Uji (宇治) ⭐is a charming town nestled between Nara and Kyoto, two of Japan's ancient capitals. It's known for its rich history, tea culture, and stunning autumn foliage. In December 2016, I made my first trip to Uji to see the autumn leaves and visit Byodoin Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In May 2023, I returned with my daughter to share this special place with her.
Visiting Uji River for Its Autumn Colors (YouTube link)
Uji River
Lining the riverbank, many teahouses and restaurants showcase Uji's famous tea and tea-themed foods. Visitors can try tea-flavored soba noodles, green tea ice cream, and other popular Uji tea treats while enjoying the view.
Nakamura Tokichi Byodo-in, a traditional Japanese tea house located on the banks of the Uji River, is a great place to enjoy matcha desserts and relax with a view. The second floor is especially popular, as it offers stunning views of the river and the surrounding mountains.
On the day of my initial visit, I first walked through the old town area towards Byodoin Temple. Then I crossed the bridge and walked along the north bank of the Uji River on a paved road. After reaching the suspension bridge, I turned around and walked along the south bank of the Uji River.
The photos below are shown in the same order of my visit.
Initial visit on December 3, 2016
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| Suspension Bridge (Amagase Bridge or 天ヶ瀬橋) |
Second Visit on 05/10/2023
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| The bridge was closed due to the raging waters |
Instagram Friends
When you travel alone, you learn new things and meet new people every day. While walking along the Uji River, I met three travelers—two from Canada and one from Japan. How did they know each other? Instagram.
Instagram is what connected them. They got to know each other by admiring each other's photos. When the Canadians decided to visit Kyoto, they reached out to their Japanese friend to see if they could show them around. Their friend happily agreed, and they met up in Uji that same day.
Reference
- Japan Travel: Visiting Uji for Its History and Tea
- Kyoto and Nara: Rough Guides Snapshot Japan
- Visiting Arashiyama (嵐山) in Kyoto—Personal Experience
- Visiting Ohara in Kyoto—Personal Experience
- Visiting Nigatsudo Hall (二月堂) in Nara—Personal Experience
- Visiting Yoshiki-en Garden (吉城園 / よしきえん) in Nara—Personal Experience
- Visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社)—Personal Experience
- Temple Lodging in Koyasan—Personal Experience
- A Solo Trip Can Be A Disaster If You Forget These 7 Rules
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