---

目次

• Why Cycle around Kyoto >
• Kyoto layout >
• Tips and Road Rules >
• Renting a Bike >
• Cycling Routes >
• Bicycle Parking >
• Useful for Cyclists to know >
• まとめ

Why Cycle around Kyoto

Kyoto has some amazing places to ride. You can climb mountains, explore deep forests, pedal along rivers, pass through picturesque towns and cruise around downtown looking for the best espresso in town.

When exploring on the bike you not only see point A and point B, but also the unplanned and unexpected things on the way.

In our opinion, cycling allows you to see much more.

Hidden gems

The crowds in the city and at the main sights can be pretty daunting but luckily, Kyoto has so much natural wonder and charm lurking just beyond the city centre and main tourist destinations.

Riding into the mountains, down side streets, around the quiet suburbs and through the rural farming towns will show you a unique and authentic side to Japan which you simply can’t get from sticking to the well-trodden path.

There are so many shrines, temples, rivers and simply stunning snapshots of raw Japan that aren’t in any guidebooks that you literally stumble upon when venturing into rural and isolated areas.

These moments are some of the best and at Road Bike Rental Japan, our mission is to help people experience more of these moments during their time in Japan.

Stunning nature

Japan really is a beautiful country. However, sometimes the world-famous cultural sights and bright neon buzz of the cities can overshadow this.

There are towering and steep mountains, rivers and valleys sweeping below, rural farming villages with the distinct charm only found in Japan, mystic local shrines tucked into corners of the country, vast forests that seem to swallow you whole and oceans and beaches that will have you striping off mid-ride and jumping in for a dip.

If you catch trains and buses everywhere you can miss a lot of this. However being on a bike gives you the best chance of discovering the real natural beauty of Japan and we’re sure you won’t be disappointed.

Speed

Bikes are faster than walking and therefore enable you to cover more ground with less effort than when walking around. 

We agree, there are times in busier areas when it’s better to get off the bike and stroll around but usually the bike will let you get around faster plus you can enjoy the wind in your hair.

Fun, Healthy and good for the Environment

Riding bikes is fun. There are a lot of scientific explanations that try to explain why but when you spin those pedals, get the blood pumping and stir up those endorphins it simply feels good. 

Exercise puts you in a better mood and cycling is also a great way to balance out all of the extra eating and drinking you probably are doing on holidays. The food in Japan is epic and the beers flow freely at local restaurants and doing some exercise during your trip can keep you feeling good.

Bike riding also uses minimal fossil fuels and is a pollution free form of transport.

Climate change is the biggest challenge the world is facing and we believe in trying to reduce our carbon emissions in any way we can.

Cycling as a mode of transport is better for the environment and we hope guides like this play a small role in encouraging people to get around Kyoto by bike.

Kyoto Layout

Kyoto is in a valley and is surrounded by mountains on the west, north and east with Mt Atago being the highest peak at 924m.

Kyoto sits southwest of the largest freshwater lake in Japan, Lake Biwa, however none of the lake actually comes into Kyoto prefecture with the entire body of water sitting in Shiga prefecture.

Throughout this guide when we refer to Kyoto, we mean Kyoto city and not the much larger Kyoto prefecture.

Kyoto city is the capital of Kyoto prefecture with the city taking up approximately 18% of the land in the prefecture. 

When we think about cycling around Kyoto, it’s helpful to break up the city into sections which are listed below:

• Northwest Kyoto
• Northeast Kyoto
• West Kyoto
• East Kyoto
• Southwest Kyoto
• Southeast Kyoto
• Downtown and central Kyoto

Central Kyoto and Downtown

Downtown is considered to be bordered by Karasuma-dori in west, Oike-dori in north, the Kamo river in the east and Shijo-dori in south.

The area is pretty small – 1km squared – making it easy to walk around.

While not everyone follows the rules, cycling on the below streets are prohibited:

• Kawaramachi-dori, between Oike-dori and Bukkoji-dori
• Shijo-dori, between Higashioji-dori and Karasuma-dori
• Sanjo-dori, between Kiyamachi-dori and Kawaramachi-dori

Apart from the prohibited streets (and other streets that are restricted at certain times of the day or during certain events during the year), you can ride around and navigate Kyoto city fairly easily due to the grid layout. It should be noted there is a fair bit of traffic on the roads making peak hours a pretty congested time to cruise the streets. 

