Kyoto's bamboo forest is one of the city's most visited sites but you can avoid the crowds by joining the early morning bicycle tour. Enjoy the forest and temples at their most serene and also venture to a few off-the-beaten-path spots nearby.

Avoid the crowds by visiting in the early morning
Small-group tour (maximum 7): Ensures a personal experience
Get insights into local culture and history from your guide
Visit hidden spots missed by most visitors

What's Included

Native English speaking bilingual guide
Bicycle
Helmet
Bottled water

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Saga-Arashiyama Station
11-1 Sagatenryūji Kurumamichichō, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8373, Japan
Nearest train station - JR Saga Arashiyama Meeting Point is : JR Saga Arashiyama Station, Exit right at the ticket gates (See PDF in your Viator message inbox)

Start time

08:00 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Arashiyama

Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 2 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Please provide heights of all guests at time of booking
All guests will be required to sign a liability release waiver prior to the tour

Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

JoAnne_S

What a wonderful experience! Ray was a gracious guide during our half-day bike tour. We were very glad to beat the crowds to the Bamboo forest and to see the local area up close on bikes. Highly recommend! We found biking to be cooler and easier in the summer heat than walking. Thank you!

Reviews

5.0

281 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 281 reviews

Beautiful and fun! This tour a lovely way to see this part of Japan!

Jennifer_S, Apr 2024

Fantastic tour! My husband and I went with our two girls, 11 and 12, and they loved it and were able to bike the entire way without any problem. The route is flat Peter was an excellent guide - we learned a lot of cultural facts - and he took lots of photos for everyone. It’s a beautiful and fun way to see this lovely part of Japan. Also, go to Pizzaria Lugara if you want a break from Japanese food. It was delicious!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you, Jennifer, for this review! We always appreciate it when customers take to time to send us positive vibes! Again thank you. Peter

Unforgettable experience

aga_m, Apr 2024

This was one of our highlights of our trip around Japan. Cycling around Arashiyama, stopping and experiencing Cherry Blossom without crowds, riding through the rice fields was simply unique. Enjoyed the conversations, picturesque gardens, temples, shrines and natures. For myself and my 14year daughter that was a simply unforgettable experience which we will treasure. Thanks Ray.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thanks so much you two! It was an unforgettable experience for me as well. I really enjoyed our conversations and your positive vibes. I wish you all the best and hope to cross paths again someday! Kindness, Ray

The PERFECT way to see Arashiyama

Elizabeth_B, Mar 2024

This tour is the perfect way to see Arashiyama. First and foremost, Ray is a superb guide. An expat who married a Japanese woman and knows the area perfectly, he lives just blocks from the Bamboo forest. Ray is a perfect balance of energetic yet mellow. He's super attuned to nature, which is a refreshing balance to the "all shrines" experience you sometimes feel you have on tours in Japan. The 8 am start time is ideal - you beat the crowds to the big sights, and have time afterward to ride through quiet neighborhoods, rice paddies and other local sites before wrapping up back in town. We saw a remarkable amount and part of Kyoto and still were back in Gion before 1 pm. Definitely take this tour!

Unique sites and fun experience. Highly recommend

Anonymous, Mar 2024

Educational and fun bike ride. Peter talked about the history of the sites we visited. Peter also took pictures along the tour of us so we would have memories to cherish. Peter was even able to get a picture in the bamboo forest without anyone in the frame. The calligraphy stop was an added cool surprise. The kids had a great time. We got a link to the pictures shortly after the bike ride.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you for the kind words. I enjoyed showing you around and I am happy that you liked the photos and practicing the Japanese calligraphy. Thanks again and safe travels. Peter

A fantastic early tour

Dee_F, Mar 2024

I had an great experience on my bike tour. Our guide Pete made sure to take lots of pictures and did an excellent job explaining and keeping us on track. We had cyclists of all levels of experience, and he did a good job, keeping us all together, and we didn’t lose a single person. he provided excellent tips on how to make sure you see everything.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Hi, Thank you for the awesome review. We greatly appreciate it. I am happy you enjoyed the tour as much as I enjoyed showing you around. Thanks again. Peter

Enjoyable and insightful

Wendy_J, Mar 2024

Enjoyable, entertaining ride. Peter was interesting, knowledgeable and gave incredible insights. There’s so much to learn.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hi Wendy Thanks for the review. It was all my pleasure. Safe travels Peter

Unique experience not to be missed

Viva_C, Dec 2023

Peter was an amazing guide mixing just the right amount of history, fun facts and culture to keep both the adults and kids engaged. Biking through the town and mountain side was surreal.

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Hi Viva. Thank you for the lovely review. I enjoyed meeting you and your family. All the best to you and please tell your son how much I appreciated all his questions! Safe travels. Peter

Amazing Kyoto AM ride

Alison_H, Dec 2023

I booked the early bird ride for my husband, 18 yo daughter and I and really glad, in retrospect, that we rallied early to do this ride!! It was less crowded and easier to navigate. The sites started to get busier as our ride progressed. Our guide Ray was fantastic answering our many questions and sharing his deep knowledge of the area and culture. We loved our morning ride and highly recommend this experience!

