Best of Kyoto Bike Tour: Nara, Lake Biwa & Beyond

On this adventure, we hit the ground running (well, cycling)!

After meeting at our hotel at 09:00 AM, we’ll waste no time and head out on an inaugural 18 km/11-mile ride to discover Kyoto, the cultural center of Japan for over a millennium. The city’s flat terrain, excellent bike paths, and many heritage sites make for wonderful urban riding. We visit Heian Shrine to check out its massive red tori gate and wander the grounds of two of Kyoto’s most picturesque Zen temples: Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) and Nanzenji Temple. Before concluding the ride, we’ll also swing by the Gion District, which is famous for its tea houses and traditional Geisha culture. Along the way, we’ll stop for lunch at a local restaurant and, in the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner.

Meals included: Lunch, dinner
Cycling distance: 18 km/ 11 miles
Elevation change: +92 m/ 300 ft, -92 m/ 300 ft
Accommodation: Via Inn Kyotoeki Hachijoguchi (Western-style)

Today we trade the hustle and bustle of central Kyoto for the serenity of its rural hinterland. The ride is one of the hilliest of the trip, but our efforts will be rewarded when we arrive in Ogoto, an area renowned for its hot springs (onsen)! Cycling out of Kyoto, we head for the forested, northeastern hills, where we’ll stop in the ancient farming village of Ohara. The village is home to a lovely collection of historic Buddhist temples, the main one among them being Sanzen-In.

Founded by the influential monk Saicho in the late 8th century, this Tendai Buddhist temple consists of imposing stone walls, tea rooms, halls, and gardens. We’ll take our time to stroll around Ohara and Sanzen-In and, after lunch, complete the ride to Ogoto, located near the shores of Lake Biwa. We aim to arrive in time for a refreshing soak in the hot spring waters and, for dinner, we’ll enjoy kaiseki – a traditional multi-course Japanese meal known for its artful presentation and use of seasonal ingredients.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cycling distance: 45 km/ 27.9 miles
Elevation change: +712 m/ 2,335 ft, -649 m/ 2,129 ft
Accommodation: Komorebi Ryokan (Japanese style)

After breakfast, we will hop on our bikes for a great day of riding along the shores of Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake, and its surroundings. Our route takes us straight across the 1.5-km/0.9-mile-long Biwako Ohashi Bridge. As we pedal, we can enjoy wonderful views across the expansive waters. Once we have reached the other side of the lake, we will skirt along the shores until we reach the picturesque town of Omihachiman. Here we’ll explore the medieval canal flanked by cobbled walls and traditional houses. We then continue to traverse the scenic countryside until we reach the town of Koka, where we’ll spend the night.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cycling distance: 55 km/ 34,1 miles
Elevation change: +228 m/ 748 ft, -107 m/ 351 ft
Accommodation: Route-Inn Koka Minakuchi (Western style)

In the morning we’ll ride to Shigaraki, an area that made its name creating ceramic statues of tanuki (raccoon dogs). These ceramic figurines can still be found in many gardens, restaurants, and drinking establishments in the area. From there, we will embark on an incredibly scenic stretch of riding as we head to Wazuka, one of Japan’s premier tea-growing regions. We ride along small, winding back roads that cross the perfectly manicured tea fields carved into the rolling hills of Wuzaka.

The route is hilly, but there will be plenty of opportunities to stop and enjoy the views. As we emerge from the tea fields of Wazuka, we’ll complete the final stretch to Nara. For the last 15 km/9,3 miles, we will hop on a local train to avoid the city traffic. Nara is another one of Japan’s former capitals, but it is now a small and compact city with some of the oldest and most impressive temple complexes in the country.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cycling distance: 61 km/ 37.9 miles
Elevation change: +666 m/ 2,185 ft, -760 m/ 2,493 ft
Accommodation: Hotel Tenpyo (Japanese style)

With a couple of days of cycling behind us, this morning we will take it easy as we discover Nara and its cultural gems. We start with a visit to Kasuga Shrine, one of Nara’s most prominent Shinto shrines known for its iconic vermilion-colored buildings, numerous stone lanterns, and sacred deer that roam the surrounding forest. We’ll also check out Todaiji Temple, one of Japan’s most famous temples, housing a colossal bronze Buddha statue.

Rounding out our heritage-inspired morning, we’ll participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony before enjoying lunch. In the afternoon, we’ll head out for a scenic cycling loop along the Yamanobe-no-Michi trail. The trail passes through some of Nara’s most historic areas and is part of Japan’s oldest road. Dinner is on your own tonight – but your guides will be happy to make some recommendations!

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
Cycling distance: 39 km/ 24,2 miles
Elevation change: +420 m/ 1,377 ft, -420 m/ 1,377 ft
Accommodation: Hotel Tenpyo (Japanese style)

We will soak in the tour’s final views of the Kansai countryside as we return to Kyoto via the plains of the Kizu and Katsuragawa rivers. The route is predominantly flat, and we’ll skirt around Kyoto to end our ride at the foot of the mountains on the western outskirts of the city. Here we discover one of Japan’s most beautiful Zen temples, Tenryu-ji, renowned for its elegant architecture and garden. And just around the corner, we’ll find the famous Arashiyama bamboo grove where we’ll stroll through rows of towering green bamboo stalks piercing into the sky. After this iconic end to our cycling adventure, we return to central Kyoto via a quick metro ride. In the evening we will reconvene for a farewell dinner.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cycling distance: 56 km/ 34,7 miles
Elevation change: +317 m/ 1,040 ft, -339 m/ 1,112 ft
Accommodation: Via Inn Kyoteki Hachijoguchi (Western style)

You are welcome to stay at the hotel until it is time to check out. Feel free to extend your stay in Kyoto or head to the airport or the train station for your next adventure.

Meals included: Breakfast