Oike Dori Bike Lane Test Run

御池通自転車実行環境整備にかかる実証実験

The city of Kyoto appears to be testing out the possibility of installing bike lanes on the sidewalks of the wide boulevard that runs, east-west, at the north end of downtown.

Oike Dori is home to City Hall and leads to Nijo Castle. Underneath it runs the Tozai subway line and there is a shopping mall.

Above ground, the streetscape is wide and heavily concrete.

The sidewalks however have always been good for cyclists: wide and flat and easy to cohabit with pedestrians.

The city however is going to set up a test run - lines have been painted on the sidewalk along with new purple bike marks - with an eye towards creating a permanent lane. The test will last from November 12 - 18, from 7 am - 5 pm. It will extend from Oike Kawaramachi, at the corner of City Hall, to Karasuma.

Fingers crossed.

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Kyoto Police

京都警察のパトルール

Last night while riding from Demachiyanagi past the Imperial Palace en route to an area near Ninnaji Temple, a cop yelled at me to put my bike light on.

Actually, "politely entreated" would be a more accurate description.

The light was already on and I told the woman cop - who was probably excited at the prospect of practicing three words of English ("right on, purease") that she failed to notice - "it's already on" and pedaled on.

The cops were out in force from Kawaramachi to Senbon along Imadegawa around 7 pm, berating and stopping cyclists.

No fines though.

The campaign will last a few days, the police will pack up and go back to the koban, and the problem will be solved.

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Kyoto Community Cycle

まちかどミナポート

Kyoto now has a public rental bike system.

The city sponsored Community Cycle program debuted on April 30th of this year, and now has four rental/return locations.

The four "stations" are near Kyoto Station, Sanjo Station, just north of the Manga Museum, and close to Marutamachi Station.

Fees start at 200 yen for the first hour, and then 100 yen for each additional hour.

The bikes are white single-gear bikes with a blue strip between the top tube and down tube.

Payment is with a credit card or a Pitapa IC card.

For those who plan on cycling all day, the private rental companies may be more economical.

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Northeast Kyoto Shugakuin Villa

自転車で修学院周辺へ

In northeast Kyoto not far from the Silver Pavilion are a handful of small and not so small temples and sites to be seen.

The hills are never too bad, and if you hug the small roads along the foothills of Mt. Hiei, you will enjoy a pleasant ride.

Among places worth a visit are:

Shisendo, Manshuin, and of course Shugakuin Imperial Villa

Many other temples dot the area, but these are perhaps the most major.

The road pictured above right is between Shugakuin and Manshuin. The residential area to the right (west) is filled with older homes; the area to the left is either wooded or farmland.

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Cycling Toei Kyoto Studio Park

Toei Kyoto Studio Park

Kyoto's Toei film studio has since 1975 been part theme park, part film studio.

In that year, with the film industry fleeing Kyoto for Tokyo, the Toei Kyoto Studio Park was born.

It is located not far from Koryuji Temple, JR Hanazono Station, and is on a stop on the Keifuku Line.

It is a good day out, especially for those with kids in tow.

There are many performances, lots of information on the bygone film era, actual sets where samurai films are still filmed.

More Information

Kyoto Studio Park
10 Uzumasa-Higashi hachigaokacho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto 616-8586
075 841 3381

Hours: March-November 9:00 am - 5;00 pm; December-February 9:30 am - 4:00 pm; Closed December 27-31, 2010

Entrance Fee: 2,200 yen adults; 1,300 for junior and senior high school students; 1,100 yen for children older than 4.


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Cycle Myomanji Temple

自転車で妙満寺へ

A 10-15 minute ride from Kitayama is Myomanji Temple.

A member of the Nichiren Buddhist sect, Myomanji enjoys fantastic views of Mount Hiei and is a short ride from Entsuji Temple.

There is a large concrete copy of the famous stupa at Bodh Gaya, India (and can be seen at left rear of the photo). The original is where the historical Buddha gained Enlightenment.

Inside the stupa is a statue of the Buddha.

Details

91 Hataeda-cho, Iwakura, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto.
Tel: 075 791-7171

The grounds are free, but there is an admission fee for the stupa and gardens.

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Vigore Kyoto

VIGORE Kyoto

Kyoto's only bespoke bikemaker is Masato Kataoka, owner of Vigore Kyoto.

He is a third generation craftsman, following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father.

The forerunner of Vigore was established in 1930 by Kataoka's grandfather.

The current bicycles are order made, and start from 128,000 yen.

Kataoka's bikes are beautifully crafted, a delight to the eye. His shop is located north of Kyoto's International Conference center, not far from Kitayama.

Access

On Takaragaike Dori, just north of the the Kyoto International Conference Center. A short walk from the Kokusaikaikan Mae subway stop.
Tel 075 791 6158

Tokyo

Vigore bikes can also be found at two locations in Tokyo.

FIG Harajuku
TEL 03 5413 9050(2F) 9051(1F)

FIG Daikanyama
TEL 03 5456 7701


The photo is © Vigore Kyoto

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