Half-Day Stroll in Uji: Savor Matcha, Explore World Heritage Sites & Enjoy the Town’s Charming Scenery

Text & Photos / Unrestrained Traveler

Uji, a small city almost synonymous with matcha, is often considered less significant than Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara by most travelers visiting Kansai. Those with limited time often skip it altogether to visit other destinations, resulting in significantly fewer tourists here. Without the crowds and surrounded by beautiful mountains and water, Uji becomes a fresh, tranquil, and photogenic little town. Here, we highly recommend visiting Uji to enjoy matcha, explore historic sites, take a leisurely walk, and soak in the relaxing atmosphere.

After writing several travelogues about Uji, I’ve received private messages from friends asking about my itinerary. This article shares the half-day walking route I took during my visit to this matcha haven.This half-day stroll is perfect for first-time visitors to Uji or those who want to go but have limited time.。

Before diving in, here’s a brief outline of the article structure:
1. Quick Overview“Uji’s Location & Transportation”
2. Details“What Other Areas Can Be Combined with a Half-Day Uji Trip”
3.“The Uji Half-Day Itinerary: Attractions, Actual Experience & Scenes”

1. 【Uji’s Location & Transportation】

As shown in the map above, Uji is a district in southern Kyoto Prefecture, located southeast of Kyoto City and northeast of Osaka City (regarding the sizes of Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara, please don’t focus too much on the areas I circled—they’re not drawn to scale but are rough approximations based on relative positions).

1) From Kyoto:Take the JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station to Uji Station—about a 20-minute ride. Alternatively, if you prefer not to take the JR, you can take the Keihan Railway from Gion-Shijo Station to Keihan Uji Station, which takes around 30 minutes.

2) From Osaka:Take the JR line to Kyoto Station, then transfer to the Nara Line heading toward Uji Station. If you find the JR too expensive and want to avoid it, you can also take the Keihan Main Line from any of the following subway stations: Yodoyabashi, Kitahama, Temmabashi, or Kyobashi, to Chushojima Station. Then transfer to the Keihan Uji Line to reach Uji Station. This option is about half the price of the JR and takes roughly 1 to 1.5 hours.

2. 【What Other Areas Can Be Combined with a Half-Day Uji Trip】

Based on the map and train distances, Osaka is farther from Uji, while Kyoto City is very close. Therefore, here are some suggested full-day itinerary combinations:

1) Departing from Kyoto (recommended):
a. Fushimi Inari Taisha + Half-Day Uji Trip
b. Half-Day Uji Trip + Half-Day Nara Trip
(Prioritize Uji if you prefer it, or Nara if that’s your focus—both places have so many sights that just three or four stops at each could easily fill your day.)

2) Departing from Osaka:Half-Day Uji Trip + Half-Day Nara Trip. Logistically, Nara is closer, so go there first before heading to Uji.

PS. For those planning to visit Nara, here's a reference:Nara One-Day Walking Map: Adorable Yet Mischievous Deer & the World’s Largest Wooden Building That Never Gets Old (Includes Detailed Transport & Map Info)

Both Uji and Nara—especially Nara—can easily fill a full day. If you have the time, it’s ideal to spend a whole day at each. But if your schedule is tight, you’ll have to choose wisely.

3. [Scenic Route and Actual Experience of a Half-Day Tour in Uji]

The half-day tour route for that day is shown in the image above (you can right-click to save it; please do not misuse or steal the image):
(1) JR Uji Station → (2) Tominokoji Honpo (Nakamura Tokichi Main Store) → (3) Byodo-in → (4) Uji Shrine → (5) Uji Hachiman Shrine → (6) Uji Bridge

Isn’t it super clear and straightforward? The image above is actually from the business card of Tominokoji (Nakamura Tokichi), and I thought it was very easy to understand, so I used it as the base and drew the route on it to show you all. Actually, this route can also be done in reverse, and you don’t necessarily have to take the JR (Keihan Electric Railway is also fine), or maybe you just hate Tominokoji or don’t want to eat matcha XD, then you can choose a different matcha shop or skip this option altogether—it really depends on everyone’s preference and what’s most convenient.

