Kyoto Cycling Tour Project

Kyoto Cycling Tour Project, usually known as KCTP, has been helping visitors explore Kyoto by bicycle since 2001. Kyoto's centre is largely flat and laid out on a grid, with quiet back streets and riverside paths, which makes it one of the best cities in Japan to see by bike, and KCTP's guided tours and rentals are a straightforward way to do it without having to plan routes or deal with parking rules on your own.

The company runs guided cycling tours and walking tours, with local guides who explain the history and culture of the places you pass. Guided cycling is recommended by the company as a good option for older visitors as well as younger ones, since the guide sets a comfortable pace and leads the way through traffic. Check the tour pages on the website for current routes, durations and meeting points, which change with the seasons.

For independent riders, KCTP has up to 400 rental bicycles, including its own city bikes, mountain bikes and electric-assist e-bikes, which make light work of the slopes towards Higashiyama and the northern temples. It also sells cycling maps and bicycle-themed goods. Rental terminals include two near Kyoto Station, one on the north side close to the Karasuma central exit and one on the south side near the Hachijo exits, which also offers luggage storage, along with terminals near Kinkaku-ji, Nishiki Market and in Fushimi.

The office is open from 9:00 to 18:00 throughout the year. Bookings and questions go through the contact form on the website. When cycling in Kyoto, ride on the left, use bells sparingly, and park only in designated bicycle parking areas, as bikes left on pavements in the centre can be removed. Many temple and shrine precincts do not allow cycling inside, so lock up at the entrance.

The main terminal on the north side of Kyoto Station is about five minutes' walk from the Karasuma central exit, which makes it easy to collect a bike on arrival. Good routes for a day include the Kamo River paths north to Demachiyanagi, a loop through Nijo Castle and the Imperial Palace park, or a ride south to Fushimi Inari and the sake district of Fushimi. KCTP is a good choice for active travellers, families with older children and anyone who wants to cover more ground than on foot.