Uji: Private immersion into Kyoto's tea and reglious culture
- 4 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- 2 languages
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Embark on an exclusive journey through Uji, Kyoto, the birthplace of Japanese tea. Limited to eight guests, this intimate tour promises a uniquely personalized experience immersed in Japanese culture. Enrich your senses with a sublime Green Tea Experience against Uji's lush tea fields, where the pinnacle of Uji matcha awaits. Immerse yourself in the spiritual allure of Ujigami Temple and the Zen tranquility of Koshoji Temple, both cradled within Uji's breathtaking landscapes. The limited group size ensures tranquility, fostering a deep connection with sacred grounds. The journey crescendos at the iconic Byodoin, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Marvel at the architectural masterpiece nestled in serene surroundings. This meticulously curated Uji tour guarantees an unforgettable cultural immersion, serving as an intimate escape from central Kyoto's hustle for our fortunate guests in nature's embrace.
Inclusions
What's included
- Admission to all temples and the museum at Byodoin.
- Gyokuro tea house experience with Japanese sweet
What's not
- Food and drink outside of the tea experience
Itinerary
Get some caffeine with this one of a kind Gyokuro tea drinking experience. Gyokuro tea is the highest grade of green tea in Japan. Slowly steam the leaves in increasingly warm water while learning about the tea making and brewing process. Finish up by eating the tea leaves with some ponzu sauce for a healthy and unique snack.
Pay a visit to the oldest original shrine in Japan. A UNESCO world heritage site, this shrine also houses the last of Uji's underground spring water that naturally bubbles up to the surface. Local tea shops collect the water to make tea for their customers.
End your tea journey at the oldest Soto Zen temple in Kyoto. Zen Buddhism originally came in from China and helped pioneer the tea ceremony in Japan.
Enter into this magnificent temple dating back to the Heian period. The magnificent temple hall sits on a man made lake, and not only is it a UNESCO world heritage site, but it's also the same temple featured on the back of the 10 yen coin. Also see some of the artifacts from the temple in the subterranean temple museum.
Travel down the pilgrimage street leading to Byodoin Temple. Lined with tea shops, many going back to the medieval period, smell the aroma of fresh tea and discover the wide variety of tea produced in this historical region.
Stroll along this pleasant island in the middle of the river, and discover about the ancient tradition of cormorant fishing with birds.
Envelope yourself in Uji's rich natural beauty. Although shallow now, this river was the lifeblood for trade with the capitals of Kyoto and Nara, and tea, sake, and more from all over the country and the rest of Asia.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.8
- 516
- 40
- 30
- 20
- 11
Ratings come from 17 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- In front of Keihan (not JR) Uji Station, near the taxis.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 8 travellers
- Operated by
- Pinpoint Traveler, Inc
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- The itinerary as is includes many stairs. If this poses a problem, let us know, and we'll make suitable modifications.
How it compares in Uji
- Its from-price is 37% above the median of the 23 experiences we list in Uji.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 4 of 23.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Uji
Uji is a tea town on a river south of Kyoto, with the Phoenix Hall of Byodoin, a Tale of Genji museum and centuries of matcha-growing.
Uji stands on the Uji River in southern Kyoto Prefecture, a town of tea merchants and old temples between Kyoto and Nara. Byodoin, a temple whose Phoenix Hall dates from 1053, mirrors its graceful wings in a pond and is part of the UNESCO Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. Across the river, Ujigami Shrine has one of the oldest surviving shrine buildings in Japan.
Special offers in Uji
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
