Ujigami Shrine travel guides

Discover the 9 best things to do in Uji in 2026, from Byodo-in's Phoenix Hall and matcha tea houses to Ujigami Shrine and the Uji River, with prices, hours, and transit tips.

Everything you need to plan a Uji day trip from Kyoto — 17 minutes by JR Nara Line, two UNESCO World Heritage sites, renowned matcha culture, and a practical half-day vs full-day itinerary breakdown.

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.

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.

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.