Afternoon Kyoto Bike Tour: Bamboo Forest, Monkeys & Hidden Spots

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Kyoto, Japan

Popular pick

Booked 10+ times last week!

4 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

5.0

· paul_b ·

Nov 2025

Our guide Yuki was outstanding, he was very knowledgeable and made the whole tour interesting and more importantly fun. We got to see and learn so much about Kyoto, the Monkeys, the Bamboo forest and the Gardens are a must see.

· Monica_H ·

May 2025

This was one of my top two favorite activities since being in Japan. Peter is an excellent guide—making it fun and educational. Be ready for a serious hike up to those monkeys, though! I’m glad I did it; it was rewarding at the top. Peter really knows Kyoto and gave the best recommendations for great dinner spots or to grab a treat. I wholeheartedly recommend this tour!

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Overview

Combine natural beauty and close encounters with wildlife on this action-packed afternoon tour to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Iwatayama Monkey Park. To save tired legs, and help you get around with ease, bike and helmet rental is included. The trip showcases spectacular views of Kyoto from Iwatayama Mountain, the natural beauty of the bamboo forest, Sogenchi Pond Garden, and the chance to look out for Japanese macaque monkeys.

Go to a place known for its freely roaming Japanese macaques
Visit smaller less-crowded shrines and temples on this tour
Ride with ease between sites: Bike rental is included
Access incredible photo opportunities of the Bamboo Forest

What's Included

Native English speaking bilingual guide
Bicycle
Helmet
Bottled water
Admission fees

No hotel pickup or drop off
Gratuity for your guide (always appreciated!)
E-bike (We use standard Cannondale city bikes)

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)

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.1:00 pm

Itinerary

Monkey Park Iwatayama

1 hour 15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Bamboo Forest Street

25 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Tenryu-ji Temple Sogenchi Teien

25 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Togetsukyo Bridge

10 minutes • 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
Near public transportation
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
E-bikes and youth bikes are available upon request (additional fee may apply)
*AGE REQUIREMENT: Children must be at least 10 years old to participate. Please book our "Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Family Bike Tour (Infants & Toddlers)" for families with children under 10 years of age.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

5.0

based on 297 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Fabulous afternoon bike tour

Claudia_G, Jan 2026

Had the most amazing afternoon with Yuki, he was such a fabulous guide, very knowledgeable, personal and all round great conversationalist. The bikes were top notch and easy to ride. We learnt a lot about local customs and culture. Yuki was also took lots of photos in all the best locations. He read our fortunes from a local temple, which was a lot of fun. This tour is definitely the highlight of our trip.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you for the wonderful review! I’m happy to hear you enjoyed learning about local customs and culture while exploring Kyoto by bike. Reading fortunes at the temple is always a memorable stop, and I’m glad it added to your experience. It was great spending the afternoon with you, and I truly appreciate the kind words. Kind regards, Yuki

Maybe the best tour we took on our trip to Japan

Amanda_C, Jan 2026

Our family went on about four or five tours and this was our favorite. Great way to see beautiful spots and riding bikes was a fun experience and very efficient. Rob was our guide. He was great with both the kids and the adults. We were there during the holiday week of New Year’s Eve. It was extremely crowded but apparently normally some of the spots he takes you to normal empty. Either way, it would be great. We took the afternoon/evening tour. The bamboo forest was not as crowded as it would have been during the middle of the day.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you for joining our family-friendly Kyoto bike tour and for sharing such thoughtful feedback. I’m thrilled to hear this was your favorite tour — that truly means a lot. Exploring Kyoto by bike is a fun and efficient way for families to see the city together, and I’m glad the experience worked well for both the kids and adults. You’re absolutely right that the New Year’s holiday period can be especially busy, but this bike tour often allows us to experience places like the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest at its best. Many of the spots we visit are usually very peaceful, and even during peak seasons, biking helps us move smoothly between areas. Thank you again for riding with me — it was a pleasure guiding your family, and I hope we can explore more of Kyoto together on your next visit! Kind regards, Rob

Highly recommended tour with Rob

DANIELLA_L, Nov 2025

I enjoyed a wonderful bike tour with Rob, who was extremely knowledgeable, accommodating, considerate and engaging. We managed to visit many places in the 4 hour tour, taking in breathtaking views and beautiful historic sites along the way. Rob constantly provided facts and stories about each place, making it a very unique and special tour. While I would recommend this to anyone, you do need a sufficient ability and baseline fitness to be able to ride for a few hours at a time. Thanks Rob!