The total time for going around this loop, including waiting and dining time at Tominokoji Honpo (about 1.5 hours), is roughly 5.5 hours. However, that’s at a very leisurely, slow pace, and we often stop to look at shops along the way. If you skip the shops and just visit the scenic spots, it might take only about 4 to 4.5 hours (including dining at Tominokoji) or so.

Among them, Byodo-in and Uji Hachiman Shrine, both listed as World Heritage Sites, have a history of nearly a thousand years and are highly recommended. Below, I’ll take you through them step-by-step with detailed images and text. The scenery along the Uji River is absolutely gorgeous~

(1) JR Uji Station

That day, I took the JR Nara Line (Platforms 8, 9, or 10) from Kyoto Station heading to Uji. The green cars are pretty easy to spot, and there are many trains.

After eight stops, I arrived in Uji—just a short ride of about 20 minutes. Uji Station is small, just like a typical rural train station. I had thought that such a famous matcha capital would have a constant stream of tourists, but actually, it wasn’t the case. There weren’t many people getting off the train here. As soon as I exited the station, I felt how spacious and uncrowded it was—wow, so few people~ Coming from central Kyoto, there’s quite a contrast; it feels wide and relaxing.

Exiting the station, the tourist information center for Uji City is on the left side, just behind you. You can go inside to get a free, detailed map (See the image below, or click here to download). The staff there will recommend a route based on how long you plan to stay in Uji.

I followed that map while exploring Uji, but if you’re only doing a half-day trip, the map is a bit too large and a little cluttered. The pink highlight marks the route our group took.

If you’re only going to these spots, my simplified map is probably clearer (I say so myself XD).

The image below shows the view you see when you exit the station and look straight ahead. Walking straight to the end takes about 3 minutes to reach Tominokoji Honpo—it’s right at the end of the road.

(2) Tominokoji Honpo (Nakamura Tokichi Main Store)

Tominokoji Honpo actually has branches in Kyoto Station and Osaka, and there’s also a branch on Byodo-in Omotesando not far from the main store. But eating at the over 100-year-old main store feels more special. Its historic building is a nationally designated Cultural Landscape property, representing Japan’s tea-making history and holding both cultural and industrial significance.

The matcha here is delicious—you can really take your time to try all kinds of green tea products. Whether you want to eat matcha udon, matcha soba, various sweets (matcha cheesecake, sponge cake, ice cream, matcha milk, etc.), or enjoy a pot of freshly brewed green tea with a sweet aftertaste, they’ve got you covered. You can check the food review here:A Must-Visit for Matcha Lovers: Nakamura Tokichi’s Century-Old flagship Store – Every Savory and Sweet Bite Is Full of Tea Aroma

After leaving Tominokoji Honpo, walk to the right along the road. The shops aren’t very densely packed, but you’ll always spot tea houses here and there. The well-known ?ri branch is also on this street.

If you don’t stop anywhere, it takes about 5 minutes to reach the intersection below. The gray, cement torii gate leads to the Omotesando of Uji Shrine, but the one we’re taking is the adjacent path leading to Byodo-in Omotesando. There are signs, so don’t worry about getting lost.

Before crossing the street to Byodo-in Omotesando, I and an elderly lady with me got completely drawn into a nearby fabric and sundries shop called “Eirakuya.” It’s Japan’s oldest cotton fabric merchant, with a history of over a hundred years. Their products (scarves, cloth bags, various sizes of square scarves, handkerchiefs, etc.) are all made from pure cotton dyed with classic Japanese patterns—they’re absolutely beautiful~~~ Girls will definitely be dazzled when they see them. Eirakuya also has several branches in Kyoto, so you don’t necessarily have to come all the way to Uji to visit, but once you see it, you just want to check it out XD.

Byodo-in Omotesando isn’t long—it runs alongside the Uji River, parallel to it, and is about two to three hundred meters long. There’s a tea house every few steps, plus many sundries shops—it’s quite fun to stroll around.

Tominokoji’s Byodo-in branch is located here. If you want to dine but feel the wait at the main store is too long, this place might have a shorter queue. Maybe having a meal or drink here is also a good option, and the dining area is right next to the Uji River with a beautiful view.

Itoh Kyuemon also has a branch on the Omotesando.

