Uji: matcha capital of Japan
- japansophy
- Jan 17
- 7 min read
Just a 16-minute train ride from the shrines, temples and inevitable crowds of Kyoto lies a town where the air smells faintly of toasted grass and the river flows with a thousand years of history. Welcome to Uji, the undisputed "Matcha Capital" of Japan.
Most travellers have a bucket-list of attractions that they want to speed through while in Kyoto, but not setting aside time for a day trip – even a half-day trip – to the town of Uji means missing out on UNESCO World Heritage sites (like the iconic Byodoin Temple featured on your 10-yen coin), tea houses that have been family-run for twenty-four generations and scenery straight out of The Tale of Genji. Not to forget, Uji matcha everywhere you look! Read on to find out why Uji should be an essential part of your Japan itinerary.
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How to get to Uji
Uji has two train stations, JR Uji Station to the west of the River Uji and Keihan Uji Station to the east of the river. The Keihan Station is a little closer to the main points of interest, but Uji isn't very big so you won't have to walk far in any case.
Uji from Kyoto
The most straightforward way of getting to Uji from Kyoto is to take the JR Nara line Rapid Miyakoji train from JR Kyoto station to JR Uji station (17 mins; 360 yen). It's possible to take the Keihan Railway but you will have to change at least once, it will take twice as long and will cost almost twice as much.
Uji from Osaka
By JR (especially interesting for Japan Rail Pass holders), take the Special Rapid from JR Osaka Station to JR Kyoto Station. Change there to the JR Nara line Rapid Miyakoji to JR Uji Station. You'll need around 60 mins and tickets cost around 940 yen.
Alternatively, take the Keihan Limited Express Demachiyanagi to Chushojima. Change there to the Keihan Local Uji line. The entire journey will take around an hour and costs around 490 yen.
What to see and do in Uji
Uji is a very walkable town. You'll enjoy just walking around, taking in the scenery, the little shops and streets, sampling matcha products practically every step of the way and taking an o-bento break down by the side of the river. There are a few things, though, you really shouldn't miss.
Everybody's buying matcha in Uji. Why not try grinding your own! Click on the button to reserve your tickets!
Byodo-in temple
This 1000-year-old temple is the jewel in Uji's crown and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The temple's "Phoenix Hall" is featured on the back of the ten-yen coin and is a stunning example of Heian architecture, set in the middle of a pond. The temple is especially beautiful in spring with cherry blossoms and wisteria, but also in autumn when it is illuminated after dark, surrounded by fall colours.
Admission to the temple gardens is 700 yen for adults, 400 for junior/senior high-school students and 300 for elementary school kids (prices all as of Jan. 2026, subject to change).
You can only enter the hall itself as part of a tour (every 20 minutes, starting at 9:30am, for a maximum of 50 people) and these book out extremely fast. Tours cost an extra 300 yen.
Opening hours: 8:45am - 5:30pm (last admission 5.15pm), open all year round
Ujigami shrine
Ujigami shrine is yet another UNESCO world heritage site (the world's smallest!) and is thought to be Japan's oldest standing shrine. Ujigami shrine is closely associated with neighbouring Uji shrine (they were one shrine until the late 1800s) and both have a rabbit-theme going on – it is said that a rabbit helped locate one of the princes to which the shrines are dedicated when he got lost. The rabbit-shaped lucky charms sold at the shrines are a popular souvenir.
Autumn colour in Uji
Kyoto is a very popular place for viewing the autumn leaves. Uji also has a lot to offer the momiji-fan but you might find it less crowded than the well-known spots in the city. We already mentioned above that Byodo-in is especially gorgeous in the autumn, and there are a few other spots in Uji that are worth special mention. Koshoji temple is one. The path leading up to the temple hall turns into a tunnel of fiery reds and oranges in late autumn and is one of Uji's most popular autumn-leaf-viewing spots. The Tale of Genji Museum also has a beautiful garden that dazzles in the fall.
Sakura season in Uji
Uji is a great place to escape the crowds in cherry blossom season. The locals also appreciate Uji as a fantastic o-hanami spot, so you won't have the place all to yourself but it's certainly a lot quieter than Kyoto city. Byodo-in is famous for its cherry blossoms, so get there early before the tour buses arrive. But the riverside just outside Byodo-in is also lined with cherry trees and is the focus of the annual Uji River Sakura Festival. Take a boating trip up the river to admire the blossoms from the water.