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for the kind words. I had a great time showing you the beauty of Arashiyama! I am so happy to hear you enjoyed the tour. All the best to you! Kind regards, Rob

Amazing Tour — Great Stories, Beautiful Photos!

Jaydene_H, Nov 2025

We booked this bike tour to experience Kyoto from a local’s perspective, and Yuki truly delivered. From the moment we met, he made us feel welcome and gave us a great overview of the area before guiding us effortlessly through each stop on the route. His deep knowledge of Japanese history, culture, and customs made every site come alive. Yuki also took the time to share the significance of each place and captured incredible photos we’ll cherish forever. It was an unforgettable way to see Kyoto!

Response from Host, Nov 2025

That is so kind of you. I also enjoyed our morning together and I am happy to hear you had a good time. Enjoy the rest of your travels in Japan!

Bike Tour

paul_b, Nov 2025

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Many thanks for your kind words. I enjoyed showing you around and I am excited to hear you learned something and had a great time. Best regards, Yuki

Awesome Experience!

Stacey_F, Oct 2025

What a great cultural and educational experience. My wife and I did a morning tour with Peter and enjoyed every moment of our time. We wish we would have scheduled the tour earlier in our stay because it was so educational and helped us appreciate the history of Kyoto more. The bike riding was an amazing way to see the town and was not strenuous at all. We highly recommend this tour to those looking for an active way to explore the city and learn more about the culture at the same time.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thanks for the lovely review and afternoon together. I am so pleased to hear that you were able to take something with you and overall enjoyed the tour. I had a really good time with you! Thank you again and best wishes. Peter

Best tour so far in Japan

Tamara_B, May 2025

This was definitely one of my favourite tours in Japan! Yuki our travel guide spoke perfect English and has such a great knowledge of Japanese history and culture. No, literally was this trip super fun and interesting. I learned quite a bit about so many aspects of Japan and Japanese culture and history.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Hey Tamara! I am truly honored that I was able to give you such a memorable tour! It truly does mean a lot to me and I hope I was able to spark a newfound or further interest in Japanese history and customs within you! Come to Japan again sometime soon, this country doesn't really change much (if ever) so you can pick up your journey through Japan where you left off! Yuki

Top 2 Favorite!

Monica_H, May 2025

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Hi there Monica, Wow! Thank you, thank you for this incredible review. I am so pleased to see that this experience was the highlight of your time in Japan. I had a blast cycling with you and sharing as much as I could. I also appreciated your questions and your smiles throughout the tour. Again, I am grateful for your comments and accolades! Safe travels, Peter

This tour is unique and...

Jeanne_T, Apr 2025

This tour is unique and fun yet gives insight into Japanese culture and their way of life. Highly recommend doing this tour.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Hello Jeanne! We really appreciate you taking the time to send us this review. Your review is certainly appreciated and it truly does help us as a small business. We are happy to read that you had a great time. Safe travels and we hope to see you again in the future. Thank you again, Peter and Ray

Highly recommend!

Anna_B, Apr 2025

This was a super fun and easy ride around town with history and culture. We loved every minute, it was a highlight of our trip!

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Hi there Anna, Wow! Thank you, thank you for this incredible review. We are so pleased to see that this experience was the highlight of your time in Japan. We had a blast cycling with you and sharing as much as we could. We also appreciated your questions and your smiles throughout the tour. Again, We are grateful for your comments and accolades! Safe travels, Peter and Ray

Fantastic family ride with insider tour of Arashiyama!

Laura_R, Mar 2025

Fantastic tour with our knowledgeable guide Rob. Bikes were great and Rob made sure we all made it through the day safe and sound. He knew all of the best spots and managed to navigate a very busy day in Arashiyama. Highly recommend this tour for anyone wanting get lots of local knowledge on the area. We covered a lot of ground on the bikes. It was a nice change from all of the walking!

Response from Host, Apr 2025

Hi Laura, Thank you for taking the time to send in this review. It was 100% my pleasure and I am happy to read that you enjoyed the whole experience. Thanks again. Rob

An ideal afternoon in Arashiyama!

Katherine_F, Mar 2025

A perfect afternoon exploring a lovely section of Kyoto! Our group included two families with two kids each, plus myself and my teen son. We had a terrific time biking around the area and learning more about each site we visited, as well as enjoying each others’ company. Peter was an excellent guide and made everything really easy. The bikes were in great shape and were comfortable to ride even for those of us who don’t ride often, and the route was flat and easy as well. We ended with a visit to food stalls where everyone got lots of snacks, and then Peter presented us with a sweet parting gift. It was a great way to see and take in more than we would have on our own; I’m a firm convert to bike tours! We all felt very pleased with ourselves, especially as we whizzed effortlessly past crowds of exhausted-looking walkers. Thank you so much; we will be recommending this tour to anyone we know who is visiting Kyoto (and it feels like *everyone* we know is headed to Japan in the next year or so!).

