Uji: where to eat, stay, and what to see

Updated 2026-09-21: Tsuji Rihei Honten, Hanayashiki Ukifune-en, Uji

Tsuji Rihei Honten (food)

Location: Uji Station, JR Nara Line - 5 min walk

Historic Uji matcha tea room and café set inside a century-old tea processing factory.

Good points:

- Founded in 1860, one of Uji's oldest tea merchant establishments.

- Tea room is housed inside a partially renovated 100-year-old tea factory.

- Serves matcha sweets including parfaits, warabi mochi, and roll cakes.

- Located just a short walk west of JR Uji Station.

- Open 10:00 AM–6:00 PM with last orders at 5:00 PM.

For visitors: No reservations are accepted, so arrive early to avoid a wait, especially after visiting nearby Byodoin Temple.

Hanayashiki Ukifune-en (hotel)

Location: Uji Station (Keihan Uji Line)

A traditional Japanese ryokan in Uji, Kyoto, blending cultural heritage with riverside tranquility.

Good points:

- Located in Uji City, Kyoto, at 20 Uji Togawa — confirmed across multiple sources.

- Reachable from Uji Station, with the ryokan roughly 15 minutes on foot or a short taxi ride.

- Communal baths overlook the gently flowing Uji River for a relaxing soak.

- Set near world heritage sites and the legendary setting of the Tale of Genji.

- On-site steakhouse serves premium Wagyu beef in a sukiya-style renovated tea room.

For visitors: Uji Station is your best arrival point — from there, walk or take a short taxi to reach the ryokan easily.

Uji (spot)

Location: Uji Station (Keihan Uji Line)

Uji is a compact historic city near Kyoto famed for green tea, ancient temples, and riverside scenery.

Good points:

- Two train stations (JR and Keihan) connect Uji to Kyoto in roughly 20–40 minutes.

- Byodoin Temple and Ujigami Shrine are UNESCO World Heritage Sites not to be missed.

- Tsuen-chaya near Uji Bridge is renowned as Japan's oldest tea shop.

- Most major sights cluster around the Uji River and are easily explored on foot.

- Uji Bridge, first built in 646, is one of the oldest bridges in Japan.

For visitors: Use Keihan Uji Station for the best walking access to sights, or JR Uji Station if traveling on a Japan Rail Pass.

Itoh Kyuemon

Location: Uji Station (Keihan Uji Line) - 5 min walk

Address: Aramaki-19-3 Todō, Uji, Kyoto 611-0013, Japan

Historic Uji matcha shop blending traditional tea culture with creative matcha-based sweets and dishes.

Good points:

- Founded in the early 19th century in Uji, Kyoto's premier tea-growing region.

- Famous for matcha sweets, parfaits, and unique savory matcha dishes like matcha soba.

- Offers both dine-in tearoom experience and a wide selection of take-home souvenir sweets.

- Conveniently located within walking distance of both Keihan and JR Uji stations.

- Free on-site parking available for visitors arriving by car.

For visitors: Uji is about 20 minutes from Kyoto Station, making Itoh Kyuemon an easy and rewarding half-day trip.

Uji Chaganju-Tei House

Location: JR Uji Station, JR Nara Line - 7 min walk

A peaceful guesthouse in Uji, Kyoto, steps from the train station and the city's famed green tea sights.

Good points:

- Conveniently located near Uji Station, making the area easy to explore on foot.

- Set in a quiet neighborhood close to the Uji River and nearby temples.

- Uji is famous for its matcha green tea culture, with many tea houses nearby.

- The surrounding area offers World Heritage sites, shrines, and riverside walks.

For visitors: Uji is easily reached from Kyoto in under an hour by JR or Keihan train, making this guesthouse an ideal base for day-tripping or a relaxed overnight stay.

Uji Bashi Bridge

Location: Uji Station (Keihan Uji Line)

Address: Otsukata Uji, Kyoto 611-0021, Japan

A free, walkable historic bridge over the Uji River, considered one of Japan's three great ancient bridges.

Good points:

- Originally built in 646 by monk Doto, making it one of Japan's oldest bridges.

- Recognized as one of Japan's three major ancient bridges, alongside Seta no Karahashi.

- The current bridge, rebuilt in 1996, features traditional cypress balustrades with bronze giboshi finials.

- A square platform called San-no-ma juts upstream and is a popular photo spot.

- Easily accessible immediately outside Keihan Uji Station, with JR Uji Station about 10 minutes away.

For visitors: Entry is free and the bridge is open at any hour, so an early-morning or evening stroll offers the most peaceful views.