Not removed from Kyoto, Uji is an ideal addition to your subsequent journey to Japan. On this article, I’ll share a number of the greatest issues to do in Japan’s inexperienced tea capital.
In 1191 a Buddhist priest named Eisai introduced again tea seeds to Japan from a pilgrimage in China. Upon his return, he gifted a few of them to a high-ranking monk referred to as Myoe Shonin, who later planted a tea backyard on the temple grounds of Kozan-ji in Kyoto.
Enthused by the well being advantages of the tea, Myoe shared a part of his harvest with the native communities in different areas of Japan, together with Uji, the place tea cultivation quickly expanded. In the present day, Uji is understood all through Japan for its high-quality inexperienced tea.
However Uji is greater than inexperienced tea. It additionally turned well-known as a setting for one of many best works of Japanese literature, the “Story of Genji“, and as a non secular stronghold of Zen Buddhism.
As I used to be primarily based in Kyoto for some time, I used to be capable of go to Uji a couple of instances. It’s honest to say that I, like many others, have fallen for the town’s historic appeal and wealthy tradition. Under, I’ll share a listing of a number of the greatest issues to do in Uji.
Finest Issues to Do in Uji, Kyoto
In case you’re planning to take a day journey to Uji from Kyoto, listed below are the most effective issues to take a look at:
1. Go to Byōdō-in and Ujigami-jinja
With Byōdō-in and Ujigami-jinja, Uji has two UNESCO World Heritage Websites.
Based in 1052, Byōdō-in has a historical past stretching again virtually 1,000 years. This temple follows the “Pure Land Buddhism” custom, which is mirrored in its structure and backyard. It goals to duplicate Buddha’s “Pure Land”. When taking a day journey to Uji, visiting the sacred grounds of this stunning place must be a high precedence in your checklist because it’s additionally well-known for being depicted on the ¥10 coin.
The doorway charge for Byōdō-in is ¥700 for adults, which additionally contains entry to the Hōshōkan Museum, the place you’ll be able to see a number of nationwide treasures of Japan. For an additional charge of ¥300, a restricted variety of guests (a most of 20 each 20 minutes) can be allowed to enter the Phoenix Corridor. Tickets for the Phoenix Corridor can be found at a separate counter contained in the temple backyard
On the weekends from November 16 to December 1, 2024, Byōdō-in hosts a particular autumn foliage night time viewing occasion for as much as 1,500 guests per day. Reservation upfront is required.
Constructed round 1060, Ujigami-jinja is believed to be the oldest extant Shinto shrine in Japan. It’s situated a 15-minute stroll away from Byōdō-in throughout the Uji River through Asagiri Bridge. Visiting the shrine and its environment takes a most of 10 to fifteen minutes (there may be not a lot to do). Some guests skip the shrine go to altogether and deal with Byōdō-in as an alternative.
Nonetheless, if you’re planning to see the opposite sights on the north facet of the Uji River (Story of Genji Museum, Mimuroto-ji, Fukujuen Uji Tea Manufacturing unit), a brief detour to Ujigami-jinja is worth it, if just for the scenic stroll throughout the bridges of the Uji River.
2. Discover Byōdō-in Omotesandō Avenue
Byōdō-in Omotesandō Avenue is Uji’s foremost buying district and positively value a go to. Handicraft, memento and candy outlets are lined up, alongside good teahouses and eating places.
However take this with a grain of salt. Byōdō-in Omotesandō Avenue lies within the coronary heart of Uji’s most touristy quarter, proper subsequent to Byōdō-in Temple. Nearly all of outlets tends to be extra crowded than in different, much less frequented areas (extra on this under).
3. Go to a Conventional Teahouse
In case you’re spending a day within the Japanese capital of inexperienced tea, you can not get round attempting some matcha drinks or sweets in a standard teahouse.
Selecting one teahouse out of the myriad of choices in Uji may be tough. There’s a lot alternative! On my final go to, I ended up going to a teahouse tucked away in a facet road, a 6-minute stroll from JR Uji Station.
Selecting a spot barely off the principle street turned out to be an excellent alternative. Whereas I might have needed to queue at many teahouses and cafés in Byōdō-in Omotesandō Avenue, I didn’t have to attend for a seat in my teahouse of alternative and will even get pleasure from my matcha with a wonderful backyard view.
4. Attempt Cha-soba and Cha-dango
In Uji, eating places and cafés additionally serve all types of meals refined with native inexperienced tea.
One in style delicacy (that additionally goes effectively with a cup of matcha) offered in lots of tea homes and candy outlets alongside the Uji River is cha-dango (茶団子), rice dumplings made with inexperienced tea.
Cha-soba (茶そば), inexperienced tea-flavoured buckwheat noodles, is one other dish value attempting. Just like common soba, cha-soba is available in completely different variations akin to scorching noodle soup or zaru-soba, a chilly noodle dish eaten on summer season days.
5. Purchase Uji-Matcha
Matcha powder, bamboo whisks, pottery cups – tea-related souvenirs are a number of the greatest issues to take house from a day journey to Uji. You will discover all these things both in outlets throughout Byōdō-in Omotesandō Avenue or in additional hidden shops off the principle street.
