Top Experiences in Heian Shrine (Heian Jingu)

We are Kyoto ECO Trip, a rental bicycle company based in the heart of Kyoto and our aim is to raise awareness of the brilliance of riding a bicycle in the beautiful Kyoto. Bicycle rides help us find the hidden beauty of Kyoto that most tourists are likely to overlook and we hope this tour helps you see things you are not able to see when you take public transport like subways, buses, and taxis.

The type of bicycle we use on this tour is a 3-speed city cruiser with a basket in front. First, you get to exlpore the famous thousands of the torii gates in Fushimi Inari Shrine. Next, the beautiful Nanzen-ji Temple and the popular Heian Jungu Shrine is also our stop. There are a few of the popular spots you make a quick stop during our stop such as the Gion District and Sanjusangendo Temple.

Ready for a bike ride like no other? Hop in; you are about to discover Kyoto on a bike tour with a local guide.

On this Kyoto bike tour, cycle through picturesque streets and scenic roads as you check out the main spots around town. Pass by the Philosopher's path, and Gion Area, and make stops along the way to hear fascinating stories about Kyoto.

Your local guide is a bike pro and will make this private tour an easy-going ride for you. So, if you are looking for a fun, healthy, and sustainable way to move around Kyoto, this bike tour ticks all the boxes!

Withlocals City Bike Tour™ is one of Withlocals' signature tours available in major cities worldwide. We work with passionate local guides who earn a fair fee. We support local economies by only offering local products and preventing over-tourism with only small non-intrusive groups. Our tours are carbon-neutral and away from the standard tourist routes.

Step into an authentic Japanese rickshaw for the ride of a lifetime, through some of the most scenic and historic districts in Kyoto, Japan. You have the option of exploring the verdant Bamboo Grove and impressive shrines of west Kyoto’s Arashiyama district or the intriguing wooden buildings and stone alleys (maybe even spotting a geisha or two) in Kyoto’s famed Higashiyama area, all with a knowledgeable local guide and rickshaw driver. This authentic, customizable Kyoto adventure is a fun introduction to this beautiful city.

1. Bicycle is by far the best way to get around Kyoto’s crowded streets.

Kyoto has a great geography for two wheels. Why wait for crowded buses or be stuck in traffic with an expensive taxi when you have the freedom to move around at will like the locals do.

2. We take you on scenic routes which are chosen with your safety in mind.

Riding a bike alone you might get lost or end up on very narrow streets. We know the best way to get around and give you tips on staying safe. We also know quiet side streets with lots of character and charm.

3.We tell you stories of the city’s past and give you background knowledge along the way.

​Learn about the world of the shogun and samurai, the geisha house and even get a background on the shinto and buddhist beliefs. Learning about the cultural legacy of old Kyoto is a great insight to Japanese customs and culture.

- Start this historical sights tour by learning about Gion & Geisha and Zen culture in Japan in UNESCO World Heritage Zen temple, Kennin-ji in Gion district. Get ready to feel the world of Zen in traditional Zen temple with Japanese Rock garden called Karesansui.
After seeing the Kennin-ji temple, get ready to cycle again for a nice ride to the Nanzen-ji temple where your guide will give you some insights about Zen and the old days of Kyoto!

- Breeze through beautiful local streets in historical city and enjoy a delicious lunch at a Japanese tea house!

- Enjoy the local Kyoto oasis that is Kamogawa river with a relaxing cycle along it’s riverbanks to finish the tour off!

Magical Trip is a local tour operator with the TripAdvisor certificate of excellence that offers various types of small-group tours throughout Japan! Check out our Trip Advisor Page for more tours and our reviews!

Learn more about the top 23 tourist attractions in Kyoto. Its history, culture, myths, architecture, and other important facts are in this audio commentary.

The top 10 advantages for those who prefer flexibility on their tour.
1. Safe - Not required to download, with just a click of secure access links it can be listened to online on any device.
2. Save - The lowest price in the city.
3. Stories - No imagination stories, only verified information.
4. Schedule - Listen at your own convenience of time, pace, and location,
5. Select - Preferred languages and attractions.
6. Self-control: No need to be behind someone's instructions in always.
7. Share - with co-travelers in just a click.
8. Soft - Selective crafted words that make you listen again.
9. Simple - Use our personally created itinerary which starts from the city's central station and then gradually moves one by one.
10. Smart - in all aspects

Spend time with one of our hosts exploring Kyoto. Half a day is not nearly enough time to see the whole city, but with a host by your side you will get a feel for its energy. Explore one of Kyoto's traditional neighborhoods, and see Kyoto as you would if you were coming to visit a friend who lived here.

Within 24 hours after booking, you'll receive a short questionnaire about your personality and interests. Based on your responses, you'll be assigned a like-minded host. Your host will communicate with you directly to suggest an itinerary to help you discover what makes the city unique. You will also agree on a meeting time and place. Your itinerary is flexible, so during the experience, you can always change your mind about what you want to do.

Jump on a bike from our all new e-bike fleet for an early-bird tour of the highlights of south and east Kyoto.
We meet bright and early for a short orientation before heading straight south to enjoy the majestic Fushimi Inari Shrine before the crowds arrive. From here we will catch the splendour of Tofukuji Temple before stopping for a morning coffee at one of our favourite haunts. The next part of our journey takes us up the Kamo river and over to the UNESCO listed Ginkakuji Temple. After Ginkakuji, we will roll slowly south down the iconic Path of Philosophy and into the grounds of Nanzenji Temple (complete with traditional gardens, ornate religious buildings and even a red brick aquaduct). After a sit down lunch (provided), the last leg of our journey takes us south along the Shirakawa Canal and through the streets of Gion before arriving at the gates of Higashi Honganji Temple and finally home to base.

Get away from the crowded tourist sites and indulge on a private tour of some of Kyoto's most enchanting spaces. In a town whose history spans over 1,300 years, there are far more than just the "Top 10" that are worth visiting!

Quiet Zen gardens, high ranking shrines, a local traditional lunch, a folk art museum and 1,001 Golden Buddha statues. This experience will introduce you to a world far away from the busy tourist sites, where you will spend peaceful moments getting to know the true nature of Kyoto.

Note: Depending on our pace, all of the sites on this route may not be able to be visited. If the situation arises where we have to eliminate one or more of the sites the guest will determine what is eliminated.