Kyoto City

❶Higashiyama Area

This is an area where the most famous spots such as Kiyomizu-Temple, Sannenzaka, Yasaka Shrine, and Gion are concentrated and tourists gather. Buses, trains, and taxis are hopelessly crowded, so the smartest option is to park your E-Bike in the bicycle parking lot and walk.
It takes 20 minutes by E-Bike from our Saiin Rental Center.

❷Fushimi Inari Area

It is famous for its Senbon Torii gates and the mystical Inariyama trekking route. The shrine entrance from the station is incredibly crowded.
The cycling route inside Inariyama is not obvious to tourists, so it is best to take a guided tour or park at the nearby bicycle parking lot and walk.
It takes 30 minute e-bike ride from the Saiin Rental Center.

❸Arashiyama Area

This is a noble area with the tombs of the imperial family and related facilities. The road from the station to the bamboo forest is the epitome of overtourism, with more people than bamboo. After parking in the bicycle parking lot and walking a little through the crowded area, take a bike ride to the less crowded Sagano area to the north.
It takes 30-minute e-bike ride from the Saiin Rental Center.

❹Kinkakuji Area

This is an area where you can enjoy a stroll through the golden temple and the large garden. Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, located just south of the temple, also has an exhibition of national treasures such as Japanese swords and demon hunting, which are also recommended. It is far from the train station, so the buses are crowded.
It is a 20-minute e-bike ride from the Saiin Rental Center.

❺Nanzenji Area

This area is home to the Philosopher’s Path, Ginkakuji Temple, and Nanzenji Temple, and is relatively quiet, retaining the atmosphere of an old temple town. There is also a bicycle path next to the Philosopher’s Path, so you can cycle leisurely and in the cool. There are also several free bicycle parking areas.
It is a 30-minute e-bike ride from the Saiin Rental Center.

❻Kamigamo Area

Kamigamo shrine is representative of Japanese Shinto and has a different atmosphere from Buddhist temples. Even if you are not interested in Shinto, cycling along the upstream of the nearby Kamo River will give you a unique sense of exhilaration and a first-hand experience of Japanese Shintoism, which values ​​a sense of oneness with nature.
It is a 30-minute e-bike ride from the Saiin Rental Center.

❼Kurama & Kifune Area

Kurama Temple is the head temple of a special Buddhist sect and has a unique atmosphere unlike other temples. The hiking trail between there and Kifune Shrine is very popular.

❽Mt.Hiei Area

Mt.Hiei is the largest sanctuary of Japanese Buddhism, which has survived until modern times semi-independently from the government. There are over 500 facilities, and it is also a place of training for monks, called Sennichi Shugyo. Only locals know the route that can be taken by MTB, so tourists are recommended to park their bikes at the bicycle parking lot in front of the cable car station and climb the mountain.

❾Nijo Area

This area is home to Nijo Castle and Kyoto Imperial Palace, and was the political center of Kyoto. Even today, it is a busy place with many government facilities and corporate buildings. There are also many train stations, so it is a good place to stay and eat. Whether it is fun to visit here depends on your preferences.

Kyoto has a grid-like layout of roads, and the main roads are jammed with traffic lights and traffic jams that prevent cars from moving at all.
Trains are intermittent and require transfers. This means that bicycles are overwhelmingly advantageous in terms of speed, comfort, and cost.

Furthermore, when traveling east to west, you can travel surprisingly quickly, safely, and comfortably by using the ancient paths rather than the modern, wide roads for automobiles.
You can also discover quaint shops and Jizo statues along the way.

And when you think about it, it’s only natural that much of Kyoto’s old townscape and nature remains in the hard-to-reach areas along the mountainside, while the lowlands are business districts, industrial areas, and residential areas.
This means that the e-bike, which allows you to get away from the station and up hills, is the best way to discover old Kyoto.

In the past, aristocrats traveled in oxcarts and samurai rode horses in Kyoto.
You too can hop on a modern-day horse, an E-Bike, and explore the inside and outside of Kyoto!