There are also a lot of traffic lights – especially in the city centre around downtown – making the going pretty slow in some areas.

You’ve also got the people traffic to contend with which is made up of locals going about their daily lives plus the huge number of tourists that come to visit Kyoto every year.

When riding around the city the rivers are a useful way to escape the traffic  and pollution on the streets. If you are in the city centre or east Kyoto you can ride along the Kamo river while if you are in the west you can take the Katsura river.

West Kyoto – Katsura river and Arashiyama

The Katsura river in the west is a great starting point to get on the bike and start exploring.

川沿いにはサイクリングロードがあり、サイクリングしながら美しい景色を眺めることができる。

もっと南から始めて嵐山に向かうこともできるし、嵐山や松尾大社から始めて南下することもできる。

嵐山は世界の中でも特別な場所だが、京都の他の場所と同様、観光客でとても混雑する。特に竹林は大変混雑するので、訪れるなら早朝か夕方以降がいいだろう。

嵐山周辺をサイクリングする醍醐味のひとつは、嵐山そのものをサイクリングするのではなく、嵐山に向かって北上する川沿いの道をサイクリングすることだ。山々が尾根を曲がりくねりながら、世界的に有名なエリアが遠くにゆっくりと姿を現す。

京都北部

京都北部を北西部と東北部に分けた。

北西部 - 梅ヶ畑、中川などの山々

北部の山々は素晴らしい。登りあり、下りあり、絵葉書のような小さな町あり、森や風景からのさわやかな景色や匂いあり。

The pine trees in Japan are beautiful and as you head into the mountains the vast forests can leave you feeling isolated and into the wild.

北部の山々へのアクセスは容易で、北西のルートは通常、嵐山の北から梅ヶ畑を経由する。

東北-大原、比叡山など

東北地方にはサイクリングや探検を楽しめるエリアが数多くあり、大原はこの地域の多くのルートの拠点となっている。

大原は、宝ヶ池公園と宝ヶ池駅を過ぎて367号線を登ったところにある。 

山道はさらに東の比叡山を登り、通過し、越える。

比叡山は京都で2番目に高い山で、自分を追い込み、心臓を鼓動させたいなら、本格的な登山ができる。

山を登って越えれば、サイクリストにも人気の琵琶湖に下りることができる。

East Kyoto

東京都は鴨川の対岸に位置し、京都で最も有名な場所や観光地がある。

京都大学の真東に哲学の道、その南に南禅寺、さらに南に清水寺がある。

東部ではサイクリングが盛んで、多くの観光客が美しい東山エリアを巡って観光している。

三条通で蹴上駅を過ぎ、清水寺の裏手の坂を登り、最終的には大津まで行くこともできる。

四宮駅周辺や京都東インターチェンジ、大津方面へ向かう国道1号線沿いは交通量が多いので、できればピーク時を避けた方が楽しい旅になる。

南京都

南部も南西部と南東部に分かれている。

南東-宇治と奈良方面

南東部のルートやエリアにもサイクリングに最適な場所がある。伏見稲荷大社は美しい場所だが、歩く必要があるので、参拝するなら混雑を避けるために早めに行くこと。

宇治へのライドは、素晴らしい景色を楽しみたいサイクリストにとって必見のルートのひとつだ。

宇治までの道のりは、市街地の面白いところもあるが、交通量の多い道もある。しかし、宇治に着いて宇治川、瀬田川と遡り始めると、渋滞のことなどすぐに忘れてしまう。

川に沿って走る丘の上の道は壮観だ。

曲がりくねった道は自転車に乗っていて純粋に楽しいし、川を下るドラマチックな景色や沿道の橋は素晴らしいサイクリング体験になる。

ルートとライドの詳細については、ガイドのサイクリング・ルートのセクションをご覧ください。

南東部は奈良へ下るためのアクセスポイントになることが多く、期待を裏切らないクラシックなライドだ。ルートには、生い茂る森、川沿いの道、農場、野生動物（奈良では鹿）、そしていくつかの壮大な上り坂がある。

