Tokyo: Small-Group Bike Tour with Skyscraper View & Local Stops

Summary

Cycle Tokyo’s lively streets, peaceful shrines and hidden corners

You’ll pedal through Tokyo’s busy streets and quiet alleys with a local guide leading your small group. Visit Meiji Shrine’s peaceful gardens, pick up lunch like a true Tokyoite for a picnic by Rainbow Bridge, and end your day gazing over the city from way above street level. It’s equal parts energy and calm—a side of Tokyo you’ll feel more than see.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the sound—bike tires humming over pavement as we slipped out of Shinjuku’s morning rush. Our guide, Kenji, waved us down a tiny backstreet where the air smelled faintly of incense and fried dough from a nearby stall. I’m not sure what I expected from a Tokyo biking tour, but it wasn’t this mix of calm and chaos—one moment dodging taxis, the next pausing at a pocket-sized shrine tucked between apartment blocks. Kenji pointed out a paper lantern swaying in the breeze and told us it was for good luck. Maybe it worked; nobody crashed.

We rode through Yoyogi Park just as sunlight started to filter through the trees—cherry blossoms weren’t out yet, but you could almost imagine them. At Meiji-jingu, we left our bikes and walked under the giant torii gate, shoes crunching on gravel. There was this hush that made me slow down without thinking about it. Later, rolling through Omotesando’s wide boulevards, all glass storefronts and sharp-dressed locals, I tried to count how many designer shops we passed before giving up (a lot). Kenji laughed when I tried to pronounce “Aoyama” like a local—definitely didn’t nail it.

Lunch was an unglamorous but oddly satisfying stop at a supermarket—everyone picking out their own bento box. We ate by the waterfront near Rainbow Bridge; seagulls fighting over crumbs while the skyline stretched out behind us. My rice had cooled off by then but honestly, it tasted better outside. After that came Ginza (so shiny), then pedaling along the Imperial Palace moat where joggers nodded at us like we were part of some secret club. The city felt different from a bike seat—closer somehow.

The last bit was surreal: shooting up 48 floors in an elevator at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building with my ears popping and my legs kind of jelly-ish from all that cycling. The view up there is wild—you can see Tokyo Skytree, sometimes even Mt. Fuji if you’re lucky (we weren’t). Still think about that patchwork city stretching forever under gray clouds. We coasted back to Shinjuku after that, tired but grinning for no real reason except maybe just being there together.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Tokyo city biking tour highlights

• Meet local guide in morning
• Put on helmet and start biking
• Ride through Shinjuku skyscrapers
• Cycle backstreets to small shrine
• Visit Meiji-jingu shrine via Yoyogi Park
• Walk around shrine gardens
• Bike to Roppongi Hills via Omotesando
• Visit Aoyama cemetery backstreet
• Stop at supermarket to buy bento lunch
• Visit Zōjō-ji temple near Tokyo Tower
• Have lunch by waterfront near Rainbow Bridge
• Bike through Ginza shopping district
• Cycle to Imperial Palace and gardens
• Ride through castle gates and moat
• Return to Shinjuku Metropolitan Government Building
• Ascend 48 floors for city views
• Return to original meeting point

Top questions

How long is the Tokyo small-group bike tour?

The tour lasts about 6.5 hours and covers roughly 27 km (17 miles).

What landmarks are included on this Tokyo biking tour?

You’ll visit places like Meiji Shrine, Yoyogi Park, Omotesando, Aoyama cemetery, Zōjō-ji temple with views of Tokyo Tower, Ginza shopping district, Imperial Palace area, Rainbow Bridge waterfront, and finish at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building for panoramic views.

Is lunch included in the price?

No—the group stops at a local supermarket where you buy your own bento box lunch to eat later by the waterfront.

How many people are in each group?

The maximum group size is five participants per booking.

What kind of bikes are used on this tour?

You’ll ride cross city bikes with flat handlebars—not cruiser bikes.

Is hotel pickup included?

No pickup; you meet your guide at a central location in Shinjuku.

Are there age or height requirements for this biking tour?

Yes—riders must be between 12–69 years old and between 125cm (4ft 1in) and 190cm (6ft 3in) tall.

What happens if there is bad weather?

If cycling is canceled due to rain or heatwave you’ll get an email by 7am on tour day and receive a full refund.

What’s included

Your day includes use of a cross city bike fitted to your height plus helmet rental throughout the ride. You’ll be guided by an experienced local who leads your small group across both main roads and quieter lanes. Lunch isn’t included—you’ll choose your own bento box at a neighborhood supermarket before enjoying it together by the water near Rainbow Bridge.