Nichome Connect

Easy relaxed informative electric bike ride and and super informative glimpse of Kyoto via the backstreets and riverbank.

Ari is fun, friendly and very informative. The ride is easy, mostly flat and requires very little effort, especially with an electronic powered bike.

Definitely for those who enjoy the path not taken!

I felt so beautiful in this silk kimono. The shop was a beautiful traditional Japanese home that was converted to a hair salon and kimono dressing room.

It was easier than expected to walk in the shoes and the shop was close to a beautiful river. I visited lovely tea house from the Meiji era and the former Emperor’s villa with a majestic tea house and pond before going to have Japanese sweets in a shop operating for 100 years.

This was my little treat for myself and I am happy I booked this tour.

With so many options, it was overwhelming to think about piecing an itinerary together and having to separately make reservations for each. I knew I wanted to explore tea and kimono in Japan and Nichome Connect was a lucky star.

They have so many varied activities and I could just mix and match to suit my preferences. Saya, the tour guide spoke perfect English.

It was elegant to walk Kyoto in kimono and hold a parasol and attend a real tea ceremony. I will never forget this special day.

The length was perfect and with the electric bikes was an easy ride. The atmosphere was warm and inviting creating a beautiful experience. This tour is best for anyone who wants to personally experience Kyoto, learn about its history and view unique scenery.

Highly recommended bike tour
was excellent. I chose the regular bike cause I thought I was a tough guy, but the e-bike is better in the heat.

It’s better than a walking tour since you can cover more distance and avoid crowded streets. Ari definitely knew her material and was very informative when we asked questions. I would do it again.

Saya managed the itinerary perfectly. We started in the mountains and finished in the city. Saya shared great insights into Kyoto’s tea culture and history, and ensured we had plenty of time for photos and exploration. This tour felt truly private, premium, and well-organized.

The highlight was having matcha overlooking the mountain in a temple so rich in tea history.

Every stop was well planned, and we never felt rushed, allowing us to truly enjoy the beauty of Kyoto. We are happy to have added the chauffeured car— we saw much more and avoided tourist spots.

I'm smitten with all the tiny tea houses.

Saya was very knowledgeable and sweet! It was just me and my other friend for the tour, so a private tour! She met us on time and showed us the most beautiful and historic spots around Uji, and shared so much fascinating background about the history of Japan, matcha, and tea culture. You can tell she really knows a lot and she explained in an engaging and easy to understand way.

We ate different matcha delicacies. She brought us to several shrines & temples and translated the Japanese fortunes and conversations with the locals. It was a pleasant experience and I highly recommend this tour!

We loved every minute of this experience. We went as a family with a 13yr old and a 15 year old. The younger one was not very confident cycling and Ari was great with him. She was very patient and encouraging teaching him how to use the e-bike. Cycling around was a great way to get to the temples and shrines and see the beautiful backstreets of the city.

I did the solo sweets tour and Ari was so accommodating. We cycled from garden to tea house to garden. I would have never been able to see so many places on my own. I only had one day in Kyoto and felt like I really maximized my time. We went to small and beautiful local tea houses with gardens and no other tourists and Ari was like a new best friend. She knows so much about Kyoto and tea and could go into depth about the history.

I also tried so many new and cute sweets…I didn’t understand mochi, but now I kinda do!

Best tour ever
This was the BEST tour I have ever been on. Went with my 18yo daughter who agreed. Ari was so great- friendly, knowledgeable, authentic. We learnt so much and had the most jam packed, fun experience seeing the sights of Kyoto. If you are lucky enough to find a tour with Ari, do not think twice. Book it!! Would give more stars if I could.

I had an incredible private day tour of Kyoto with Ari, and it was truly a highlight of my trip.

Ari is a fantastic guide—knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about Kyoto’s history and culture. From the booking stage, the itinerary was tailored perfectly to my interests while still covering iconic spots. It was a temple and Japanese sweets tour and the entire tour felt effortless. Traveling by car added an extra level of comfort, allowing us to explore Kyoto’s highlights in style and without stress.

