Uji travel guides

A timed 3–5 hour plan from Kyoto covering Byodo-in, Uji's matcha street, Ujigami Shrine, and the Tale of Genji trail — with JR Nara Line transport tips and a full cost breakdown.

Uji is Japan's most celebrated matcha region — here's how to visit its oldest tea houses, order the right sweets, and buy stone-ground matcha worth taking home.

Ujigami Shrine holds Japan's oldest extant Shinto shrine building (c. 1060), is free to enter, and takes just 15–20 minutes. Here's what to see, how to get there, and how to fit it into your 2026 Uji visit.

Visit Byodo-in in Uji — the UNESCO-listed Heian masterpiece whose Phoenix Hall graces Japan's 10-yen coin. Timed tickets, hours, access from Kyoto, and what to see inside.

Mimuroto-ji is Uji's hana no tera (flower temple) — 20,000 azaleas in late spring, 10,000 hydrangeas with evening light-ups in early summer, lotus in July, and maples in November. Complete 2026 guide to hours, admission, and the flower calendar.

Free to enter and steeped in 170 years of Uji tea culture, Nakamura Tōkichi Honten sells stone-ground matcha and gyokuro and serves the city's most celebrated nama-cha jelly parfait — with a ticket-queue café alongside.

Explore the Tale of Genji Museum in Uji — dedicated to Murasaki Shikibu's 11th-century masterpiece. Recreated Heian interiors, a full-size ox-carriage, and the Sawarabi-no-michi literary walk at your doorstep.

Cross Uji Bridge (Ujibashi) — first built in 646 CE and counted among Japan's three most celebrated ancient bridges — spanning the Uji River between Byōdō-in and Ujigami Shrine. Free, open 24/7.

Ujigami Shrine in Uji holds Japan's oldest surviving Shinto shrine building — a free-entry UNESCO World Heritage site with a honden dated to around 1060, reached via the Sawarabi-no-michi path on the east bank of the Uji River.

Discover the 15 best day trips from Kyoto for 2026. Explore Nara, Osaka, Himeji, and hidden gems like Ohara with expert transport tips and pricing.

Discover the best Kyoto tea ceremony experiences. Our guide covers Zen history, etiquette tips, top-rated venues like Camellia, and practical booking advice.