Kyoto Cycling Tour Company offers a variety of bicycles for rent, ranging in price from ￥1,200 to ￥3,000 a day. For those who wish to go it alone, the friendly staff will be happy to suggest the best cycling courses and there is also a very handy K.C.T.P. cycling map available.
In addition to its rent-a-cycle service K.C.T.P. also offers cycling tours of Kyoto with professional tour guides. Some of the tours on offer include:
The Riverside Tour: Cycle along the banks of the Kamo River that flows through the heart of Kyoto and enjoy the beautiful scenery that unfolds on both sides as you take in the refreshing breeze. The Riverside Tour truly is the highlight of cycling in Kyoto.
The Kyoto Silver Tour: A half-day tour that will take you to the iconic pagoda and gardens at the Silver Pavilion Temple and the serene Zen temple that is Nanzenji. Explore the unique Japanese aesthetic of Wabi-Sabi and cycle along the peaceful Philosopher’s Path
The Kyoto Back Street Tour: Discover many of Kyoto’s peaceful corners and lesser known areas while pedaling along the city’s back streets and rivers in this half-day tour.
Tour prices vary according to the tour chosen, the duration and the number of participants and all tours must be booked at least three days in advance. See the English website for further details.
Kazuo Taga, who founded K.C.T.P., has a deep sense of mission; both to promote traditional Japanese culture and history, and also to promote the use of bicycles within modern cities. He was kind enough to grant me a short interview, which you can see below.
For bookings and inquiries, please contact KCTP, on their website or telephone them on 075-354-3636. K.C.T.P.’s main terminal is very close to Kyoto Station. Leaving the station’s main north exit (facing Kyoto Tower), turn left and head west, past the post office on your right and then the new Bic Camera store on your left, until you come to the end of the road. K.C.T.P. is just around the right-hand corner.
There are also terminals for the rent-a-cycle service dotted throughout the city, and maps and directions to these are available on the website here: K.C.T.P. Terminals.
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