Tokyo West-Side Classic Road Bike Tour: Discover Tranquil Residential Pockets and Riverside Paths
5.0
9 Ratings
Suginami City
Experience the hidden gems of Tokyo on a classic road bike tour. Explore tranquil residential areas and picturesque riverside paths away from the tourist crowds. Join us for a unique cycling adventure!
Duration:
2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Kōenji Station - Adjust your seat post and get set for a whirlwind cycling tour through the local neighbourhoods of Tokyo on a classic ‘steel’ road bike, handcrafted by a Japanese master frame-builder.
Sought by collectors and bicycle connoisseurs throughout the globe, nothing compares to gracing the streets on the saddle of a vintage chromoly bike that’s been meticulously crafted with Japanese precision and beauty.
Cycle in style on a rotating lineup of classic road and track bike frames from the revered Japanese bicycle workshops of Zunow, 3Rensho, Nagasawa, Toei, Ganwell, Kalavinka, Nakagawa, Cherubim and company.
Backstreets, sidewalks and riverside cycling trails; this 20 km+ Tokyo vintage bike tour will provide it all as we ride the eclectic Tokyo wards of Nakano, Suginami, Musashino, and Mitaka on the inner west side of this bustling city.
What's Included
- Bicycle use
- English speaking guide
- Cycling liability insurance
- Bottled water
Additional Information
Travel through the hidden lanes of Western Tokyo on a beautifully handcrafted Japanese road bike. Explore the city’s urban expanse, peaceful residential areas and scenic riverside cycling trails away from the usual tourist attractions. This bike tour, which exceeds 20 km, doesn’t have sightseeing stops – you’ll witness the complete ‘spectacle’ comfortably from your bike seat.
- This Tokyo bike tour has been tailored as an unadulterated ride through the backstreets of West Tokyo. Formulaic sightseeing stops are NOT on the itinerary.
- You should be competent on a performance road bike, equipped with drop handlebars and downtube shifters, in often tight, crowded and challenging conditions.
- You should be able to comfortably cycle 20 km+ / 13 mi+ at a safe but moderate pace on crowded sidewalks, roads, uneven surfaces and through often testing conditions.
- Basic cruiser style bicycles, that seat riders in a more ergonomic position, are available for those not comfortable or competent on a road bike. We ride to the ability of the weakest participant.
- Please appreciate that you’ve chosen an outdoor activity that may be impacted by the weather. In the event of rain or wet and slippery conditions, the experience may be cancelled.
- By attending this Tokyo cycling tour you acknowledge the adventurous nature of the ride and that participation can involve a degree of personal risk. Cycling liability insurance is included for the cycling portion of our experience but you are expected to possess comprehensive travel insurance to protect yourself from unforeseen incidents.
Location
Kōenji Station
The tour will commence directly outside the electronic ticket gates of Koenji Station on the JR Train Network. Koenji Station is only two stops by train from Shinjuku Station (6 min) or five stops by train from Shibuya Station (18 min).
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(9 Ratings)
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Jimmytran_d
May 13, 2023
Fun way to see backstreets of Tokyo - The experience was a different one and was probably one that you won't get with most tours. The experience was more of a moderate bike ride through the back roads past Nakano. The bikes were well kept and felt great. The experience was very enjoyable since I enjoy biking and had moderate fitness levels (~15mi/100min). I hope to be able to come back and have another bike ride in the future!
Review provided by Viator
Claire_t
Apr 20, 2023
Very enjoyable afternoon - I did this tour with my son yesterday and we loved it. Andy is really friendly and was very helpful in getting the bikes set up and adjusted so that they were comfortable to ride. I have never ridden a bike of this style before, and it was easier than I thought to get used to; they are road bikes, not mountain bikes, not little shopper bikes, but lovely vintage road bikes.
We cycled round some beautiful residential areas, saw sights that we wouldn't otherwise have seen, and there was a break in a park halfway through. We are only in Tokyo for a week, and felt we are capable of visiting the major tourist sites by ourselves, but even if we had rented bikes we would never have known the routes that Andy took us on.
I am 52, female, and my son is 23; he is fit but I could be better, however at no point did I feel out of my depth - Andy made sure the cycling speed was appropriate for our ability.
