Nara Highlights Bike Tour

Cycle through Nara's highlights on a guided bike route with included gear, from quiet ponds to temples and shrines.

Getting started

Collect your standard bicycle along with your helmet and other bike gear at the starting point and get a brief orientation before you set off. Your guide explains the route and water refill options so you can top up at refill stations along the way. After a short safety check, the group rides out toward the first stop in Nara.

What to expect

Ukimido Pond

Ukimido Pond (Ukimido Ike) is a quieter corner of Nara, known for its pavilion set over the water. It is an early highlight of the route and an opportunity to experience a more peaceful side of the city.

Features

• This stop is planned so you can enjoy a hidden and peaceful photo spot at Ukimido Pond, with time to take in the reflections and setting.
• Your use of the bicycle, helmet, and other bike gear is included here and throughout the ride, so you can move comfortably between Ukimido Pond and the rest of the itinerary.

Nara Park

Nara Park is the green heart of the city and a central segment of the bike tour. The route takes you through its open spaces on two wheels.

Features

• Riding through Nara Park lets you see the famous local deer roaming freely around the lawns and paths as you cycle past.
• As you cross the park by bicycle, you continue to benefit from the included bike, helmet, and other gear, with water refill stations available to top up your bottle or cup.

Nandaimon

Nandaimon is the great gate that marks the approach to Todaiji. The tour pauses here so you can look closely at one of Nara's key architectural landmarks.

Features

• At Nandaimon, you can admire the scale of the gate and hear about its history before continuing onward to the temple precinct.
• Parking your bicycle nearby is part of the planned route, with any access costs covered in the all fees and taxes included for this tour.

Todaiji

Todaiji Temple is a central highlight of the ride and is known as the largest wooden structure in the world. The stop here gives you time to observe its grounds and significance.

Features

• From the approach to the main hall, you can take in the size of Todaiji and its role in Nara's temple landscape.
• Your visit to Todaiji is built into the tour price, with all fees and taxes already included, so there is no additional charge related to the cycling portion here.

Kikuichi

Kikuichi Knife Company is a stop that introduces you to Japanese cutlery and craftsmanship. The visit focuses on learning rather than shopping obligations.

Features

• Inside Kikuichi, you can discover how Japanese cutlery is made and understand what sets these knives apart in terms of tradition and technique.
• You arrive and depart Kikuichi by bicycle using the same included bike gear, and if you decide to purchase items, you will already have your passport on hand if you plan to claim tax-free benefits later.

Kasuga Taisha

Kasuga Taisha Shrine is the final major cultural stop on the bike route. Known for its lanterns, it offers a distinct atmosphere compared with the temple district.

Features

• While walking the approach and precincts of Kasuga Taisha, you can observe its thousand lanterns that line paths and hang around the shrine buildings.
• Your bicycle is waiting for you when you return from Kasuga Taisha, and you can use the remaining ride time plus the last water refill station to cycle back, with all taxes and tour-related fees already taken care of.