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Many thanks Alison and family! That was a particularly fun morning together. You had wonderful questions and I thoroughly enjoyed sharing the beauty of Arashiyama with you all. I wish you all the best and hope to see you again :). Kindness, Ray

Biking tour was excellent! 🇨🇦 ❤️ 🇯🇵

Ellen_H, Nov 2023

I highly recommend this tour! Peter led us through quaint neighbourhoods, rice fields and shrines in addition to the beautiful bamboo forest! As a small group of six participants, we enjoyed great discussions about culture, religion and Japanese traditions! ❤️

Definitely worth it

yogitaskhatri, Nov 2023

He was very good, very friendly, took photos and sent it to us right away. Saw a lot in the short time. Recommended local places to eat lunch etc. Knowledgable of the history, the bamboo trees etc.

Ray is very knowledgeable...

Kambdur_K, Nov 2023

Ray is very knowledgeable of the area. Acts as a great area guides besides a cycling tour. Thank you

Charming and informative tour with Peter.

Sriram_H, Nov 2023

Peter was an amazing guide. He is an American settled in Japan - speaks fluent Japanese and knows the area very well. Bike tour was awesome. My wife loved it. Obliged us and the entire group with numerous photo shoots. Took some from his own camera and then sent it to us. Suggested places to eat after the tour.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Thank you for sending us this lovely review. It was absolutely my pleasure showing you around the beautiful Arashiyama area. All the best and safe travels. Peter

Sweet ride!

Brayden_W, Oct 2023

I did this tour with my husband and 19 year old son. Ray was an awesome guide with a passion for his work. Perfect combo of biking and walking.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Thanks Brayden! I really appeciate you taking the time to leave a review. I had an amazing morning out with you guys. You inspired me to hit up the HOF next time I am up north. All the best to you and your family! Kindness, Ray

Highly recommend bike tour if Arashiyama

Sophie_R, Oct 2023

Wonderful way to see the Arashiyama area of Kyoto. Ray was a fantastic guide, we visited the bamboo forest and several beautiful temples and shrines, as well as biking through the countryside. Highly recommend.

Superlative Experience!!

Karla_H, Oct 2023

Absolutely amazing tour! Worth every penny. As a Western who has spent most of his adult life in Japan, Peter provided excellent insight into every day life and national trends. I think the highlight was biking through the few remaining rice fields in the Kyoto city limits. The current challenges facing Japanese farmers sound very similar to the ones in America. The ride was magical. I also felt safe with Peter as the leader when we ventured into traffi c. I would have NEVER tried that on my own.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Hi Karla! Thank you for taking the time to write up this awesome review. I am happy you enjoyed the tour and the Arashiyama area of Kyoto. It certainly is a special place. Again, thank you. All the best. Peter

Great experience, definitely recommend

Jessica_D, Oct 2023

Amazing experience! Ray did a great job leading us through Arashiyama and parts of Kyoto I wouldn’t have gotten to see otherwise. You take a short bike ride to the bamboo forest (which is actually pretty small) before taking in the nature of the area and the temple gardens. I think my favorite part was the ride through the rice paddies, because I never would’ve ventured out otherwise and the sights were breathtaking! We went to another temple and shrine and he taught us about traditions and other cultural facts about Japan. Incredibly friendly and respectful. The biking is mostly flat and not difficult for the average person. Highly recommend!

Beautiful moments

Chris_L, Oct 2023

Biking through rice fields, stopping at a shrine for hairdressers, learning how to pray, and why “Go En” can mean so much more than just a few pennies— these were some of the beautiful moments we discovered thanks to our guide, Ray. Do yourself a favor and take this tour!

Would recommend

Pedro_D, Sep 2023

Really enjoyed this tour. Met people from around the world who were all looking to explore. Our guide was very thoughtful with his approach making sure everyone had a good time and learned as much as possible.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Thanks so much Mario! I had an incredible time with you and the rest of the group. It was a really fun morning with great questions and big smiles! All the best to you and thanks again! Kindness, Ray

Highly recommend this in Kyoto. Great half day!

Patty_D, Aug 2023

This was an awesome excursion. Peter, our guide was very knowledgeable and had lots of stories to share along the way. Loved the visits to the shrine and temple as well as the bamboo forest. We rode through Arashiyama, and through rice fields. Loved every minute.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Hi Patty. Thank you for taking the time to share a nice review. I really appreciate that. All the best to you both. Peter

Great tour

Pilar_S, Jul 2023

Really enjoyed the tour, on time very well prepared, relevant cultural Insigths, good food recommendation

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thank you, Pilar, for the kind review. We truly appreciate you taking the time to send this through. All the best.

Likely to Sell Out