Uji
宇治 · Two UNESCO sites and the oldest tea shop in Japan, half an hour from Kyoto Station
Uji sits on the river of the same name a short ride south of Kyoto Station, and packs three of the heaviest single-stop entries in Kansai into a half-day. Byōdōin's Phoenix Hall (built 1053) is the building on the back of the 10-yen coin. Ujigami Shrine (built 1060) is one of the oldest surviving shrine structures in Japan. Both are part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto World Heritage listing. Tsuen Tea Shop has been serving Uji's matcha continuously since 1160 — the oldest tea shop in Japan still operating. Across the river, Manpuku-ji (1661) is the head temple of Ōbaku Zen, built in Chinese Ming style and unlike any other Zen complex in Japan. Uji is the second-largest city in Kyoto Prefecture by population but reads as a quiet riverside town once you walk past the station.
What Uji is known for
Top-rated in Uji
Asahiyaki Pottery Kiln
4.8craft
16th-century pottery kiln across the river from Byodo-in; tea-ceremony bowls in the muted Asahi-yaki style.
Byodoin
4.6temple
Exquisite Pure Land temple architecture featured on the ten-yen coin.
Manpuku-ji
4.4temple
Head temple of Obaku Zen in Uji, built 1661 with Chinese Ming Dynasty architecture rare in Japan.
Uji Bridge
4.4landmark
One of Japan's oldest bridges with 1,300-year history, featured in The Tale of Genji, connecting to Uji Shrine.
Showen Kumihimo
4.5shopping
Watch artisans weave intricate braided cords using ancient techniques, and try kumihimo crafting yourself.
Ujigami Shrine
4.3shrine
Japan's oldest surviving Shinto shrine with an incredibly serene and ancient atmosphere.
Tsuen Tea Shop
4.3cafe
1160 founding; the oldest tea shop in Japan, on the south end of Uji Bridge, run by the same family for 24 generations.
Kosho-ji Temple
4.3temple
1233 Soto Zen temple on a hillside above the Uji River; the 600-meter approach maple tunnel is the autumn-foliage signature.