4-Hour Downtown Backstreets Ride

Tokyo downtown bicycle tour Tokyo Backstreets Bike Tour

★ 4.9 124 reviews

from $77.74 per person, varies with group size

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Duration: 4 hours
Meeting point: Higashimukōjima, Sumida City
Cancellation: Free cancellation
On board: Snacks included
Run by: Tokyo Backstreets Bike Tour

Overview

This four-hour ride starts in Sumida, a few minutes' walk from Hikifune station, and works through the old Shitamachi quarters between local neighborhoods and riverside paths. The bicycles are small-wheel folders, there is a water bottle and a snack from a traditional sweets shop, and the group is capped at six travellers. A helmet comes with the bike.

The route strings together a series of free stops: a sakuramochi sweet shop, Matsuchiyama Shoden temple, Imado Shrine, the Edo Taito Traditional Crafts Center, Senso-ji, the Kyu Yasuda Garden, the Ryogoku Kokugikan, the Oyokogawa Water Park and finally a look at Tokyo Skytree. Reviewers describe the cycling as easy and the feel of the tour as laid back, and several mention that riding with a local guide opened up neighborhoods they would never have found alone.

It suits most travellers, families (a tandem and a child trailer are available on request, the trailer for a fee), and anyone who wants the backstreets rather than the express sights. It is not wheelchair accessible, and the listing advises against it for people with back problems or who are pregnant.

From$77.74 per person

Duration4 hours

Rating4.9 from 124 reviews

What's Included

Included

Use of bicycle
Bottled water
Snacks (Sweets and snacks at local traditional sweets shops)
Helmets
1 tandem bike is available by prior request
A child trailer for up to 2 persons is available on request for an additional fee. Please provide details.

Run byTokyo Backstreets Bike Tour

Itinerary

Meet at Sumida officeArrive at the share office near Hikifune station, about 10 minutes before the start. Look for the ground-floor board and head to the 2nd floor.
Yamamotoya sakuramochi shopA 10-minute stop at a traditional sweets shop and a snack included.
Temples and shrinesHonryuin Matsuchiyama Shoden for 20 minutes, then Imado Shrine for 15 minutes. Both free to enter.
Edo Taito Traditional Crafts CenterA 20-minute visit with free admission to see traditional Shitamachi craftsmanship.
Senso-ji TempleA 20-minute stop at Asakusa's main temple.
Garden and KokugikanThe Kyu Yasuda Garden for 20 minutes, then about 5 minutes outside the Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Oyokogawa Water ParkThe longest stop at 30 minutes, at the waterside park.
Tokyo Skytree viewpointA 10-minute final stop to see the tower before the tour wraps up.

BikeIncluded

HelmetIncluded

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help the ride go smoothly, based on the listing and on what past travellers report.

Bikes and height. The rental fleet is folding bikes with 14 to 20 inch wheels, suited to riders between 140 and 180 cm. Tell the operator in advance if you are taller than 180 cm so a suitable bike can be arranged.
Riding pace. Several reviewers describe the cycling as easy and the pace pleasant. One reviewer mentioned that people from all age ranges can join because the route is easy to follow and the bikes are comfortable.
Snacks and water. A bottle of water and sweets from a local traditional shop are included. One traveller highlighted the cherry cake as a stop worth the ride itself.
Photos. One reviewer notes the guide takes photos during the ride, which is handy when everyone is on a bike. Another mentioned memorable pictures taken under the cherry blossoms.
Weather. The tour needs good weather. If it is cancelled for poor conditions you will be offered a different date or a full refund, and one family even had to shorten their ride because of rain.

Where this tour sits among 13 tours (8 shown) in City Bike Tours listed here (from-price per person, USD)

Certified Guide, 5-Hour History Ride$32.39
80-Minute Shibuya Ride$46
Olympic Sites Bay Ride$48.59
2.5-Hour Central Short Ride$51.82
Shibuya-Harajuku 3-Hour Ride$57.01
Old Town History Ride, Regular Bike$61.54
Flexible 3-6 Hour Small-Group Ride$64.78
4-Hour Downtown Backstreets Ride (this tour)$77.74

Getting there. The meeting point is about 3 minutes on foot from Hikifune station on the Tobu Skytree line, or 5 minutes from Keisei Hikifune station. Arrive 10 minutes early.

From$77.74 per person

Rating4.9 from 124 reviews

Ready To RideCheck Price & Availability →

Common issues. The listing notes the tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for travellers with back problems or pregnant travellers. A minimum number of participants is required, so if the tour is cancelled for low numbers you get a different date, a different experience or a full refund. One reviewer expected a private group and found another guest had joined, so note that the group can include up to six travellers. One rider also mentioned the heat in summer, and a child trailer, if requested, carries an additional fee.

Common Questions

What Is Included In The Price?

The bicycle, a helmet, bottled water and sweets and snacks at local traditional sweets shops are all included. Every stop on the itinerary is free to enter, so there are no entry fees to budget for on the route itself.

Where Does The Tour Meet?

At a share office in Higashimukojima, Sumida City, about 3 minutes' walk from Hikifune station on the Tobu Skytree line or 5 minutes from Keisei Hikifune station. Find the tour board on the ground floor and come up to the 2nd floor, arriving 10 minutes before the start.

Is It Suitable For Children And Families?

Yes. One tandem bike is available by prior request, and a child trailer for up to two riders can be arranged in advance for an additional fee. One family with children aged 9, 12 and 14 rode it comfortably, including the nine-year-old on a tandem with a parent.

How Long Does The Tour Last And How Far Do We Ride?

The tour runs for 4 hours. The listing does not state a distance, but reviewers describe the cycling as easy and the route as relaxed, with stops spread across Sumida and Asakusa.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

Cancel at least 24 hours before the start for a full refund. Inside that window no refund or change is accepted, and cut-off times follow local Tokyo time. Weather cancellations and minimum-number cancellations come with an offer of a different date or a full refund.

What Should I Bring And Wear?

Helmets are provided, and the listing gives no specific packing list. Drink the provided water, as reviewers who rode in summer noted it can get hot. Tell the operator beforehand if you are over 180 cm tall or want the tandem.