(3) World Heritage Site “Byodo-in”

This place is truly amazing. It’s a pity to visit Uji without coming here. Although the 600-yen admission fee isn’t cheap, seeing the grand red symmetric architecture, its reflection in the water, and the blue sky—I personally really love it.

For a detailed travelogue, see:Nearly Thousand-Year-Old World Heritage Site “Byodo-in” – A Zero-Blind-Spot Symmetrical Architecture Reflected on Water

[Nakahashi Island]

The "Byodo-in" and the "Uji Shrine" and "Upper Uji Shrine" are located on the left and right sides of the Uji River respectively, with a long, narrow, small island in the middle of the river. Its name is very straightforward—it's called "Nakanoshima" (Middle Island), and there’s a small park on it (though I didn’t visit this time). There are three bridges on Nakanoshima that connect to both the left and right sides of the Uji River.

After leaving Byodo-in, if you walk to the right and cross the Tachibana Bridge, you can reach Nakanoshima. I was a bit puzzled though—why isn’t this Tachibana Bridge even slightly orange? There might be some historical reason, but I’m not familiar with it.

Every casual shot is a beautiful view~

The island is really narrow—you can see its width from left to right in the photo above at a glance.

The only bridge on Nakanoshima that leads to the other side is this orange-red Asagiri Bridge. With its bright color, it pairs wonderfully with the surrounding landscape of mountains, water, and sky.

From here, you can feel the large and rapid flow of the Uji River.

Looking to the other side, you can see the Uji Bridge, which we’ll pass later.

(4)+(5) Uji Shrine and the “World Heritage” Upper Uji Shrine

After crossing the Asagiri Bridge, the torii gate of Uji Shrine is right at the end of the bridge.

The not-so-large Uji Shrine and Upper Uji Shrine are adjacent to each other. In fact, they were originally one shrine and were only separated during the Meiji period. This arrangement is called “two shrines as one.”

The main hall of the Upper Uji Shrine is the oldest shrine architecture in all of Japan.

Although it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the number of visitors here is far fewer than many famous sights in central Kyoto. Even so, it is truly as worthwhile a visit as Byodo-in. The shrine is lush with greenery, surrounded by nature, and complemented by nearly thousand-year-old wooden structures full of historical charm—creating an ethereal, serene atmosphere that is very relaxing.

Detailed photo and text introductions for these two shrines:Japan’s oldest shrine, “Upper Uji Shrine”—a World Heritage Site where nature and spirituality blend

After finishing your visit to the Upper Uji Shrine, it’s almost time to head back. Following the path shown in the photo above, you’ll pass by the Genji Museum. Those interested in Japanese literature might want to check it out, but since it was Monday and the museum was closed that day, I couldn’t go in.

The area along the way is lined with classic, traditional Japanese houses. It made me think how nice it would be to live here. It’s such a comfortable place—fresh air, beautiful surroundings, no crowded masses, and plenty of matcha. It feels like the perfect spot to retire!

(6) Uji Bridge

Actually, I just happened to cross this bridge on the way back. At the time, I only thought the scenery around it was beautiful and didn’t think much else. It wasn’t until I looked up information later that I realized it has quite a bit of historical significance, so I wanted to point it out specifically.

Uji Bridge is the oldest of Japan’s Three Ancient Bridges. It was first built in 646 AD (over 1,300 years ago), though the current Uji Bridge was rebuilt in 1996. I’d really love to have seen what it looked like before the reconstruction.

Looking from the bridge toward Nakanoshima, you can see the small Tachibana Bridge and the vermilion Asagiri Bridge, with a very open skyline.

When you walk back to the intersection you passed earlier (shown in the photo below), look to the left, and you’ll see a white statue sitting gracefully by the banks of the Uji River.

Many people take photos with this statue. Upon closer inspection, you’ll find it’s a statue of Murasaki Shikibu, the author of The Tale of Genji, sitting elegantly by the wide riverside.

The Uji Bridge, river water, and surrounding hills behind her somehow accentuate the elegance of this white statue.

I really like the tree next to the statue—the way its trunk curves and the direction its branches grow are just perfect, blending seamlessly with the environment. That’s the unique atmosphere of Uji—tranquil, elegant, full of historical charm. If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of Osaka or central Kyoto, coming here is just the right remedy.
 

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