He even showed us how to get to Nakano Broadway as part of the tour so that when we were finished my son could shop for Animé figures.
We really recommend this tour, but cannot stress enough that you need to read the description. If you want a tour where you follow someone with a flag, then this isn't it. If you want a tour where you get to see a different side of Tokyo, with a friendly guide who genuinely wants you to enjoy it, then book this.
Review provided by Viator
Alex_p
Jan 3, 2023
A great way to get a... - A great way to get a unique, authentic look at life in a West Tokyo suburb in a cool way. Getting to ride a vintage Japanese steel frame road bike was an extra little treat. Really a great way to start a day in Tokyo.
Review provided by Viator
Jd_p
Dec 3, 2022
Enjoyable experience - Andy is a terrific host and very communicative prior to the trip. The bikes are in good condition and Andy leads you some of popular places of Tokyo. There are several stops to catch your breath and Andy will share interesting facts about the area. I would recommend this for those who have cycled before and are in relatively good shape.
Review provided by Viator
Globetrotter21480
Nov 3, 2022
Amazing the beaten track adventure! - Great day out with Andy! Learned and saw a very different Tokyo in a charming neighbourhood away from the usual big 'sights', something that a casual visitor would not be able to experience. Such a wonderful day!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Explorer81062
Oct 25, 2022
Amazing tour of tokyo on vintage 10 speed road bike! - If you are an avid cyclist who appreciates the unique history and craftsmanship of Japanese bicycle manufacturing, this is the tour for you! I showed up at the designated metro stop and was immediately greeted by Andy. We walked a few blocks and stopped in front of a garage jam packed with incredible vintage 10 speed and fixed gear Japanese road bikes. After picking a particularly beautiful hot orange and neon yellow Cherubim (that fit me perfectly!) and a brief safety talk, we were off. We rode for about 18 miles at a leisurely 10 mph. Given how tight the streets of west Tokyo are, you can't really go much faster. We explored a bunch of super cool little neighborhoods, and Andy constantly offered cool stories and historical anecdotes about the towns we were passing through. We stopped in a beautiful park for a well-earned treat from a vending machine, and we found time at the end of the trip stop for some tasty imagawayaki. Overall, I would gladly do this tour again, and will whole-heartedly recommend it to all of my cycling-inclined friends that visit Tokyo.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Taf218
Mar 4, 2020
Amazing Slice of Life Tour - Andy was knowledgeable, kind, and communicative. Even though almost NO ONE wears helmets in Tokyo he had one and provided it for me. Great time!! The neighborhoods, collectibles mall, and the food all great and things we wouldn't have found on our own.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mrgeorgeformby
Nov 19, 2019
An awesome tour - If you want to see the real Tokyo, ride a Mamachari bike or a vintage Japanese road bike (go for the road bike if you are a cyclist) and have a very informative and entertaining host then this is a must.
A group of us toured with our host Andy around the back streets of West-Tokyo and passed through Koenji (punk town), Koenji (punk town), Asagaya (jazz town), Nakano (Nightlife hub), road along the Zenpukji River, saw a Halloween parade and sampled some of the food.
Andy was a great guide and full of very useful information and anecdotes about Tokyo and Japan. We all had a great time and would highly recommend this.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
D.j.
Nov 3, 2019
Bike nerd's delight - My friend and I did Andy's vintage road bike tour a couple of weeks ago and it was one of the coolest ways for us to see Tokyo! Andy was easy to find and communication leading up to the tour was great. The tour itself lasted about 2 and a half hours, with a few stops in the middle to take a breather and chat. We meandered from Koenji station through a couple of cool neighborhoods and then toured through the suburbs to the west. These were areas we certainly would never have experienced if not for the tour - and the bikes allowed us to cover a lot of ground at a comfortable pace. Andy's knowledge of the surrounding areas was excellent - he gave us great suggestions of where to go out for food and nightlife along the way!
Andy has a handful of very high quality vintage japanese steel frame road bikes, and this was one of the primary draws for me. As a fellow bike nerd, it was great to talk about the bikes that Andy has restored and about the history of the superb bikes we were riding.
I highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
