During the beginning of the year, I took my grandma and younger brother on a trip to Kyoto for nine days. During this extended time, we explored Uji, which is approximately a 30-minute train ride from the JR Nara Line. Everyone says Uji is the capital of matcha. Let’s check out if that’s true or not! ๐
Check out the video below ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ, click on the link ๐๐ป
Right after getting off the train, across the station is the “Itohkyuemon JR Uji Ekimae Store & Tea Room.”
The area in front of the store sells souvenirs. I recommend buying soba noodles and small sweets. Towards the back is the dining area; we ordered a mixed platter, which offered a taste of everything and was suitable for the whole family. It was strawberry season, and the combination offered everything, excellent value! ๐๐ผ The store has accessible restrooms.
Five minutes away, we encountered another renowned brand, “Nakamura Tokichi Honpo,” and of course, we had to step inside! ๐
Remember to take a number ticket. There’s a souvenir counter at the beginning of this corridor, but their prices are higher compared to the previous store. The end of the corridor leads to the restaurant.
I’d recommend specifically trying the ice cream with cookies. Honestly, authentic matcha ๐ต is bitter and intense, so if you’re not looking for a strong taste or don’t love it a hundred percent, opt for the roasted green tea (hojicha) or sencha instead. The restaurant has accessible restrooms.
The Symmetry and Harmony of Byodoin Temple
Take a look! It’s incredibly beautiful, both to behold and in photographs. The amulets are quite average. A quick note: Wheelchair users need to switch to the temple’s wheelchair. Electric wheelchairs can directly enter. However, the paths are pebbled and not conducive for easy movement. Be cautious! Accessible restrooms are available.
Highly Recommended “Masuda Chaho” Souvenirs Near Byodoin Temple: Masuda Chaho ใพใใ ่ถ่
๐ Zip Code 611-0021 Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, Uji Renge 21-3
Website: https://masudachaho.com/
The roasted green tea here is fantastic! Each pack contains five tea bags, and the packaging offers multiple designs to choose from. Highly recommended! ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ Great for gifting too! During our Kyoto trip, I planned to buy more but thought there might be other branches. Turns out, it’s the only one, so if you happen to pass by, please buy from them! Let’s support them!
Wheelchair Accessible Route
To reach Uji Shrine, you cannot take the same bridge route as others; you’ll need to take the route used by vehicles (which has a pedestrian walkway). Below is an approximate route for today’s reference.
Uji Shrine โฉ๏ธ
Located atop a small slope, this shrine is said to be one of the oldest. Surrounded by trees, it exudes a tranquil atmosphere, which I truly adore.
During this visit, I initially planned to buy a small rabbit statue, but I found it less detailed compared to the ones at Okazaki Shrine. Instead, the larger ones were incredibly adorable. So, I ended up buying all three! ๐ I feel this shrine has a different vibe; whether it’s good or bad, I don’t know, but personally, I love it. The path at the shrine’s entrance is paved with several bricks, a bit narrow, so wheelchair users should move slowly and carefully.
That’s about it for our visit to Uji. We took the Kintetsu Line to Fushimi Inari-taisha, and I’ve included a couple of pictures for you to enjoy the scent. I’ll delve deeper into that next time. ๐