京都から奈良への周遊コースへのリンクもサイクリング・ルートのセクションにある。

南西-桂川、三川合流点

淀川を下って大阪に向かうサイクリストや、木津川を下って奈良に向かうサイクリストの玄関口でもあるからだ。

南には勝川、宇治川、木津川の三川合流地点があり、ここですべてが合流して淀川となる。

そこから木津川をさらに南下して奈良に向かうか、宇治川で東に向かうか、淀川に飛び乗って大阪に向かうか。

ルートの詳細は、ガイドの「サイクル・ルート」のセクションで確認できる。

ヒントとロードルール

レンタサイクル

京都で自転車を借りるのはとても簡単だ。基本的なシティサイクルを貸し出しているところはたくさんあるし、1日の料金もそれほど高くない。

ホテルでは宿泊客向けに自転車のレンタルサービスを行っていることもあるので、宿泊施設に確認してみよう。

地元の人々の日常生活を支える基本的な自転車は、マンマチャリと呼ばれる。これは直訳すると母親の自転車、あるいはそれに類するもので、通常はシングルスピードでフロントにバスケットが付いている。

ギア付きの自転車が欲しいなら、いくつかの選択肢があるが、その多くはハンドルバーがフラットになっている。

ロードバイクやスポーツバイクの場合、選択肢はもっと限られる。

RBRJでは、高性能なロードバイクとツーリングバイクを専門に扱っており、ツーリングバイクのラインナップも充実している。

ロードバイクとツーリングバイクのラインナップをご覧になりたい方は、以下のリンクをご参照ください：

ロード＆ツーリングバイク

サイクリング・ルート

京都にはサイクリングができる様々なエリアがある。市街地や郊外に近いところから、市街地を離れて人里離れた森や静かな田舎町を見つけるところまで。

京都のサイクリストがだいたいどこを走っているのか、Stravaのヒートマップで見てみよう。

以下は、サイクリング・ルートの例である：

• より短いルート
• 中長距離ルート
• 長距離ルート

---

短距離路線

---

三条から哲学の道へ

距離:4.6km
標高ゲイン: 84m

---

Arashiyama to 3 river confluence

距離: 20km
標高差: 93m

---

Medium-length Routes

---

Northeast and Northern loop – Ohara and Kamo

距離 40.27km
標高差474m
View route on Google maps >

---

Northwest mountains ride – Umegahata, Nakagawa

距離: 58km
標高ゲイン: 865m
View route on Google maps >
Link to route guide and blog

---

Kyoto to Osaka – Katsura and Yodo rivers

距離: 49km
標高差: 308m
Link to route guide and blog >

---

Longer Routes

---

Kyoto to Uji to Otsu loop – return to Kyoto city

距離: 70km
標高ゲイン: 903m
Link to route guide and blog >

---

Kyoto and Lake Biwa loop

距離: 218km
標高差: 1,184m
Link to route guide and blog >

---

Bicycle Parking

Considering the amount of people that ride bikes in Kyoto the bike parking isn’t particularly good.

京都でバイクを駐輪する場合、以下のような選択肢がある：

• Free spots
• Paid spots
• Spots you should always avoid

Free spots

In less busier areas, bikes can generally be parked on the footpath and roads for free without any problems. For example, if you stop at a restaurant for lunch you can usually park your bike out the front while you eat no worries.

The restaurant or shopping centre might even have a bike parking for customers.

A key point here is that you park your bike for a limited time. If you head into the convenience store, buy a couple of things then get back on your bike pretty quickly you will probably be fine.

But, if you leave your bike for hours or worse still, days, the chance of your bike being taken from the seemingly safe and free spots increases.

Paid spots

In the city you’ll find locked parking bays which you are free to use most of the time. You simply roll your wheel in, wait for it to lock then you can head off. When you get back you put in your bike parking number in the machine and pay the small fee which is usually 100 or 200 yen.

Some bike parking places are mainly for owners that pay for a monthly or yearly spot but some of these places also accept daily parking for a small fee.

No parking

However, in busier parts of the city there are places where you shouldn’t park your bike, even for a few minutes. Places such as outside of main train stations, department stores, office buildings in the CBD and high-end shops are pretty regulated and you will find you will get a warning tag quickly followed by your bike taken if you don’t move it ASAP. 

If your bike is taken by the city bike sweep check the ground for a piece of paper stuck on the ground that will tell you where your bike has been taken. If you go there with your bike key you can get your bike back at a fee though.