Response from Host, May 2025

Hi guys, Thank you so much for such an awesome review. It put a huge smile on my face seeing how much you enjoyed the tour. I certainly enjoyed showing you around town and sharing my love for Japan and Kyoto with you. Thank you again and safe travels. All the best, Peter

Amazing

Maxwell_A, Feb 2025

Great experience, Yuki was an amazing tour guide and got to see some local areas not accessible without being in the know.

Response from Host, Mar 2025

Many thanks for the perfect afternoon together. I thoroughly enjoyed our time together and wish you all the best! Kind regards, Yuki

Arashiyama bike tour

John_D, Nov 2024

Really enjoyed this tour. Good comfortable bikes, well maintained. Great way to see alot in a few hours at a nice pace. Peter our guide was very knowledgeable and helpful and took plenty of pics for us all along the way. Seeing the monkeys was so nice especially amongst the autumn colours. Would highly reccomend this tour 🙂. John and Nicky.

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Thanks John. Sorry for taking so long to get back to you. I appreciate you taking the time to send us the review. All the best. Peter

Yuki is awesome

Colleen_N, Oct 2024

Yukon provided a safe, educational and fun experience! We appreciated his hospitality, enthusiasm and perspective. He was open to all of our questions. Thank you so much!

Response from Host, Nov 2024

Wow, thank you Colleen! It was my pleasure. Yuki

Best Bike Tour in Kyoto

Lia_M, Aug 2024

We highly recommend the tour. Our guide was Yuki and he was awesome!!!. The tour exceeded all expectations. Even on a super hot day, we loved every second and learned so much. Thank you Yuki and Kyoto Bike Tours!!!!

Response from Host, Aug 2024

Thank you Lia for sending this review. I enjoyed meeting you and your family. Thanks again. Yuki

a fun adventure awaits

Karla_W, Jul 2024

Such a wonderful day! Better than we expected. From the temples and shrines to the monkey park and surprises along the way - Ray was incredibly knowledgeable about Kyoto and Japanese culture overall - making the experience one of our best days yet (even in the intensely humid July).

Awesome tour

Sybil_H, Jun 2024

Ray was an amazing tour guide! We had a fabulous day. He was easy going and so informative along the entire trip. I highly recommend this tour.

Response from Host, Jun 2024

Thanks so much Sybil and Family! I had an absolutely amazing afternoon out with all of you. I am thrilled that it was memorable for all of you as well. I wish you all the best and hope to cross paths again someday! Kindness, Ray

Fantastic afternoon with the best guide!

Patryk_K, May 2024

This tour is fantastic. It goes through many unique and beautiful places that are worth visiting. Also, the guide (Ray) is fantastic! I can certainly recommend this trip to anyone! :)

Response from Host, May 2024

Thanks so much Patryk! I had an amazing time with you and the group! It was fun hearing your stories about also living in a foreign country. I am so happy you enjoyed the tour and hope to cross paths again in the future! Kindness, Ray

Great

AJ_G, May 2024

Very nice tour, well maintained bikes and a very friendly and knowledgeable guide. I had a great time and would recommend this tour to anyone.

Response from Host, May 2024

Thanks so much! We love what we do and are glad it shows! Super happy to hear you had a great time!

Great way to see Arishyiama

Omri_J, Apr 2024

Loved it! Got to see so much of the area this way, with a great group of people. Ray is a terrific guide, clearly knows the area and the history well, and the bikes were high quality.

Response from Host, May 2024

Thank you, guys, for this kind review. I am happy to read that you enjoyed the day. All the best, Ray

Favorite activity in Kyoto so far!

Sarah_W, Apr 2024

What a fantastic afternoon!! The group was pretty small, and the bikes were well maintained. We saw the beautiful neighborhoods of Arashiyama and incredible highlights of the area. Our guide Peter shared so many great tidbits about Japanese culture and traditions. Definitely one of our favorite activities!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Hi Sarah, Thank you for such a nice review. I am happy you enjoyed the ride through Arashiyama. It is definitely a special place. All the best and safe travels. Peter

Awesome tour!

Susan_S, Mar 2024

My two adult sons and I did this tour and it was truly a highlight of our Kyoto stay. Ray was our tour guide and he was awesome...Super knowledgeable, fun and a very nice person. We enjoyed riding our bikes through rice fields and local neighborhoods. Big Mahalo Ray!!!!