Boat trips on the Uji River
A boat trip on the River Uji is a pleasure at any time of year. The scenery is simply stunning and you'll have the chance to see Uji's famous bridges - including Ujibashi, considered to be one of Japan's three oldest bridges - from a different angle. Uji is famous for its traditional cormorant fishing and tourists can take part in evening tours to see this ancient ritual in practice by lantern light.
Tale of Genji Museum
You might not be familiar with the Tale of Genji but you can't escape its presence in Uji. This work of literature, set in Uji, is supposed to have been written in the 11th century by a lady of the imperial court, Murasaki Shikibu, and tells the story of Genji, son of the emperor, his life and loves. The museum is dedicated to the Heian-period world that Murasaki Shikibu and the eponymous Genji lived in with interactive exhibits displaying the sort of furnishings, clothes and even rickshaws they would have known, animations and films . Admission is 600 yen for adults and 300 for children (as at January 2026). Opening hours 9am- 5pm, closed Mondays (or Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday).
Uji matcha
The gorgeous natural setting, the history of this place and the stunning UNESCO World Heritage sites are all big draws but it's matcha that has made Uji virally popular on social media in recent years, to the extent that the traditional matcha shops in the town are finding it difficult to keep up with demand.
A large part of Uji's captivating charm is its quaint streets and you should definitely set aside enough time to wander around and discover its little traditional shops, businesses, teahouses and eateries. Stroll down Byodo-in Omotesando and sample all the matcha treats you've been dreaming of: soft, creamy ice-cream, daifuku, mochi, cookies, sweets... Take a matcha tour through Uji and discover more about green tea and the history of Uji while snacking on matcha goodies! Check prices by clicking on the button below.
Uji is known as the matcha capital of Japan because of the volumes of green tea produced by nearby tea plantations but also because of the top quality of this tea (other areas produce more but of a lower, "culinary" grade). Certainly, if matcha is your buzz, you will find all you need here, including all the accoutrements such as tea bowls, whisks, etc. You can even have a go at milling your own matcha at the Chazuna tea museum in Uji. This activity books out very quickly so reserve your tickets in advance. Click below to book your matcha-making experience on Get Your Guide!
Uji FAQ
Why is Uji matcha so famous?
Uji matcha is famed for its particularly high-quality. You might have seen people on social media explaining that they were buying "ceremonial grade" matcha (this is a misunderstanding; see our article on matcha here). What they mean by this is that they are buying top-quality matcha that is generally used for drinking, for example in tea ceremonies, rather than lower grade "culinary" matcha that is used in cooking and baking.
Is it worth going to Uji, Japan?
Depending on how much time you have to spare in your itinerary, we can highly recommend a day trip to Uji. It's a really charming town, very walkable, less crowded than much of Kyoto and is home to several UNESCO World Heritage sites. Because the town is relatively small, there are plenty of spots to enjoy the gorgeous natural setting and just chill a little.
Do I need to go to Uji for matcha?
You don't need to go to uji for matcha - you can buy matcha anywhere in Japan and Uji's most famous, most revered brands are also available in shops in Kyoto, Osaka and beyond. But if you're a real matcha fan, Uji offers an all-round matcha experience, with tea ceremonies, matcha-flavoured snacks everywhere you look, even a tea museum where you can grind your own matcha from green tea leaves (tickets sell out quickly for this popular activity. Reserve yours here)
How do you get to Uji from Kyoto?
Uji is incredibly easy to reach from Kyoto. Just take the JR Nara line Rapid Miyakoji train from JR Kyoto station to JR Uji station (17 mins; 360 yen)
How much time do you need in Uji?
You can spend a whole day exploring Uji, since it has a lot to offer. But if you're pressed for time, you can also experience it's main attractions in a few hours - it's a small town and everything is within a short walk from the station. Kyoto's Fushimi Shrine and the Nintendo Museum aren't far away from Uji (Fushimi is even on the same railway line and the Nintendo Museum is just a few stops from Uji on the Keihan line), so you could easily do Uji as part of a day out in southern Kyoto.
Can I do Uji and Nara in one day?
Nara is only around 30 minutes away from Uji by train so it's perfectly doable to visit both in one day if you just want to see the highlights of both towns.
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