Cycling in Kyoto
In Kyoto a bicycle counts as a vehicle under the law, not a pedestrian. Before you ride, know which side of the road to use, where you may park, and where you can rent — this guide follows the official pages of Kyoto City and the Kyoto Prefectural Police.
Ride on the road, on the left
Legally a bicycle is a vehicle, so as a rule ride on the left side of the road, not on the sidewalk. Follow the arrow-feather markings painted on the road surface — they show where and which way to ride. Riding on the right invites a head-on collision, so never ride against the flow for convenience.
The sidewalk is the exception
You may ride on a sidewalk only where a sign permits ordinary bicycles, or if the rider is a child under 13, aged 70 or over, or has a physical disability. Even then, keep to the road side, ride slowly enough to stop at once, walk your bike when crowds are heavy, and always give pedestrians priority.
No umbrella, no phone, no drinking
Riding with an umbrella is prohibited (except on extremely quiet roads), as is talking on the phone, staring at a phone screen, or listening to music through earphones loud enough to block surrounding sounds. Riding after drinking is prohibited too, and so are two people on one bicycle and riding side by side — all of these easily lead to losing control and hitting someone.
Lights at night, stop at crossings
After dark, switch your light on and fit a reflector at the rear so others can see you. Obey the signals at crossings, stop where a stop sign stands, and look both ways before moving on. Wear a helmet when you ride — in Japan helmet use is a duty of effort for riders of every age.
Park only in a bicycle parking area
Park your bicycle only in a designated parking area. Leaving it in a public place, away from you so you cannot move it at once, counts as abandoned parking. Kyoto City runs a parking search system: enter a station name or use your phone's location to find nearby areas and their fees. Lock up once you have parked.
If your bicycle is removed
A bicycle left in a public place can be removed no matter how briefly it stood there, and one locked to a railing can be cut free and taken away. To reclaim it, go to the storage depot and pay a removal and storage fee of 3,500 yen per bicycle; anything unclaimed within four weeks of the day after removal is disposed of.
Rent from a city-certified shop
Kyoto's sights are packed close together, so exploring by bicycle is convenient. Kyoto City certifies rental shops that meet conditions such as holding bicycle insurance and briefing customers on the rules; certified shops carry the city's mark and can be searched on the Kyoto City cycle site. Check each shop's own site for how to rent and what it costs.
Sources：京都市 きょうと市民しんぶん 令和2年2月1日号「子どもにきちんと伝えたい 自転車の正しいルール」（公式） ↗京都府警察 自転車安全利用五則（公式） ↗京都市 Q&Aコーナー 放置自転車等対策（公式） ↗京都市 駐輪場検索＆撤去自転車照会システム（公式） ↗京都市 撤去された自転車等の返還方法と保管場所について（公式） ↗京都市サイクルサイト レンタサイクルについて（公式） ↗京都市サイクルサイト 京都市レンタサイクル事業者認定制度（公式） ↗京都市サイクルサイト トップ（公式） ↗