bike Sharing Services
Bike sharing services operate via designated docking stations throughout Kyoto. You can rent a bike from one port and return it to any other port, offering flexibility for short rides. The abundance of stations near train stations and tourist attractions is a major advantage. However, registration and payment methods are often required, which may feel cumbersome for international visitors unfamiliar with the process.
2-2.Parking Your Bicycle in Kyoto
Most of Kyoto’s major tourist attractions, such as temples and shrines, have small parking areas for bicycles, often designated for visitors. However, during peak tourist seasons or around lunchtime, these spaces can fill up quickly.
For those starting their trip from Kyoto Station or central urban areas, large-scale bicycle parking facilities are available.Using these larger parking lots as your sightseeing “base of operations” can make your sightseeing experience more seamless.
2-3.Bicycle Rules
In Japan, starting April 1, 2023, wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle is strongly recommended for all cyclists. Tourists cycling in Kyoto are encouraged to wear helmets to ensure their safety.
In Kyoto, sharing the road courteously with pedestrians and vehicles while following traffic rules is essential for a safe and enjoyable ride.
Key Rules to Follow:
Road Usage and Direction
In Japan, bicycles are generally required to use the roadway and ride on the left side. In Kyoto, the city has utilized its lodging tax revenue to mark bike-friendly lanes with “yabane” (arrowhead) symbols in a distinctive Bengara-red color on the left side of the road. These markings make it easier for cyclists to navigate the streets safely.
Sidewalk Etiquette
When riding on sidewalks, cyclists must yield to pedestrians. Only sidewalks marked with “bicycle-permitted” signs may be used for cycling. Even in such cases, cyclists should maintain a low speed, give way to pedestrians, and stop as needed in crowded or potentially hazardous areas.
Intersections
At intersections, cyclists must stop to check for safety, even if there is no traffic light. Kyoto has a high incidence of accidents at intersections, so extra caution is advised.
Parking Guidelines
Avoid parking bicycles on streets near train stations, shops, or private residences, as it can obstruct pedestrians and vehicles. Unauthorized street parking may result in your bicycle being removed as an abandoned bike. Most of Kyoto is designated as a no-street-parking zone, so be sure to use designated parking facilities.
If your bicycle is removed, retrieving it will require a storage retrieval fee of ¥3,500. To avoid inconvenience, always park at official bicycle parking areas near your destination.
3.Four Cycling Routes in Kyoto
Here are four cycling routes perfect for first-time visitors to Japan and those new to cycling. Checking your route on a map or navigation app in advance will help ensure a smooth journey to your destination.
First Time in Kyoto: Tips for a Memorable Visit – Japan Travel
3-1. From Kyoto Station to Ginkaku-ji Temple
This route takes you from Kyoto Station to the Philosopher’s Path and Ginkaku-ji Temple, offering an immersive experience of Kyoto’s history and culture.
Cycling along the Philosopher’s Path, you can enjoy the scenic views of the Kamo River, which change beautifully with the seasons. Upon reaching Ginkaku-ji Temple, take a leisurely stroll through the serene garden, a perfect spot for peaceful reflection.
3-2. From the Bamboo Path to Hōshaku-ji Temple
This cycling route takes you from the Bamboo Path in Muko City (向日市) to Ōharano Shrine, Yoshiminedera Temple, Nagaoka Tenman-gū Shrine and Nishiki-sui-tei, and finally to Hōshaku-ji Temple. Along the way, you’ll enjoy diverse scenery, including bamboo forests, gardens, and rural landscapes.
Start your journey at the Bamboo Path, where you can cycle leisurely through a lush green bamboo grove, offering a tranquil and refreshing experience. From there, enjoy a peaceful visit to Ōharano Shrine, a serene place surrounded by nature.
Next, extend your ride to Yoshiminedera Temple, which boasts spacious grounds filled with various Buddhist statues and beautiful gardens. Continue to Nagaoka Tenman-gū Shrine, dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deity of learning. At Nishiki-sui-tei, located within the shrine grounds, you can enjoy matcha while admiring the elegant garden.
Conclude your ride at Hōshaku-ji Temple, where you can explore its Kyoto-registered cultural properties, such as the main hall and Nio-mon Gate, as well as its collection of important Buddhist statues.
The total distance for this route is approximately 19 kilometers.
3-3. From Fushimi Inari Taisha to a Historic Sake Brewery
This route takes you from Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine to Tō-ji Temple and then to Yamamoto Honke, a historic sake brewery in Fushimi. The total distance is approximately 14 kilometers.
Yamamoto Honke, located in Kyoto’s Fushimi Ward, is a centuries-old sake brewery with a history dating back to 1677. For over 300 years, it has been rooted in the Kyoto region, producing sake using high-quality local water called Shiragikusui.
At Yamamoto Honke, visitors can tour the sake-making process and enjoy tastings. The brewery offers a wide range of sake brands, including Shinsei and Matsu-no-Midori, with varieties ranging from junmai to daiginjo. You can also purchase sake to take home as a souvenir.
Important Note: In Japan, cycling under the influence of alcohol is strictly prohibited, regardless of the amount consumed. If you wish to enjoy sake at Yamamoto Honke, consider using a bike-sharing service and switching to public transportation afterward.
3-4. From Arashiyama to Yawata Along the Katsura River Cycling Road
The Katsura River Cycling Road is a scenic riverside route connecting Gokōbashi Bridge in Yawata City to the iconic Arashiyama area, a staple of Kyoto sightseeing.
Along the way, you can visit historical landmarks, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tenryū-ji Temple in Arashiyama and Iwashimizu Hachimangū Shrine in Yawata City. The route also offers stunning views of Togetsukyō Bridge, a famous Arashiyama landmark.
Conclusion
The cycling routes featured in this article are just a starting point. Feel free to customize them to suit your interests and preferred destinations. For instance, if you’re taking the route from Kyoto Station to Ginkaku-ji via the Philosopher’s Path, you could extend your journey to visit Nanzen-ji Temple, located about 2 kilometers from Ginkaku-ji.
Before cycling in Japan, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with traffic rules. Always prioritize safety, be mindful of pedestrians and other cyclists, and follow regulations.
Additionally, Kyoto’s summer heat can be intense, posing a risk of heatstroke even during short rides. Stay hydrated, take breaks when needed, and monitor your physical condition closely.
*This article is based on information available as of December 2024.
