The City of Matcha, 'Uji' Guide

Japan Travel Diary 31: Kyoto Edition

📍Uji City

About 30 minutes away from Kyoto lies 🍵Uji City, the birthplace of matcha.

Just as Korea has Boseong green tea, Japan has Uji matcha. As the name suggests, Uji is the home of matcha☺️.

This small city, known for its many matcha-related products, is also famous for the ⛩️Byodoin Temple. This temple is featured on the Japanese 10-yen coin, and many visitors take commemorative photos with the coin here.

While it has become a popular destination, making it hard to avoid crowds, visiting in the morning allows for a relatively peaceful exploration of the city✨.

Along the Uji River, you'll find many beautiful traditional-style buildings, making it a delightful place to stroll. There's also a statue of Murasaki Shikibu☺️.

🍵As the birthplace of matcha, the city is filled with shops selling matcha products, and you can enjoy matcha desserts at local cafes. A visit to the famous Itohkyuemon store, known for its matcha products, is highly recommended🛍️.

You can also find restaurants serving matcha soba noodles🍜.

For matcha lovers or those looking for a day trip near Kyoto, Uji is a must-visit☺️.

🚇How to Get to Uji from Kyoto Station

Take the Nara Line from Kyoto Station -> Get off at Uji Station (about 30 minutes)

📍Places to Visit in Uji

Byodoin Temple, Uji River, Byodoin Omotesando, Uji Park, etc.

🍜Recommended Restaurants in Uji

Torikiku (Matcha Soba)

🍵Recommended Cafes in Uji

Nakamura Tokichi, Starbucks Uji Byodoin, Matcha Roastery