Where to Go in Uji

Byodoin is perhaps one of the most striking Buddhist temples in the Uji region. So beautiful, in fact, that it is now depicted on the Japanese 10 yen coin. The temple was originally built in 998, but back then it was not a temple but a extravagant villa for one of the most powerful politicians at the time. The most striking feature of Byodoin is the Phoenix Hall, a designated national treasure, thanks to the fact that it's one of few original wooden structures still remaining in Japan from the Heian Period (710-1185). Byodoin is also a UNESCO world heritage site.

Byodoin

Byodoin

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Another impressive temple in Uji is Manpuku-ji, the head temple of the Japanese Obaku Zen sect. The temple houses a massive collection of Buddhist scriptures and printing blocks, approximately 60,000 of them, dating back to the 17th century. There's also a giant buddha statue, and statues depicting many other religious figures inside.

Manpuku-ji

Obaku-san Manpuku-ji Temple

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Komorebi

Makishima-cho Enba 126-3 Uji

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A quaint district located a short train ride south of Uji that used to be one of the most important areas back when green tea cultivation started in Japan. The area still has several small scale tea factories, located in old wooden houses, some of which date back more than 200 years. Most of the factories here sell exclusively to wholesalers, but some of them are also open to visitors.

Kamikoma

Uji is one of the biggest tea-growing regions in Japan, and the leaves from the hills around the area has been used to produce high quality tea since the 14th Century. The landscape around Uji is filled with hills and mountains, covered with rolling tea plantations that are a spectacular sight indeed. Several of the growers have started offering both tea field as well as factory tours for visitors to the region.

Tea Fields

This river divides Uji into two parts, and is a contributing factor to the beauty of this charming town. There are several walkways along the river bank that are perfect for a leisurely stroll. In the summer there are a few companies offering river cruises operating around here too. Also, the main bridge over the river, Uji Bridge, is said to be one of the oldest bridges in all of Japan, built back in the 7th century.

Uji River

Uji Kawa Park

Kyoto Kyoto Fushimi

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