If you are planning to visit Kyoto but do not want to go to crowded places such as Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Kyomizu Temple, or Kinkaku-ji Golden Temple, ... then Uji is a great choice for you. A peaceful city, not too crowded, but still retains many ancient features of the ancient capital of Kyoto, in particular, this is considered the place that produces the highest quality tea in Japan, and is the hometown of Matcha.
Come follow me and explore this beautiful and peaceful city in one day to see what's on offer 😉
First, let's talk about how to get there. To reach Uji by train, you can take either the JR or Keihan lines. Depending on your departure location, you can choose the most suitable train line for your journey!
JR Uji Station Address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FtGpT8sCJB3d6xVn7
Keihan Uji Station Address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/DbDhiU39a9pGyYbZ8
The first place to visit of the day is Uji Bridge, a large bridge spanning the Uji River, located right at the exit of Keihan Uji Station.
Right next to the bridge, there is a statue of Murasaki Shikibu , a female court writer of the Heian period in Japan, author of the world's first modern novel: "The Tale of Genji".
Next, we will visit Byodo-in Temple, which is featured on the back of the 10 yen coin. This is also why many people refer to Byodo-in as the "10 Yen Temple."
The road to the “10 Yen Pagoda” is lined with dozens of souvenir shops, restaurants, and cafes, all of which are related to matcha!!
As soon as you enter this street, you can already smell the delightful aroma from the green tea roasters in the shops.
When you come here, remember to try a matcha ice cream 😉
In addition to the original matcha flavor, there’s also matcha ice cream mixed with other fruit flavors, and the presentation is absolutely beautiful. The price is around 600 JPY per stick—make sure to try it and take some photos while you're here!
After strolling for about 200 meters through the matcha shops, you'll reach the entrance of Byodo-in Temple at the end of the road. Admission is 600 JPY for adults and 300 JPY for children. Please note that food and drinks are not allowed inside the temple, so be mindful before entering.
The temple grounds are vast and home to many ancient architectural wonders.
In late April and early May, Byodo-in is famous for its magnificent wisteria garden right near the entrance. If you visit Kyoto during this time, make sure not to miss it!
And next, is the main campus of the temple.
No matter which direction you take the photo, the temple is absolutely beautiful!
The next part of the temple is a Hoshokan museum (平等院 鳳翔館), which displays national treasures, such as phoenix statues, first-generation temple bells, etc. Filming and photography are prohibited in the museum, so you can come directly and experience it yourself 😉
Right at the exit of the museum, you'll find many other temples and pagodas with exquisitely designed architecture.
At the top of the pagoda is the Phoenix symbol, which serves as the protective mascot of Buddha.
In late April and early May, Byodo-in is famous for its magnificent wisteria garden right near the entrance. If you visit Kyoto during this time, make sure not to miss it!
So we have finished visiting the “10 Yen Temple” Byodo-in. It was around 12 noon, so we stopped and had lunch on the road leading to the temple.
Along the road are many eateries, the food is also very diverse, from cakes, rice, or ramen, ...
I chose a ramen restaurant right at the entrance of the street. The ramen noodles here have a unique green matcha color, accompanied by a variety of toppings you can choose from. In addition, they offer an extremely special Matcha Beer and Matcha Gyoza. Make sure to try them!
In addition to the ramen shop, there’s also a Takoyaki shop with a striking matcha sauce that catches the eye.
However, in my opinion, the Takoyaki here doesn't quite compare to the deliciousness of Kukuru Takoyaki in Osaka.
After eating, you can also relax and enjoy a drink at the nearby Starbucks coffee shop.
Address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QeYVi2r2eZ5Xpr2h8
After eating and resting, let's continue exploring the rest of Uji. The first stop is Tachibanahashi Bridge.
Address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Wa2e1rh5mBcPoqh59
The bridge spans the Uji River, leading to Uji Park, which is situated in the middle of the large river.
The next place I visited was Uji Jinja Temple. Simply cross the Asagiribashi Bridge to reach the temple entrance.
Address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/peMcreqgYz8pG4AY9
This is a famous shrine for praying for exams, as well as luck in all things, with the symbol of the “Mikaeri rabbit” decorated everywhere.
Some pictures I took inside the temple:
My last stop of the day was the Asahiyaki ceramics gallery, a shop that has been around since 1600!
Address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JiP1aQ8nPfzA7QPW6
This is the end of my day exploring Uji city. The city has fresh air, the peace of the suburbs, but there is no shortage of beautiful places to take pictures. This is definitely a suitable place for those who want to visit with a relaxing mindset, enjoy the gentleness and peace right in Kyoto - one of the largest cities in Japan. If you have the chance, come to this beautiful city.
Thank you for reading to the end of the article. See you in the next articles!
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