Many locations provide an astonishing choice of completely different teas and matcha powders, all with distinct aromas and grades. In case you’re unsure which tea or matcha to purchase in your objective, take a look at some on-line guides earlier than your journey or strive asking the store assistants throughout your go to for recommendation.
6. Study In regards to the “Story of Genji”
Within the eleventh century, feminine author and courtroom woman Murasaki Shikibu created what later turned some of the celebrated works of Japanese literature, additionally extensively acknowledged as the primary novel in world historical past – the “Story of Genji”.
Set within the Heian Interval (794–1185), the story tells of the life and loves of Hikaru Genji, the son of the Emperor. It’s an excellent (although fairly heavy) learn to delve into aristocratic tradition throughout Japan’s classical interval. The final ten chapters of Woman Murasaki’s novel happen in Uji, also called the Uji-Jūjō (宇治十帖).
Within the “Story of Genji Museum” situated simply throughout the Uji River from Uji Station, you’ll be able to study extra about this fascinating traditional of Japanese literature and its reference to the town. The museum is open each day from 9 AM to five PM (final entry at 4.30 PM), aside from Mondays.
7. Take a Stroll Throughout the Uji River
Uji options loads of stunning websites, lots of that are talked about within the “Story of Genji”.
One such web site is the Uji Bridge, also called one of many three oldest bridges in all of Japan. The unique Uji Bridge is alleged to have been in-built 646. Over the centuries, it has been destroyed and rebuilt a number of instances.
In the present day, a statue of Murasaki Shikibu sits at one in every of its beginning factors, highlighting the importance of her literary work and her connection to Uji.
Yearly between early October and late November, Uji hosts a stamp rally (web site in Japanese solely) with a complete of 21 digital stamp stations in places linked to the “Story of Genji”.
8. Get pleasure from Nature at Mimuroto-ji Temple
Mimuroto-ji is a quaint temple with a 1,200-year historical past hidden within the northern hills of Uji. Its lavish gardens have earned it the moniker of “flower temple“. It has cherry blossoms and azaleas dominating the panorama in spring, hydrangeas and lotus flowers in summer season and pink leaves in autumn.
Mimuroto-ji lies slightly bit off the overwhelmed path. From the centre of Uji, it takes a 30-minute stroll via a residential space to succeed in the temple. Even when you take the bus, it’s virtually equally as lengthy.
Regardless of these minor detours, visiting Mimuroto-ji (particularly throughout the completely different flowering durations) is certainly value contemplating. All through the principle season (February to July, mid–November), the doorway charge is ¥1,000. Low season, it’s half-priced, at ¥500.
9. Be part of a Tea Making Class
In Uji, you can too comply with a workshop the place you can also make your personal matcha. It’s an excellent alternative who get pleasure from interactive experiences and wish to perceive the artwork of tea even higher.
Tea courses normally embody grinding your personal tea leaves and tasting your freshly ready matcha. Costs and length fluctuate relying on the place you go, however you’ll be able to anticipate to pay not less than ¥1,500 to ¥2,500 for a 30- to 50-minute workshop.
The Kyoto Tourism Federation has assembled a choice of 5 completely different amenities (like Chazuna or Fukujuen Uji Tea Manufacturing unit) the place you’ll be able to take part in tea workshops in Uji, together with hyperlinks to their respective web sites. Matcha tasting, pottery making and tea ceremony experiences are additionally out there in a few of these locations.
If you’re desirous about this type of expertise, it is best to make a reservation upfront, as there will not be any spots out there on the day.
Along with workshops and tea-related items, Fukujuen Uji Tea Manufacturing unit includes a small, hidden exhibition in the back of the bottom flooring, the place you’ll be able to study extra in regards to the tea-making course of in Uji.
The way to Get to Uji from Kyoto
Attending to Uji from Kyoto is pretty simple (you don’t even have to vary trains). From Kyoto Station, simply hop on the JR Nara Line. Don’t overlook to make use of your JR Move, when you have one.
Relying on when you catch an area (futsū, 普通), sub-rapid (kukan kaisoku, 区間快速) or fast practice (kaisoku, 快速), a one-way journey will roughly take between 15 to half-hour and price you round ¥240 with out JR Move.
Conclusion – Is Uji Price Visiting?
As Kyoto is getting increasingly more crowded, visiting locations outdoors the principle metropolis is a good way to assist fight over-tourism and get to know Japan outdoors of the massive vacationer spots. In comparison with Kyoto, Uji is a comparatively quiet metropolis, but it has equally stunning temples, teahouses and scenic landscapes to supply.
Uji additionally sees many guests every year nevertheless it’s nowhere close to as full as probably the most touristy areas of Kyoto. And when you’re into historic cities with stunning nature, tea tradition, literature and poetry, Uji is a gem completely value visiting.
Sticking to well-known cities like Kyoto when travelling to Japan may be tempting, particularly when it’s your first time within the nation. However when you have slightly time to spare, I extremely advocate placing Uji in your checklist – much more so when you love matcha, classical literature and historic websites. You gained’t be disillusioned!
