Eastern Kyoto Gion~Fushimi~Nanzenji Loop Course(1day)
Umino Kyoto E-BikesMost of the tourist activity in Kyoto is concentrated in the eastern area from Gion to Fushimi. The area around Higashiyama and Mount Fushimi is particularly charming and historically rich, and with an e-bike you can avoid the crowds and explore the real Kyoto.
25km(16mi)
1 day
Road situation;
Protected Bicycle Sidewalk
& Sometimes crowded roads
& Path where almost no cars pass
This trail is about 25km long, but is very informative so will take a full day, or you could halve it if you want to explore the area in more depth and at a more leisurely pace.
The first is the Kamo River. The Kamo River runs north to south through the eastern part of Kyoto and has been the scene of many historical events for 1000 years.
At the same time, it is a wonderful cycling route, allowing you to ride peacefully away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
If you go along the Takase River, which branches off from the Kamo River, you will reach Fushimi. By the way, this river is a canal built 400 years ago, and for 300 years it was an important transportation route connecting Kyoto with Fushimi and Uji.
Bicycles are prohibited along some rivers, so please use nearby roads.
There is a bicycle parking lot at Fushimi Inari, so you can park your bike there and go sightseeing. It gets very crowded, so if you don't like crowds, you can just skip it.
A little south of Fushimi Inari, you will find a beautiful, deserted bamboo forest. This area has been maintained by locals for hundreds of years and is an important bamboo production area, both today and in the past.
From Fushimi, turn north and head towards Tofukuji Temple. This road is very complicated and easy to follow if you are on a guided tour, but if you are self-guided, it is best to look at Google Maps and do your best.
The wooden bridges along the way are very beautiful.
If you go further north for about 800m, you will enter the grounds of a huge temple called Sennyuji. This temple is like a small town, with a school and kindergarten, and regular cars & bicycles can also drive around.
You can enjoy a special atmosphere that is truly isolated from the city. And because it is far from the station and has steep slopes, there are hardly any tourists.
Now, here the road splits into two: you can go straight north through the congested area, or you can take a detour along the east side of Higashiyama.
First, I recommend taking a break at a cafe near the women's university.
The Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka areas are crowded with people and have stairs, so we don't recommend them for beginners.
It would be better to go a little further west and take the back roads.
If you still have energy, our number one recommendation is to take the route up the east side of the hill, climbing up to Taishogunzuka for a panoramic view of Kyoto city.
There are plenty of restaurants around Gion for lunch, but I personally recommend a ramen shop that doesn't have an English sign.
Nanzenji Temple is the head temple of a Zen sect, and is famous for its large grounds and various gardens. There is also a bicycle parking lot inside.
To the north of Nanzenji is the popular walking path, the Philosopher's Path. There is also a bike path right next to it.
This path follows an old canal that leads to Lake Biwa and leads to Ginkakuji (Jigenji).
From Ginkakuji Temple, turn south and head to Heian Shrine, a restored 1,200-year-old ancient palace where you can experience the workplace of a Heian aristocrat.
Finally, you'll return to Kawaramachi, perhaps your hotel and where you'll find plenty of dining options.
Our rental service allows you to rent for 2 or 3 days. Take your time to eat and rest.
With our guided tour service, you can have your bike collected after drinking and receive a shuttle service.
To make this trip comfortable
1. Rent a E-Bike at Saiin, Kyoto
Our store is the only rental shop in Kyoto City that stocks high-performance e-bikes and road bikes that can withstand long rides. Please feel free to rent one.
2. Guided tours of this course are also available.
We can provide a full-day tour of this course, or a half-day tour of half of it. Our shop is run by a Japanese bicycle enthusiast who has lived in Kyoto for a long time, and knows Kyoto better than any other shop.
We can also provide pick-up from your hotel, so please feel free to use our service!
