My Visit to Uji: A Peaceful Escape from Kyoto
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First Impressions of Uji
When I first arrived in Uji, I immediately felt the calmness in the air. Compared to Kyoto’s busy streets, Uji felt like a peaceful retreat. The gentle flow of the Uji River and the quiet streets made me feel right at home.
Crossing the Ujibashi Bridge
One of the first things I did was walk across the Ujibashi Bridge. It’s said to be one of the oldest bridges in Japan! Standing in the middle of the bridge, I took a moment to enjoy the river view — it was so refreshing.
Statue of Murasaki Shikibu
Right after the bridge, I stumbled upon a beautiful statue of Murasaki Shikibu, the famous author of The Tale of Genji. It was pretty cool to see how much the city treasures its connection to Japanese literature.
Strolling Down Byodoin Omotesando Street
I loved walking along Byodoin Omotesando Street! It’s a small street full of charming shops selling matcha everything — matcha ice cream, matcha cakes, matcha souvenirs… Of course, I couldn’t resist getting a matcha soft serve.
Green tea ice creams seemed to be our favorite. It is a nice relaxing street to hang out. Just walk until the end of the street and you can see a path leading to the main entrance of Byodoin Temple.
Visiting the Beautiful Byodoin Temple
The highlight of my trip was definitely Byodoin Temple. The temple grounds were so beautiful and peaceful.
A Quick Stop at the Museum
To enter the Byodoin Temple, you need to buy a 600 yen ticket, which grants you access to the temple grounds and museum.
The Stunning Phoenix Hall
To view inside the Phoenix Hall itself, an additional 300 yen ticket can be purchased from another ticket desk inside the grounds.
The tickets are sold for a certain visitation time that lasts for half an hour as they control the number of people that go in.
The museum is beautiful architecturally and quite modern. It houses some beautiful artifacts and original sculptures from Phoenix Hall for viewing up close replicas were placed in Phoenix Hall. There aren’t many pieces, but it does represent a slice of Japanese history.
Ujigami Shrine
Ujigami Shrine is one of the oldest shrines in Japan on the upper portion of the narrow pathway away from the main street. Although the place was small, the place was very quiet with a peaceful environment.
Asagiri Bridge
After exploring the streets of Uji, I found myself at the beautiful Asagiri Bridge. It wasn’t as crowded as Ujibashi Bridge which made it feel even more special. Standing there, I could see the gentle flow of the Uji River and the mountains in the distance — it was such a peaceful and dreamy view. The soft breeze and quiet surroundings made it a perfect spot to just pause and breathe in the moment.
Why Uji Should Be on Your Kyoto Itinerary
In summary, Uji is a destination you shouldn’t miss if you are planning a trip to Kyoto. You can explore Uji comfortably in half a day, about four to five hours on foot. Thanks to the close proximity of its attractions to the JR Line and Keihan Line stations, it’s easy to get around. With its beautiful scenery, historic sites and peaceful atmosphere, Uji truly made for a memorable visit.
Temples Access Details
Ujigami Jinja Shrine
Address : 59 Ujiyamada, Uji City, Kyoto 611-0021
Hours : 9am-4.30pm
Admission : Free to the grounds of the shrine
Byodoin Temple
Address : 116 Uji Renge, Uji-shi
Hours : 8.30am-5.30pm, last entry 5.15pm
Admission : Free to the grounds of the shrine
Getting to Uji
JR Line
- From JR Kyoto Station, take a JR Nara Line train to Uji (JR Station)
- From JR Nara Station, take an HR Nara Line train to Uji (JR Station)
Keihan Line
- Uji can also be reached on the Keihan Line from Demachiyanagi Station, Sanjo-Keihan Station, and Shijo-Keihan Station in the center of Kyoto changing at Chushojima Station for the Keihan Uji Line.
- To get to Chushojima Station from Osaka, take a Keihan Line train from Kyobashi Station. From Chushojima Station, changing for the Keihan Uji Line to Uji Station.
Website
For more information: https://www.kyototourism.org/en/