Miho was a great driver. I love that she was very flexible and thoughtful with suggestions. We were incredibly satisfied with the suggested itinerary made at booking but also that she modified the drop off/ pick up points to accommodate my Father who had trouble walking long distances.

We felt like we learned so much and had one of the best times ever.

I wanted to wear kimono but did not know how to dress myself, even as Japanese. I booked this tour because I can choose silk kimono—like the kimono my grandmother wore.

I found a very different Kyoto because I did a single tour. I could also chat in English all day. It was fun. Thank you.

Our guide Ari was first-rate in every sense – funny, knowledgeable and with excellent English.

There were only four of us on the tour and she took us to places we would never have found on our own. Away from the crowds, we discovered a side of Kyoto that felt local: authentic and unhurried.

We met some wonderful people on the tour and the memories made will last a lifetime. Highly recommending this to everyone I know.

The host for our ceremony warmly welcomed us and clearly explained the steps and meaning of the ceremony. We were then seamlessly guided with the tea master through each step of the ceremony, which included more in depth explanations of each ritual.

The host created an atmosphere that felt both sacred and relaxed, gently encouraging each participant's understanding and presence.

This made for a unique and truly meaningful experience. I would highly recommend it.

Beautiful Life Expereience
This was probably the highlight of my trip to Japan. Saya, our tour guide, was an incredible person. She made the tour much more fun.

I was initially nervous about riding a bike in Japan and on the roads, but she made sure everyone was safe.

A lot of things were learnt that day, but the thing that has remained with me was Saya’s zen lessons and her world perspective while we sat in a Buddhist temple. A beautiful experience that I would definitely recommend to anybody visiting Kyoto.

The tea ceremony was especially lovely and provided a meaningful cultural touch to the trip. It’s the perfect way to escape from everyday stress and find a moment of inner balance and peace. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Kyoto.

The photos were lovely. I feel very grateful for the experience.

A truly beautiful and memorable experience. The Zen session in this off-the-path temple was incredibly peaceful and well guided, creating an authentic and calming atmosphere.

There was such depth, wisdom, and warmth in every word. I loved that it felt authentic and not commercialized. Nothing felt forced or overly complex—just gentle truths about life. Truly so well done and my favorite experience I’ve done in Kyoto!

The photo I shared is from my favorite spot that we visited.

I wanted a day for myself but didn’t feel quite comfortable navigating things by myself. Nichome Connect was able to accommodate my reservation on short notice and put together an itinerary that combined several tours. I was really excited about trying Buddhist cuisine as well as doing a temple meditation. They even were able to book me an overnight temple stay—which was not even offered on their website.

I am so grateful to have had a wonderful time in Kyoto.

We did the cycling temple tour. Gave us just enough history and culture. The ride was lovely. We travelled all throughout Kyoto stopping at multiple shrines and temples. It was an amazing price for the beautiful experience. Ari’s passion for his city really shone through and made the whole morning feel special.

If you’re visiting Kyoto, skip the busy temple queues for a morning and book this instead – you won’t regret it.

Tour guides make the difference, and Saya is one the best! First-rate in every sense – funny, knowledgeable and with excellent English. Having been on dozens of tours, she stands out for her enthusiasm, knowledge and the small details that make trips like this memorable. She was an incredible historian, very mindful of our safety and showed us some of the best spots in town.

The bikes themselves were super easy to use. The roads we took were empty of traffic - it was hard to believe we were in Kyoto.

Miho took us to all of the places we were interested in plus told us interesting facts about the locations while in transit.

Even though we thought we had everything planned at the beginning, she allowed us to customize mid-tour to add in spots we were interested in seeing and gave us time to explore at our own pace.

100% recommended.

We wanted to visit a lot of places—all spread around Kyoto, so renting a car and having them drive us was the best option. We also just added other experiences to the cart and they made all the plans. Easy and unforgettable! Muchos gracias!

Ari was our guide today and she was fantastic. She told us amazing stories and showed us out of the way hidden gems on our day tour.

Being a local shone through as she planned the day's itinerary based on how crowded each location would be. We got the best of Kyoto while avoiding the crowds. Also, by car is the way to go in this heat!