Most wildlife species, with a few notable exceptions, face significant constraints on foraging and breeding within urban environments. In the case of bats, the distribution of most species is expected to be limited by factors such as artificial light at night, scarcity of food resources, and a lack of suitable roosting sites. Despite these pressures, quantitative surveys of urban bat distributions remain insufficient across much of Asia, reflecting the practical challenges of monitoring expansive urban landscapes with limited personnel over multiple years. In the current study, we conducted a two-year bioacoustic survey (2023–2024) in collaboration with citizen scientists. We divided the city of Kyoto into 25 survey zones and monitored bat activity during August and September. The survey identified at least seven bat species, including the Japanese house bat (Alionoctula abramus) and the bird-like noctule (Nyctalus aviator), and confirmed that the Kamo River serves as a primary foraging site. The Japanese house bat was the most frequently detected species, primarily around small urban streams and at historical sites such as temples and shrines with open areas for activity and roosting sites. It was notable that during the hottest period of early to mid-August, bat detection frequency tended to decrease immediately after sunset, suggesting that high evening temperatures driven by the urban heat island effect may influence bat activity. This study illustrates that citizen science can contribute to knowledge of urban bats by revealing trends in their diversity and distribution. Furthermore, we emphasize the necessity of sustained effort and interest to ensure that such initiatives evolve into long-term monitoring projects.