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Be part of us on a journey to Uji, Japan, identified for its conventional tea ceremonies and historic temples. Immerse your self in Japanese tradition and uncover the great thing about this picturesque city.
This half three of my four-part autumn collection via Kyoto, the place I share some ideas and methods for having fun with 紅葉 (kōyō – autumn leaves), and eventually, spotlight the highest spots in Kyoto, together with one bonus episode in Osaka.
For those who haven’t learn the primary two posts, I like to recommend studying them earlier than this put up as we discover Kyoto’s important metropolis space. On this put up, I’ll be heading to south Kyoto, to Uji, which is legendary for inexperienced tea and matcha, and one in every of Japan’s most well-known temples and scenes.
So, let’s get into the motion!
The way to get to Uji
There are two railway stations in Uji: JR Uji Station and Keihan Uji Station.
You possibly can simply get to JR Uji Station alongside the JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station. The speedy practice takes 20 minutes, and the native practice takes half-hour, costing 240 yen a method. The Japan Rail Move additionally covers the practice. Nonetheless, the station is way from the principle points of interest in comparison with Keihan Uji Station.
For those who plan to reach at Keihan Uji Station, you will want to take the Keihan Uji Line. For those who come from central Tokyo, you may board the Keihan Uji Line from Sanjo Station or Gion Shijo Station. Nonetheless, the Japan Rail Move doesn’t cowl it and takes roughly 40 minutes.
What’s Uji well-known for?
Uji is a small metropolis between Kyoto and Nara, identified for its inexperienced tea and matcha, historic temples, and the setting of the Eleventh-century literary traditional, The Story of Genji.
Throughout the thirteenth century, two Buddhist monks, Saicho and Kukai, introduced tea vegetation again from China. The famed Rinzai Zen priest Eisai inspired the expansion and manufacturing of tea. Uji is blessed with nutrient-rich soil and topography, good for rising tea. Information unfold of Uji’s inexperienced tea, and it has develop into the famed metropolis it’s at this time.
All through Uji, you will discover varied tea fields and see the tea leaves up shut. For those who go to from April to October, you may even participate in inexperienced tea harvesting experiences
I rented a automobile and headed additional out to Wazuka Tea Plantation, which had a few of the most breathtaking views I’ve seen!
You may be questioning what the distinction is between inexperienced tea and matcha. First, matcha is made out of inexperienced tea leaves. After harvesting, the leaves are washed a number of occasions and steamed to make aracha (crude tea). The aracha is sifted to take away smaller impurities and minimize into smaller items generally known as tencha (processed tea). The tencha is floor into matcha, historically utilizing a stone mill or, extra lately, a machine.
Byodo-In Temple
The primary historic attraction in Uji is Byodo-In Temple, which was my first cease of the day. I made a decision to go to early within the morning because it will get busy through the afternoon.
A row of crimson maple timber traces the doorway to Byodo-in.
Regardless of arriving 10 minutes earlier than opening, there was already a small line. To enter, there’s a 600 yen entrance price.
The temple originated in 998 as a villa for the politician Fujiwara no Michinaga. In 1052, his son, Yorimichi Fujiwara, reworked the villa right into a temple. In Buddhism, there’s a principle that 1052 marked the start of “the top of the world.” Yorimichi’s thought was to make the temple painting the “Pure Land.” It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Web site in 1994.
Byodo-In Temple Pheonix Corridor
Taking middle stage within the temple is the Pheonix Corridor, which homes two golden Pheonix statues on its roof. Inside incorporates a statue of Amida Buddha, with wall work depicting Amida’s 9 grades of descent. The doorway to Byodo-In begins at 8:30 am, and tickets are offered for the Phoenix Corridor at 9:00 am for an additional 300 yen contained in the temple grounds. You’re given a ticket with an allotted time, which it’s a must to arrive on the entrance 5 minutes earlier than. The guided tour provides you entry contained in the Phoenix Corridor and an up-close have a look at the spectacular Amida Buddha. Nonetheless, the tour is barely in Japanese, with no audio guides.
Across the grounds, you may benefit from the beautiful views of the temple reflecting within the water.
You possibly can see the 2 golden phoenixes on the roof, that are featured on the ten,000 yen observe. The temple itself is even on the ten yen coin!
There may be additionally a museum explaining the temple’s historical past, a small cafe, and small shrines surrounding the temple.
Byodo-In was undoubtedly some of the spectacular temple constructions I’ve ever seen in Japan, and the autumn leaves made it that rather more stunning!
After exploring, wander the road exterior, generally known as Byodo-In Omotesando, with retailers promoting native items and cafes promoting inexperienced tea and match souvenirs, sweets, and drinks.
