Uji

Uji (宇治市) is a city in Kyoto prefecture, Japan.

Two of Uji's historic monuments, Byōdō-in Buddhist temple and Ujigami Shinto Shrine, have been inscribed as World Heritage sites as part of "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)".



Understand
Uji is one of the oldest cities in Japan. Located between the two ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto, its roots reach almost as deep into Japanese history as its those of its two famous neighbors. Uji was the scene of many famous ancient stories, including the final chapters of The Tale of Genji. Author Alex Kerr extols its virtues in his book Lost Japan, contrasting Uji favorably with Kyoto as a (rare) example of a historic Japanese city whose modern development has not disrupted its classical beauty. There are stores that have been open for hundreds of years, and several important temples lie within its borders. The city has also been celebrated for its tea for almost a thousand years. During cherry blossom season, the bridge that spans the Uji River makes for a breathtaking walk.


 * Guide site by the Tourist Association.
 * The city government's site has a downloadable English pamphlet.
 * Guide site by the Tourist Association.
 * The city government's site has a downloadable English pamphlet.

Get in
The is probably the most convenient way to Uji for most people. It is on the Nara line, and has trains from Kyoto (20 min, ¥240) and Nara (35 min, ¥500). The main sights along the river are a short walk from the station.

The is on the other side of the river, but is slightly closer to most of the sights. This line can be a good alternative if you are planning a day trip from Osaka and don't have a JR pass. Trains from Osaka take around 55 minutes for ¥410 with one change in Chushojima. However, Keihan railways have a special Kyoto-Osaka sightseeing pass (¥700/1000 for 1/2 days) giving unlimited rides, which is cheaper than a return ticket and allows you to also travel to Kyoto.

Get around
Most of the sights are a short walk from either of the stations. Most of the sights are along the river on either shore. Everything is quite compact and it is easily possible to cover everything in one day by just strolling along the river. You will probably not need a map, but if you want one, they are available at either of the tourist offices.

See
Since Uji is a place full of tradition, there are many small temples to be found on both sides of the river. There are excellent explanatory displays in both English and Japanese in front of most of the major and minor sights.



Do

 * Uji being famous for tea, this is the perfect place to experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony:
 * The Tea Festival takes place on the first Sunday of October. As befits a city built on tea, Uji takes its water seriously. This festival celebrates the rituals involved in drawing up the famous water. Costumes are worn, prayers of thanks are said to the luminaries of tea history, tea-tasting competitions are held, and best of all, there's free tea on offer.
 * Cormorant fishing can be seen on summer nights along the Uji River. Fishermen using fire, nets and trained birds make for an exciting spectacle. During fishing season, boat tours are run on the river that will get you very close to the action. Visit the kiosk by the stone pagoda at 6pm to buy tickets (you can tell you're getting close when you see the boats lining the river). At &yen;1800/person for an hour on the river (children &yen;900), it's not a bad deal.
 * Kyō pottery has been a cherished local tradition since the Muromachi period. Asashiyaki Pottery is on the east side of the river, near Kosho-ji, and Shizugawa Togei Kyoshitsu is further to the south. Visitors who are especially interested can take a taxi to Sumiyama Pottery Village (2-2 Kuda, Sumiyama, Uji City), about 6.5 km from the city center. At Sumiyama, visitors can tour factories manufacturing pottery in the Kyo and Kiyomizu traditions. Pottery design and painting classes are also available.
 * Cormorant fishing can be seen on summer nights along the Uji River. Fishermen using fire, nets and trained birds make for an exciting spectacle. During fishing season, boat tours are run on the river that will get you very close to the action. Visit the kiosk by the stone pagoda at 6pm to buy tickets (you can tell you're getting close when you see the boats lining the river). At &yen;1800/person for an hour on the river (children &yen;900), it's not a bad deal.
 * Kyō pottery has been a cherished local tradition since the Muromachi period. Asashiyaki Pottery is on the east side of the river, near Kosho-ji, and Shizugawa Togei Kyoshitsu is further to the south. Visitors who are especially interested can take a taxi to Sumiyama Pottery Village (2-2 Kuda, Sumiyama, Uji City), about 6.5 km from the city center. At Sumiyama, visitors can tour factories manufacturing pottery in the Kyo and Kiyomizu traditions. Pottery design and painting classes are also available.
 * Kyō pottery has been a cherished local tradition since the Muromachi period. Asashiyaki Pottery is on the east side of the river, near Kosho-ji, and Shizugawa Togei Kyoshitsu is further to the south. Visitors who are especially interested can take a taxi to Sumiyama Pottery Village (2-2 Kuda, Sumiyama, Uji City), about 6.5 km from the city center. At Sumiyama, visitors can tour factories manufacturing pottery in the Kyo and Kiyomizu traditions. Pottery design and painting classes are also available.

Buy
The Sankyū-an (三休庵) shopping street, leading from the Uji Bridge toward Byodo-in, features several old stores with the city's famous tea and pottery.

Eat
Local specialties centre around green tea (naturally) and Kyoto cuisine. Some of what you'll find in town:


 * Cha-soba made by mixing green tea with regular soba noodles. There are also cha-udon restaurants.
 * Green-tea flavoured ice cream, including the ubiquitous soft-serve cones.
 * Green-tea flavoured dango, often served as the sweet included with matcha service.
 * Kyoto cuisine, including yuba, kaiseki-ryori, etc.

Places to eat:

A map of restaurants and shops can be obtained from the tourism information centre near Byodo-in.

Drink
Green tea! Uji produces the most famous (and the most expensive) tea in Japan. Otherwise, it's not long on nightlife.

Sleep
Plenty of ryokan and hotels are available in Kyoto or Nara. However, if you'd like to stay in Uji, there are a few options:



Go next

 * Kyoto and Nara are a short trip in either direction; most visitors will have arrived from one or the other.
 * Kyotanabe
 * Ujitawara
 * Joyo
 * Kizugawa
 * Wazuka
 * Kumiyama
 * Yawata
 * Otsu If you are hungry for more Tale of Genji locations, visit Ishiyama-dera temple, where the book was written.