5 Awesome Tokyo Bike Tours: A Guide to Tokyo on Two Wheels!

If you’re craving to see “real Tokyo” away from Shibuya and Shinjuku, then a bike tour is the best way to do just that.

Few tours can provide what a biking tour of Tokyo can: fresh air, hidden nooks in quaint neighborhoods, expert insight, and local food spots—all in a short amount of time.

Sure, while Tokyo’s metro and train systems are highly convenient for getting between the city sights and wards, it’s just not the same as getting around on your own pedal power.

I have always preferred exploring a new (unfamiliar-to-me) city by bike because it allows one to discover an authentic character of a city alongside a local (who is often from the city or a long-time expat living there).

Plus, let’s be honest—Tokyo is just so gigantic, that it can feel incredibly overwhelming to even begin to plan what to see.

That’s where a Tokyo bike tour comes in handy, as you can check off your bucket list while getting a local’s insight into daily life—an experience you’d unlikely get to have by just navigating the tourist trail on your own.

If you take a bike tour in Tokyo, you’ll walk away with a newfound sense of place. Not to mention a friend or two!

Whether you are traveling solo or coming as a couple/group, I think bike tours are just so fun for getting out and meeting people while soaking up the city vibes.

Below, you’ll find the top biking tours in Tokyo including the one I did during my weeks spent exploring Tokyo.

The 5 Best Bike Tours in Tokyo

All of the hand-selected cycling tours mentioned below offer a different experience of Tokyo; some offer food or focus on small groups while others cover Tokyo with a wider net by e-bike.

Essentially, no two tours are alike!

Which bike tours in Tokyo will get you the most bang for your buck?

Most cycling tours in Tokyo range from $55 up to $125, depending on the duration and group size.

Read more below for an overview of each, plus my personal experience. ⬇️

Note: Most bike tours (especially the popular ones during peak season) will sell out weeks in advance. When you book on Viator, you can “Reserve Now, Pay Later” to secure your spot!

Cycling West Side Tokyo + Street Food Tour (Top Pick)

For those seeking an atypical yet authentic bike tour of Tokyo, check out Andy’s (DIG Tokyo Tours) cycling and street food tours.

In particular, his West Side Tokyo Tour focuses on exploring the underrated neighborhoods of Kōenji, Asagaya, and Nakano while filling your belly with Japanese snacks and a typical “salaryman” lunch.

This is the bike tour I did in Tokyo and highly recommend it! 🚴

➡️ Check availability + save your spot here

I’ve taken many bike tours around the globe, and Andy’s ranks high up there.

It’s got everything that I look for in a bike tour: insider knowledge, off-beat neighborhoods, local food, and great conversation. ✨

I won’t spoil all the surprises of the tour here but just know that you’re in for a fun ride with insightful commentary from an Aussie (who’s married into the culture and has been living in Tokyo for over a decade!).

At a glance:

• Explore underrated Tokyo on a typical Japanese “mamachari” bike
• All-inclusive (includes snacks/lunch, a vending machine drink, liability)
• 3-4 hours
• Small group, 6 riders maximum
• From $85 (book here!)

My only wish for this tour is that I had taken it at the start of my trip in Tokyo, rather than at the end!

After discovering these places, I would have enjoyed returning to spend an evening sauntering around these hip neighborhoods on foot to dip into the tiny izakaya bars and fill my ears with live rock and jazz music. (When I come back to live in Tokyo this summer I will do just that!!)

➡️ For more photos and details, head to my review of Andy’s DIGS Tokyo Tour

6-Hour Central/East Tokyo “Great Cycling Tour”

As one of the most booked cycling tours in Tokyo, you can expect nothing but great (local) guides, views, and company on this half-day bike tour featuring popular spots and hidden gems in Central-East Tokyo.

This tour will take you on and off the beaten path as you cycle Tokyo’s daring roadways to uncrowded backstreets.

Depending on your planned route of the day, you’ll visit the Imperial Palace, stop for lunch at the famous Tsukiji Outer Fish Market, and visit Meiji Jingu—Tokyo’s most famous Shinto shrine.

At a glance:

• Navigate central and east Tokyo in a day
• Includes lunch, water, bikes
• 6 hours
• Small-mid size group, 12 persons maximum (the most out of these bike tours)
• From $95 (book here)

“Local Tokyo” Highlights (By E-Bike!)

Whether you don’t want to do all the pedal pushing on your own or just want to cover Tokyo’s highlights with a local, this e-bike tour is a great way to fit in a ton of sights and attractions in a short amount of time.

In 3 hours, you will be able to cover some of Tokyo’s top city wards and neighborhoods such as Akihabara, Asakusa, Ginza, and Ryogoku (—the historic epicenter of Japanese sumo-wrestling!).