We usually recommend being cautious with parking, especially if you have a more expensive bike. If there is a paid parking bay close to your hotel, it’s a good idea to use it and also use your bike lock.

It’s worth asking your hotel if there can store your bike inside or if they have bike parking. Some hotels do but a lot of hotels will ask you to find bike parking outside so If that’s the case, ask them if there is a paid bike parking close by.

Useful for Cyclists to Know

Below is some information which is useful to know or might come in handy while cycling around Kyoto.

Shops to buy gear or get repairs

Best Seasons for Cycling

The best seasons for cycling around Kyoto are Spring and Autumn. It’s still possible to cycle in Summer and Winter but be careful of extreme heat and humidity in Summer and also watch out for sub zero temperatures in winter which brings snow and dangerous icy conditions on the roads.

Spring

The weather in spring is beautiful and if you’re lucky you might even catch some of the cherry blossoms while riding.

March can still be a bit chilly but we find March, April and May fantastic for cycling. May is a fair bit warmer than March but remember cherry blossom season brings crowds too so be sure to book early and maybe avoid the peak sights if you can. Head to some rural or mountain rides and you’ll probably witness amazing cherry blossoms around the countryside that will make you stop and appreciate the sight.

See the below link for the temperatures in Kyoto in April 2023 >

Autumn / Fall

Autumn is also fantastic for cycling and here at RBRJ, it’s probably our favourite. The autumn colours are spectacular and they also last longer than the cherry blossoms meaning you have a better chance of catching the beauty of the changing colours.

The season probably lasts a bit longer than Spring in terms of good weather for cycling too. September can still be very hot at the start of the month but it starts cooling down and from mid September right through to December Japan is prime for getting out on the bike.

See the below link for the temperatures in Kyoto in October 2023 >

夏

You can also cycle in Summer but if you really feel the heat, Summer might be too much for you. The humidity plus the heat can make for some scorching days in the sun. If you do get on the bike, be careful and make sure to take breaks and get enough water.

See the below link for the temperatures in Kyoto in July 2023 >

冬

Winter can also produce some lovely days for cycling and just the other day, we rode around in 13 degrees in the sun and we all thought it was ideal cycling weather. However, the weather can get very cold and if you don’t have the right gear, you can get very uncomfortable fast.

Not to mention the chance of snow and ice so be careful on the roads and try to check the weather in advance to plan your days.

Of course, the higher the altitude the more likely there is going to be snow and very dangerous ice on the roads so if you are heading into the mountains keep a good eye out for ice and snow on the roads.

See the below link for the temperatures in Kyoto in January 2023 >

Bike Transport

Third party Insurance

Emergency contacts

While in Kyoto and especially if you are cycling there is a chance that you might need medical services at a stage. While Japan is a very safe country and cycling here is also pretty safe, it’s good to prepare in case of an accident or injury.

A few points to be aware of are:

• Know your local hospital or clinic
• Make sure you have travel insurance to cover medical bills
• Don’t assume the hospital is open late at night or on weekends
• Dial 119 for fire and ambulance
• Dial 110 for police

Know your local hospital

Firstly, it’s good to check where your local hospital is.

If you have a more severe medical problem a larger hospital is better, however for common colds and less serious problems you can see a Doctor at a local clinic who will refer you to a hospital if they think it’s necessary.

Travel Insurance

Make sure you come with travel insurance, especially if you plan on doing any cycling. Health care in Japan is excellent and also very affordable, however if you don’t have any insurance you’ll pay 100% and if it’s complicated treatment it can get very expensive.

Don’t assume hospital is open

Some hospitals and clinics are closed late at nights and also on weekends. Check on Google whether the hospital is open first before going there.

Emergency Numbers

In Japan, there is a separate number for ambulance and fire, and for police. Dial 119 for ambulance or fire and 110 for police.

Usually there is English assistance on the phone but try and relax and speak slowly to help the operator understand your situation.

• 消防と救急への連絡は【119】
• 警察への連絡は【110】

まとめ

We think getting around on a bike is the best way to see Kyoto and we hope the information in this guide is useful if you decide to cycle while in the ancient capital.

This guide will periodically be updated with new information for cyclists so if you have any ideas or useful links that we’ve missed, let us know in the comments and we’ll try and include them.

Enjoy the time cycling around Kyoto and if you have any questions please get in touch with us anytime!