Kyoto Bicycle Route (Plotted on Google Maps)

I was plotting our Kyoto bicycle route using Google Maps today and I wanted to save it, so I did some research. And yes, you can save routes! I'll post the link to where I found the instructions at the end of this post.

But first, here's the route I came up with:

We're staying in Osaka for the entire duration of our stay in Japan, so we'll have to take the train to Kyoto Station early in the morning. Luckily, Kyoto Eco Trip where we're going to rent bicycles is just a few minutes' walk away from Kyoto Station. Our Kyoto bicycle adventure starts there.

9:45am
Bike to Gion 祇園.

• Ride through Hanami-koji Dori 花見小路通, the heart of Gion found in tourist books. Wooden buildings - tea houses and restaurants - line both sides of the street.
• Ride on to Shirakawa-minami Dori 白川南通 which is one of the most preserved streets in Kyoto. It is one of but a handful of streets in Kyoto that has both a traditional look and no telephone poles or wires.
• Wander the back streets as well to escape the crowds.

11:15am
Bike to Oshokuji Dokoro Asuka お食事処明日香 for lunch.

1:00pm

Bike to Nanzen-ji Temple 南禅寺.

• Park bicycles in the small bicycle parking area near the main gate. 
• Explore the Zen Buddhist temple complex, especially the Sanmon, the most famous temple gate at Nanzen-ji.

3:30pm

Bike to Philosopher’s Path 哲学の道.

• Ride to the end of the 2-kilometer stone path, appreciating the autumn foliage along the way.

4:30pm

Bike to Kamo River 鴨川. 

• Ride all the way down the riverside until Shiokoji-dori 塩小路通, where you turn right to reach Kyoto Station.
• Return bikes at Kyoto Eco Trip.

6:00pm

Eat dinner at The Cube Food Court, 11th floor of Kyoto Station Building 京都駅ビル.

We take the train back to Osaka right after dinner, and we'll probably fall asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow! 

According to Google Maps, our planned trip is 17.3 kilometers and approximately 3 hours and 28 minutes on foot, so we should be able to complete the journey at a leisurely pace by bicycle. If our legs don't fall off halfway through the route, that is. I still haven't started my Three-Part Training For Japan, so I might be in trouble. ;-p

(For those who are interested, here's where I found the instructions on How to Plan a Road Trip with Google Maps.)

Cycling Osaka: Minami Temma Park and Osaka Castle Park by Bicycle

We plan to cycle two parks in Osaka following this 10-kilometer route.

First, we take the train to HUBchari Dinana Matsuya Building (center of the above map screenshot) where we rent bicycles for the day. That is where our half-day bicycle adventure begins.

9:00am
Bike North to Minami Temma Park 南天満公園.
Bike up the park along the riverside until you reach the Osaka Mint Museum.

10:00am
Bike to Osaka Castle Park 大阪城公園.
Explore the whole park instead of taking the usual tourist path from the station to the castle. Ride through the plum grove, the apricot trees and past the fountain. Find a spot to sit and enjoy being in nature.

11:30am
Bike to Saizou 菜蔵 for lunch.

1:30pm
Bike to HUBchari America-mura and return bikes.

We spend the rest of the day on foot checking out Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street, Ebisubashi-suji Shopping Street, two of Japan's famous discount stores: Matsumoto Kiyoshi and Don Quijote, and the also famous Ebisubashi Bridge (where the Glico running man is). The we eat dinner at Oretachi no Curry Ya, which is just a short walking distance away.

Has anybody tried cycling through Minami Temma Park and Osaka Castle Park? I'd love to hear your opinions and suggestions, because I'm not quite sure our legs will hold up in Shinsaibashi after a 10-kilometer bike ride!

Cycling in Osaka & Kyoto

I've read many blogs that recommend biking in Osaka and Kyoto. They say it's relatively easy even if you're not an expert cyclist. I'm thinking of giving it a try. The thing is, even though my husband and I know how to ride bicycles, we haven't tried riding on the road with cars before. It's always been in beach resorts. So I'm a little apprehensive about it.

Here's what I had in mind.

CYCLING IN OSAKA

9:00 am - Bike from bicycle rental shop to Minami Temma Park. Explore the park on bikes.
10:00 am - Bike to Osaka Castle Park. Explore the castle grounds on bikes.
11:00 am - Lunch at Saizou. (I wonder if they have bicycle parking.)
1:00 pm - Bike back to bicycle rental shop and return bicycles.

That shouldn't be too hard for us biking amateurs, right? A half day cycling through parks? Now cycling in Kyoto is going to be more challenging. We're only going to be there for one day so we have to make the most of it.


CYCLING IN KYOTO

9:45 am - Bike from Kyoto Station to Gion. Explore Hanami-koji Dori and Shirakawa-minami Dori by bicycle.
11:45 am - Lunch at Oshokuji Dokoro Asuka. (Again, I wonder if they have bicycle parking.)
1:00 pm - Bike to Nanzen-ji Temple. Park bicycles and explore the temple grounds.
3:30 pm - Bike to Philosopher's Path. Ride up the path until the end.
4:30 pm - Bike to Kamo River via Imadegawa Dori. Ride along the river to Kyoto Station.

This one I am more worried about because I also read that cycling in Kyoto can be quite chaotic. One blogger even described it as a "war" between pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. Although he did also say that most drivers in Kyoto are considerate towards cyclists. But I'm not completely at ease about the idea yet. I even tried asking a blogger from Kyoto for advice. I'm waiting for his reply.

What do you think? Should we try cycling in Osaka and Kyoto? Or is that too ambitious of us?