Response from Host, May 2024

Mahalo Susan! Thank you for this lovely review and so sorry for taking so long to respond. You guys were a lot of fun to hang out with for the morning. Thank you again for coming along! All the best. Ray

Perfect bike tour of Kyoto!

Shirley_G, Mar 2024

Awesome tour! We really enjoyed all the stops on the tour and the guide was very informative and accommodating. The bikes were great for our entire family. Highly recommend!

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Thank you, Shirley for the review. We are happy you enjoyed the tour. Peter and Ray

Excellent tour guide

hilary_w, Feb 2024

Our tour guide was great and gave us lots of interesting facts as we ride through the town! We could have never done this on our own!

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Thanks so much Hilary! I had a wonderful time out with all of you. I am thrilled to hear you gained something from the tour and had a great time. You all were a blast to spend the afternoon with and it made for a memorable day for me as well. Be sure to drop by the next time you are in Kyoto :)) Kindness, Ray

The best guide

Jaspal_D, Dec 2023

Ray was very considerate. Many thanks mate.. for understanding the situation. Hopefully we will be there next time

Response from Host, Feb 2024

No worries at all. I look forward to your return! Kindness, Ray

Awesome way to get to know city life, visit the bamboo forest, and enjoy Kyoto on a great bike ride.

Carlos_A, Dec 2023

Biking with Ray was an awesome experience. We connected right away. The bike was light, clean, and brand-new. The seat was very comfortable, and the brakes were very reliable (my career is in automotive and rail brakes!). The route is an excellent mix of city life, rural roads, and forests. Since the entire route is flat (with only a few segments with very light inclines), you can fully immerse yourself in your bike and cultural experience. Ray, an American who has lived in Japan for more than 20 years and has vast experience in the tourism industry, brings a unique perspective and deep knowledge of the Japanese culture and language. At the end of the tour, he gave me a gift for our daughter and recommended gifts for me to buy for my Japanese colleagues. If you have a 4-hour slot to spend and enjoy, connect with Ray. They also offer high-end e-Bikes at a very affordable rate if you want to take it easy or enjoy the full-day schedule.

Response from Host, Dec 2023

The pleasure was all mine Carlos! I had an absolute blast with you and thoroughly enjoyed hearing about your life as well as sharing my knowledge of Kyoto and Japan. I hope things went well with your colleagues and you had a safe journey back home. I look forward to your next visit and wish you and your family a happy holiday season! All the best! Kindness, Ray

AMAZING tour!

Irene_D, Nov 2023

My wife and I had the pleasure to partake in the tour with Ray on Saturday 10/20. The tour was great! Ray was very kind and knowledgeable about the local history and was generous to share his personal stories with us as well. The places we went to were a bit crowded but Ray was very good at navigating and even got us some picture worthy spots with minimal crowds. At one point on the tour it was became very cold and my wife didn't have her jacket, so Ray thoughtful lend her an extra jacket in his bike. His thoughtfulness and attention to detail was highly appreciated. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kyoto, it was totally worth the money and time!

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Thanks so much you two! It was an absolute joy spending the afternoon together and sharing scenic Arashiyama with you! Your smiles and bubbly energy made it a memorable and fantastic afternoon. Please stop by the next time you are in Kyoto :) Many thanks again and all the best to you both! Kindness, Ray

Recommend to everyone and anyone

Priscilla_K, Oct 2023

This trip was absolutely amazing and 100000000% worth it. Ray took the time to explain the different areas and facts and we were able to stay a little longer if we wanted. Was unsure if the price was too high but given everything we experienced, this experience was incredible and once in a lifetime. The bike tour around the area was easy and stunning.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! I’m really glad you felt the experience was worth it and that the ride gave you the chance to enjoy Kyoto at your own pace. It was a pleasure sharing the history, sights, and hidden corners with you, and I’m so happy to hear it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Hope to see you back in Kyoto for another ride someday! Kindness, Ray

Best tour and tour guide—don’t miss it!

jenntish, Oct 2023

This was the most knowledgeable tour guide I’ve ever met—Ray is AMAZING. I learned so much and he cared about all of us having a wonderful time. I feel lucky to have been on this tour—and I am a tough to please woman ;)

Response from Host, Oct 2023

I had a wonderful time chatting with you. You are so pleasant and kindhearted and it only made the tour all that much more fun. Thanks for your kind words and the perfect afternoon Jenn! Be sure to drop by the next time you are in town. Kindness, Ray