Uji
ExploreJapanDaily Editorial Team · Last verified: June 26, 2026
Visiting Uji
Uji is one of the most rewarding day trip destinations from Kyoto, a historic city south of the prefecture capital that combines exceptional tea culture, a UNESCO World Heritage temple, and a beautiful riverside setting into a compact and highly walkable area. The city is surrounded by the tea-growing hills that produce some of the most prized matcha and gyokuro green tea in Japan.
Byodo-in Temple is Uji's most iconic landmark, built in 1052 during the Heian period as an aristocratic villa that was converted into a Buddhist temple. The Phoenix Hall, or Hoo-do, is the building reproduced on the reverse of Japan's 10-yen coin and is considered one of the finest surviving examples of Heian period architecture. The hall stands at the edge of a mirror pond, its image reflected in the still water in a composition unchanged for nearly a thousand years.
The Phoenix Hall houses the original gilded Amida Nyorai seated statue carved in 1053 by the master sculptor Jocho, a work considered the pinnacle of Japanese Buddhist sculpture. The statue and the decorative interior with its painted ceiling panels, cloud-borne bodhisattva figures, and cast bronze phoenixes on the roof represent the full flowering of Heian court Buddhist art. The Byodo-in Hoshokan museum adjacent to the temple houses the original bell and decorative fittings preserved from the building.
Uji's tea culture is equally distinguished. The city has been the center of Japanese high-quality tea cultivation since the 13th century when the monk Eisai planted tea seeds in the surrounding hills following his return from China. Today Uji matcha and Uji gyokuro are protected geographical designations, and the city's main street approaching Byodo-in is lined with tea shops, matcha cafes, and specialty tea retailers offering the finest green teas in Japan.
Ujigami Shrine, located on the eastern bank of the Uji River, is Japan's oldest surviving Shinto shrine building, dating to the late Heian period of the 10th or 11th century. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and represents a remarkably intact example of the oldest shrine architectural style. The shrine is small and quiet in contrast to Byodo-in, but its historical significance surpasses even the more famous temple.
The Uji River flowing through the center of the city provides a scenic walking environment along both banks. Historic wooden bridges, stone lanterns, and the small Tachibana Island in the middle of the river create a layered riverscape that has appeared in Japanese literature and poetry since the Heian period. The Uji River is specifically referenced in The Tale of Genji, Japan's 11th-century classic novel, adding a literary dimension to the landscape.
Uji is accessible from Kyoto in about 15 to 20 minutes by the JR Nara Line or the Kintetsu Uji Line, making it ideal for a half-day or full-day excursion from the city. The combination of Byodo-in, Ujigami Shrine, the tea shopping street, and the riverside walk creates a complete destination experience that goes well beyond a single attraction.
Things to Do at Uji
How to Get to Uji
Uji is located south of Kyoto and is one of the easiest and most popular day trips from the city. Famous for its green tea culture and historic temples, Uji is well connected by both JR and Keihan railway lines.
- •Nearest station: Uji Station (JR Nara Line) or Uji Station (Kintetsu Uji Line), both within 10 minutes walk of Byodo-in
- •IC cards (Suica, Pasmo, or ICOCA) are accepted on trains, subways, and buses throughout Japan. Tap in and out at every gate.
- •Avoid traveling during rush hour on weekdays: 7am to 9am and 5pm to 8pm. Trains are significantly more crowded.
- •Google Maps provides accurate real-time transit directions in Kyoto. Download offline maps before you arrive.
Map
Best Time to Visit Uji
Best time to visit Uji: Spring for cherry blossoms around Byodo-in; early morning for the clearest pond reflection at the temple. Weekday mornings are generally quieter than weekends and public holidays.
- •Best time to visit: Spring for cherry blossoms around Byodo-in; early morning for the clearest pond reflection at the temple
- •Arriving on a weekday morning avoids the largest crowds. Weekends and public holidays are significantly busier.
- •Spring (late March to early May) and autumn (October to November) are the most popular seasons for visiting Kyoto.
- •Golden Week (late April to early May) is the busiest week of the year in Japan. Book accommodation and tickets well in advance.
Wisteria trellises bloom by Aji Pond, including a roughly 280-year-old specimen with flower clusters over 1 meter long.
Lotus flowers bloom in Aji Pond.
Around 200 Japanese maple trees color the grounds, with the Phoenix Hall reflected in the pond amid red foliage.
Entry Fee & Hours
| Category | Price (JPY) | Approx. (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | ¥700 | ~$5 |
| High / middle school student | ¥400 | ~$3 |
| Elementary school student | ¥300 | ~$2 |
| Category | Price (JPY) | Approx. (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| All visitors | ¥300 | ~$2 |
- •The garden and museum are wheelchair and stroller accessible, though paths are loose gravel; Byodo-in provides a special wheelchair designed to reduce jolting on the gravel, available on request at the entrance gates.
Nearby Attractions
Combine with Uji on the same day
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Daigo-ji Temple
Toji Temple
Nishiki Market
Kyoto Tower
- •Fushimi Inari Taisha (Around 15 minutes by JR train from Uji): Fushimi Inari Taisha is Kyoto's most iconic Shinto shrine, famous for thousands of vermilion torii gates climbing a forested mountain south of the city. Entry is free and the trails are open around the clock.
- •Daigo-ji Temple (Around 25 minutes by train from Uji): Daigo-ji Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site in southeastern Kyoto famous for its five-story pagoda, one of the oldest wooden structures in Kyoto, spectacular cherry blossom scenery, and a vast temple complex spread across multiple levels of Mount Daigo.
- •Toji Temple (Around 30 minutes by train from Uji): Toji Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site in southern Kyoto famous for Japan's tallest wooden pagoda at 57 meters, a remarkable collection of esoteric Buddhist statuary, and the beloved monthly Kobo-san flea market held on the 21st of each month.
- •Nishiki Market (Around 30 minutes by train from Uji): Nishiki Market is a narrow 400-meter covered shopping street in central Kyoto known as Kyoto's Kitchen, packed with fresh produce, pickles, tofu, street snacks, and traditional Kyoto ingredients.
- •Kyoto Tower (Around 25 minutes by train from Uji): Kyoto Tower is the tallest structure in Kyoto at 131 meters, offering panoramic observation deck views of the city, surrounding mountains, and distant Osaka. It stands directly in front of Kyoto Station and serves as the city's most visible modern landmark.
Suggested Itinerary
Pair Uji with these nearby stops for a full day in Uji City.
Frequently Asked Questions
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