Uji, Kyoto
Just outside of central Kyoto, Uji is great for Japanese sights and matcha.
Uji is a small area just to the south of central Kyoto
It is most known for green tea
Byodoin Temple is one of the famous sights located there
Uji is a small city located within the Kyoto administrative district. It’s just to the south of central Kyoto and nearby other popular destinations like Nara and Osaka.
How to get there
There are two train stations in Uji, but if you’re coming from Kyoto, JR Uji Station may be the easier option. The Nara Line goes from Kyoto Station, and that’s what we used when visiting.
About Uji
Uji is most known for its green tea. Kyoto is said to be the original place where tea cultivation took place in Japan, and Uji became famous for having superior quality tea.
It’s still this way today, and there are a few famous tea shops to check out, one which I’ve listed below on this page.
Unless you’re staying in Uji, I consider it a day trip. I’ve been to Uji twice and I’ll introduce some of the things I’ve done and had to eat.
I also created a video where we visit Uji and other places in Kyoto:
What we did
Byodoin Temple
One of the nicer temples to visit when traveling in Kyoto. Byodoin Temple sits in the middle of a garden area, not too far from JR Uji Station and a lot of main attractions.
In the fall, it’s especially nice with the vibrant leaves located all around the temple grounds. There’s also a museum here as well.
Cormorant Fishing
Along the Uji River, near Byodoin Temple, is where a display of cormorant fishing takes place.
It’s known as a summer event that dates back to the Heian era (794-1185), and fishermen light up a torch and use the birds to retrieve fish.
Between July and September, visitors can sit on wooden boats and watch the fishermen and cormorants go to work. When I went with my family, there was even a boat with a maiko on board.
I’ve also had a good lunch and matcha experience in Uji that I recommend.
Nikuya Kurokawa
Simple but so delicious. Nikuya Kurokawa is an extremely popular restaurant that specializes in wagyu beef donburi’s (over rice).
We got their regular wagyu beef donburi and one that was mixed together with takuan, which is a type of Japanese pickles. Both came with an egg yolk that you can put on top and a soup.
You need to go really early as there was already a line 30 minutes before opening, and be prepared with cash. It was worth it, though, this meal was very, very good.
Nakamura Tokichi
When in Uji, you have to get matcha since it’s known for it. Nakamura Tokichi began here in 1854 and has had several generations of owners.
We made a reservation for their tea room, where we could sit on tatami mats, sip matcha and eat namacha, which is a dessert that comes in a bamboo cup. In it are sweets such as anko (red bean), matcha jelly, mochi and matcha ice cream.
There’s also a gift shop that has a range of matcha powder at different levels, matcha baked goods, hojicha (roasted green tea) and more. Definitely a stop to be made when in Uji.
Keep in touch:
Japan’s fall colors are absolutely beautiful, and Kyoto is one of the best places to go for them.