Fushimi Inari by Bike

自転車で伏見稲荷へ

Kyoto's Fushimi Inari is the top Inari shrine in Japan. Top out of some 32,000 inari shrines.

They are devoted to business, and as such are packed on New Year's Day.

We visited a few days prior to Christmas, and just about had the place to ourselves.

The famed gates - all 1300 of them - are normally clogged with tourists. Not last week.

The ride from the center of town takes about 30 minutes and is flat. The final stretch is on a narrow road, but nothing out of the ordinary for Kyoto.

Details

Fushimi Inari Shrine
68 Fukakusa Yabu-no-uchi-cho, Kyoto

Entrance Fee: Free

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Kyoto City Hall by Bike

自転車で京都市役所へ

Kyoto City Hall is a looming presence on Oike Dori, just north of downtown.

The building is not especially attractive. It was designed by Goiichi Murata and completed in 1927.

Other than location - a subway runs under it, the Kamo River is close, and shops and bars are nearby - what draws crowds are flea markets held in the plaza in front of the main building.

On the day we rode by, a large crowd was enjoying a sunny December day and perusing the used goods.

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Cycling Tenryuji Temple Kyoto

自転車で天龍寺へ

Cycling in Arashiyama offers so many sites and places to see - and some serious obstacles - that choosing a route is key.

Above all, stay off the main drag as much as possible. The street that runs from roughly the JR tracks down to the Katsura River at Togetsukyo Bridge is packed, year round, with tourists and those catering to their whims.

Except when crossing the bridge, it is best to stay off.

Once away, though, the fun starts. Even Tenryuji Temple, a World Heritage site located on the main drag that is very popular, can be approached from side streets which are pedestrian and cyclist friendly.

If you are coming from the Hankyu Railways side, cross the Togetsukyo Bridge, turn left at the first street. After you pass Kitcho - a three-star Michelin restaurant - and a few other fabulous buildings head north into the neighborhood that borders the temple.

Get lost. Find the statuary in front of a temple wall. Keep pedaling. Go into an old antique shop. Find the temple.

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Bicycle Sign Kawaramachi Kyoto

自転車乗らんと押してね

Not far from Shijo Kawaramachi, in downtown Kyoto, we found this fantastic sticker.

Don't ride, walk it!

Below the image of the cyclist duly walking his rod are the details:

Between Bukkoji and Oike, cycling is prohibited on the street from 8 am until 10pm. On the sidewalks, it is always 100% completely verboten.

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Kitayama Canal Kyoto

北山の道

A bit east of the center of Takaragaike in Kitayama - the area where the subway exits and botanical gardens are - is a wonderful streetscape.

Until the subway was extended to Kitayama in the 1980s, it was mainly rural area in the north of Kyoto.

Now it is a chic area with the city's concert orchestra hall and many large homes.

However, prior to the arrival of the newly monied, there were older homes that were built in the 19th century. Most of them hug the base of the hills, and are wonderful farm houses set behind a moat and large wall.

The moat runs the length of the street, and thus passes in front of each home. All of the houses require a small bridge for cars and pedestrians and cyclists.

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Kyoto Delivery Bike Sagawa Kyubin

京都佐川急便自転車

In recent years, delivery companies - including the post office - have returned to human-powered vehicles.

With its narrow streets and human scale, Kyoto is ideal for this type of business.

We found this brand spanking new silver bike with back u-haul device north of City Hall not far from the Manga Museum.

The driver very politely waited while we took a quick picture, and then told us how he prefers pedaling a bike to riding the old noisy scooters. "With the exception of high summer, it feels great," he said.

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Bike Festa Kyoto 2011 Models

京都宝ケ池高額２０１１年自転車

The bikes on display at the recent Bike Festa at Takaragaike did not disappoint.

High end Colnago, Shimano, Scott, and other models were out in great numbers.

Most were racers that were priced often one zero out of our price range.

Still, one can dream - and in the case of Bike Festa we got to ride a few of the bikes.

The model at top right was not available for test riding, but a fabulous looking machine.

The bike below left is for serious hikers and trail riders. With a few easy movements - demonstrated by a sales rep, the bike collapses into a short flat marvel of engineering that can carried on your back.

On the frame itself is a backpack that is used to strap the folded up bike onto your bike.

The award for most expensive bike went to a carbon frame Scott mountain bike retailing for 1.2 million yen ($13,000).

The seller - Koseki-san from Koseki Cycle near Kitano Tenjin Shrine - encouraged us to lift it up. At just 7.1 kg, we were impressed, however briefly.

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