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

Location Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Kansai, Japan
$32.36
This is an experience gift voucher. The recipient will book the experience after they redeem the gift voucher.

Overview

Heian Shrine may look a thousand years old, but it was built in 1895. In 1869, the Emperor moved to Tokyo, and Kyoto, the capital for over a thousand years, began to fade. The city refused to give up. Led by Tanabe Sakuro, a 21-year-old engineer, Japanese hands alone tunneled through mountains to bring Lake Biwa's water into Kyoto. The canal powered Japan's first commercial hydroelectric plant and first electric streetcar. Heian Shrine was built to mark 1,100 years since Kyoto's founding: a symbol of a city reborn.

Tokyo's No.1 bike tour (most-reviewed in Tokyo on GetYourGuide, Viator, Tripadvisor, Klook and Google, as of October 2026) is now in Kyoto.

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. Departures: 10:15 and 14:30.
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The experience offers several options. This price includes:

CROSS BIKE TOUR
Cross bike
Tour guide
Language: English
Human tour guide
Duration: 3 hours

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

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

  • Heian Shrine
    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.
  • Nanzen-ji Temple
    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.
  • The philosophers path
    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.
  • Kamogawa Delta (Kyoto Prefectural Kamogawa Park)
    Stop at the Kamo River Delta, where the Takano and Kamo rivers meet. A favorite local spot, with stepping stones across the water.
  • Nashinoki Shrine
    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.
  • Kamogawa River
    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.
  • Gion Shirakawa
    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.
  • Lake Biwa Canal
    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.

  • 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
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure 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.
  • How it works?
    01 — You choose from 10,000+ experience gifts
    02 — We deliver the eVoucher or the Physical box to the recipient
    03 — Recipient books the experience and creates unforgettable memories!

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

    Location Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Kansai, Japan
    $32.36
    This is an experience gift voucher. The recipient will book the experience after they redeem the gift voucher.
    How it works?
    01 — You choose from 10,000+ experience gifts
    02 — We deliver the eVoucher or the Physical box to the recipient
    03 — Recipient books the experience and creates unforgettable memories!

    Delivery options

    eVoucher

    • Free
    • Instant delivery
    • Environmentally friendly

    Physical Gift Box

    • $10.00 fee
    • 2-5 business days
    • Shipping Worldwide

    No expiration date
    Easy refund
    Free exchange
    Easy booking
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