Akihabara and Asakusa (with its Senso-ji Temple) are some of my favorite nooks of Tokyo, so if you’re new to the city, you must visit these places (PS. with or without a bike tour).

At a glance:

• See popular and unique places to visit in Tokyo by bike
• Includes e-bikes and guides (no food/drinks)
• 3 hours
• Small group, 6 persons maximum
• From only $55 (the most budget-friendly bike tour option, book here)

Note: Since this tour does cover so much in so little time, it does not include food like many of the other Tokyo bike tours. Nonetheless, this tour is competitively priced and offers a wonderful glimpse of Tokyo’s top places to visit outside of Shibuya and Shinjuku.

Half-Day Tokyo Landmarks (Small Group Bike Tour)

From the eclectic skyscrapers of Shinjuku to the Champs-Elysées of Ginza to the nightlife of Roppongi Hills, discover what makes Tokyo, “Tokyo” on this intimate, half-day Tokyo landmarks biking tour.

While this is the most expensive tour out of this selection, it’s one that consistently gets 5-star reviews.

Gaku-san, your tour guide, is an expert navigator and takes you on a manageable pace riding nearly 30km through Tokyo’s past and present.

At a glance:

• See modern Tokyo vs traditional Tokyo by visiting both popular sights and quieter gems
• Includes bikes and guides (no food/drinks)
• 6.5 hours (the longest of the bike tours)
• Small group, 5 persons maximum
• Price per person $125 (book here)

One thing to note is that, unlike Andy’s bicycle tours, this one doesn’t continue whether rain or shine. Your ride may get canceled in case of unfavorable weather.

Tokyo Backstreets Bike Tour

Cycle past and under Tokyo’s best-kept secrets and not-so-secrets with Takeshi-san on this 3-4 hour backstreets biking tour.

From the Tokyo Skytree to traditional Japanese gardens and crafts, you’ll get to see a side of Tokyo not often covered or prioritized by other tours. (Plus, depending on your group size, you can customize this tour the day of!)

At a glance:

• Get an intimate look at Tokyo off the beaten path
• Includes bikes, helmets, and snacks from a traditional sweets shop
• 4 hours
• Small group, 5 persons maximum
• From $75 (book here)

More Great Bike Tours in Tokyo to Try

As Tokyo continues to attract more and more travelers, no doubt that more niche-focused cycling tours will pop up. Keep your eyes peeled for other tours!

Here are a few more cycling tours worth considering if the others are sold out:

Planning to visit other cities in Japan? Then why not also explore them on two wheels?

For example, I took this e-bike tour of “Hidden Kyoto” that allowed me to see quieter—even more ancient—bits of the city I’d otherwise not have discovered if I just winged it on my own. It was a highlight of my time there so, of course, I recommend it!

While I haven’t done them, there are also bike tours in Osaka and Hiroshima to try out!

As I mentioned above, discovering an unfamiliar city by bike on the first or second day of your arrival is a great way to quickly familiarize yourself.

Plus, bike tours are particularly great for shorter itineraries as you can end up seeing and doing so much more with the help of two wheels. Not to mention, biking is way more fun than hobbling around via public transport all day.

I just always think bike tours led by locals or expats who’ve lived in the country are the best way to get the best of both worlds; seeing popular sights while getting off the beaten path to enjoy a quieter, more local experience.

Quick Tips for Bicycling in Tokyo

Bicycling in Tokyo (or other cities) can seem a little daunting, at first. From the outside looking in, it can appear hectic and unruly. 😵‍💫

But as you navigate the city on two wheels, you quickly get into the flow.

Here are a few tips on what to know and expect before renting a bike or even taking a bike tour in Tokyo.

➡️ Helmets are optional: You’ll rarely see locals wearing a helmet but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t!

➡️ Bicycle parking police are real: The only real “law” that concerns cyclists is parking. While you won’t get fined for not wearing a helmet or even biking crazily down sidewalks, you will get fined (and towed), if you park illegally on the street. Use bicycle parking lots when in doubt.

➡️ Prepare for all weather: Tokyo’s weather, from my experience (in February and April), can be seriously unpredictable; one minute there may be snow and the next full sunshine!

➡️ Avoid school hours: If you want to leisurely bike around Tokyo, perhaps avoid peak school hours times as that is when parents will be crowding the cycle lanes to drop off and pick up their children at school.

Most importantly, HAVE FUN!! 🤩 Biking around Tokyo offers such a wonderful opportunity to skip the crowded trains and metros and instead see the city from a different angle.

If you have any questions about any of these bike tours in Tokyo, feel free to reach out by dropping a comment below or shooting me an email!

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