I ended by for a match inexperienced tea latte at ますだ茶舗 TEA STAND SHOP, which had a deep earthiness complimented by the candy and creamy milk.
Torikiku
All through Uji, you’ll discover totally different cafes and eating places providing meals flavored with inexperienced tea and matcha – one in style dish is inexperienced tea soba. Alongside the slim aspect streets, I stumbled throughout Torikiku, a family-run restaurant serving soba.
The homely environment was welcoming and stress-free, with an incredible value-for-money menu. For $8 (in 2023), I acquired a zaru inexperienced tea soba set with 4 items of sushi, a plate of tempura, and varied pickles. Every thing was scrumptious, and the inexperienced tea soba had a subtly candy and earthy inexperienced tea style.
Taihoan
One technique to get pleasure from Uji’s well-known matcha is thru a conventional tea ceremony. You could find varied tea ceremonies and matcha-making experiences, however I opted for Taihoan, a small tea home near Byodo-In.
Initially, I reserved a match-making expertise, however they kindly let me be a part of the tea ceremony totally free! You could find extra particulars about reservations on their web site right here.
The tea ceremony was held in a small tatami room, the place a lady wearing a kimono artistically made you a bowl of matcha. They then information you thru the etiquette of presenting and consuming the matcha. It was my first time partaking in a tea ceremony, and it was mesmerizing how every motion was so exact and thought out. The bowl of matcha got here with a small plate of wagashi (a conventional Japanese candy).
After the tea ceremony, I had my scheduled matcha-making expertise. Within the subsequent room, a workers member will information you thru the meticulous course of of making a bowl of matcha. From utilizing the present fingers to raise the bamboo ladle and whisk to creating the creamy foam on high of the matcha, they are going to train you the ins and outs of constructing the proper bowl of matcha.
Lastly, you may get pleasure from your matcha and a small piece of wagashi. Some workers members may converse English, so you may perceive what to do.
Ujigami Shrine
After leaving Taihoan, I explored the bridges and islands alongside the Uji River. You may as well take a leisurely boat trip whereas having fun with lunch.
Within the night, there’s a cormorant fishing occasion. This photograph was taken in Arashiyama a couple of years in the past, however it’s the similar fashion of occasion.
Ujigami Shrine is estimated to have been in-built 1060 and is taken into account Japan’s oldest standing Shinto Shrine. It was constructed as a guardian shrine to Byodo-In and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Web site in 1994.
The shrine’s grounds are free to go to, and whereas there’s not a lot to discover, it’s price visiting. The autumn surroundings complimented the attractive structure, constructed within the nagare-zukuri fashion, the place the asymmetrical gabled roof initiatives additional outwards to the doorway to guard worshippers.
Kosho-Ji Temple
Situated a brief stroll away is Kosho-Ji Temple, initially in-built 1233 however relocated to its present location in 1648.
Main as much as the temple is the Kotozaka slope, lined with rows of majestic maple timber.
The doorway gate can also be distinctive, with rounded edges, completely framing the autumn surroundings.
The doorway is marked by a formidable backyard with a five-storied stone pagoda, greenery, and a bell tower.
For 500 yen, you may discover the principle corridor, the place you may see the “bloody ceilings” from the bloody wooden boards of the previous Fushimi-Momoyama Fortress. Inside is a small backyard, stunning inside structure, and a meditation room.
For those who plan on visiting in October, you may see the Uji Tea Competition. Held on the primary Sunday of October, clergymen make choices of ceremonial bowls of tea in entrance of statues of the figures who helped set up Uji as a tea mecca.
Fukujuen Uji
What higher technique to finish a visit to Uji with… you guessed it, extra matcha! Fukujuen Uji is a tea store promoting inexperienced tea and matcha items.
On the again is a small museum displaying the inexperienced tea manufacturing course of and the way it’s made into matcha.
Upstairs is a workshop the place you may grind inexperienced tea leaves into matcha powder on a stone mill. There may be additionally a tea ceremony expertise and pottery expertise, which you will discover on their web site.
There may be additionally a small restaurant promoting matcha meals and desserts. I made a decision on a Uji matcha anmitsu, made out of small cubes of agar jelly, crimson bean paste, mochi, varied fruits, beans, and matcha ice cream. It comes with candy matcha sauce to drizzle on high as you want.
Uji has the whole lot, from a captivating historical past to beautiful surroundings and wonderful meals and drinks! For those who love matcha, then Uji is the place to go. It’s nice for a day journey or to remain over and slowly discover all its hidden magic.
Subsequent is my remaining put up, Osaka, so keep tuned!
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