Major city · Japan
Uji宇治市
Give Uji half a day from Kyoto or Osaka for Byōdō-in and the tea shops; sleep here only if you want a quiet river town instead of a city.
Uji is a compact river town 20 minutes from Kyoto, and it holds two UNESCO World Heritage sites: Byōdō-in, the temple on the ¥10 coin, and Ujigami Shrine. It has been Japan's benchmark tea town for about a thousand years, so the tea shops, tea ceremony houses and matcha desserts are the point, not a side note. Almost everything sits within a 20-minute walk of either station, so most travellers see it as a half-day trip and keep their bed in Kyoto or Osaka.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- JPY
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (heat and humidity), Golden Week, cherry-blossom weekends at the bridge
- Airports
- KIX · ITM
- Nights
- 0–1
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Japan ↗IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
- Japan ↗Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
- Japan ↗Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Uji110 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Uji, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.Japan-wide
- SIM or eSIMData-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.Japan-wide
- Tap waterSafe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.Japan-wide
- TippingRestaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.Japan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 100 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Japan-wide
- SafetyVery safe.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet.Japan-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire and ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMuseums close on Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a holiday); many family restaurants close one weekday, often Tuesday or Wednesday…Japan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportKIX Kansai International (Rail to Kyoto or Osaka first, then a JR or Keihan line to Uji; allow 2–2.5 h door to door).
- Getting aroundWalk.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Museum or sight ticketByōdō-in grounds and museum¥600 (≈ US$5)
- Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person¥3,000 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥14,000 (≈ US$95)
- High-end bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥26,000 (≈ US$180)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ¥5,000 (≈ US$35) · Mid ¥9,000 (≈ US$65) · High ¥18,000 (≈ US$130)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- KIX Kansai International (Rail to Kyoto or Osaka first, then a JR or Keihan line to Uji; allow 2–2.5 h door to door) · ITM Osaka Itami (Domestic mostly; bus or monorail into Osaka, then Keihan to Uji)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Feb
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Mar
Best
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Apr
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
May
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Jun
not flagged
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Jul
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
Avoid
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Sep
not flagged
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Oct
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Nov
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Dec
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Aug (34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)), coolest Jan (0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C) low), wettest Jun (12 rain days), driest Jan (6). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Uji: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
6 rd
Feb
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
7 rd
Mar
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
10 rd
Apr
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
10 rd
May
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
10 rd
Jun
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
12 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
12 rd
Aug
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
9 rd
Sep
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
11 rd
Oct
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
8 rd
Nov
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
7 rd
Dec
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
6 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Walk. The sights line the river between the JR and Keihan stations, 15–25 min end to end. Buses serve Mimuroto-ji and Mampuku-ji; taxis wait at JR Uji.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
- Kyoto full guide14 km (8.7 mi)8.7 mi (14 km) north of Uji
From Kyoto: JR Nara line or Keihan, about 20–30 min · Half day
- Osaka full guide34 km (21 mi)21 mi (34 km) south-west of Uji
- Tokyo full guide370 km (230 mi)230 mi (370 km) east of Uji
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 35 min
JR Nara line from JR Uji, about 20 min
The usual pairing: Uji in the morning, Kyoto in the afternoon.
Door to door: About 50 min
JR Nara line from JR Uji, about 35 min
Deer park and the Great Buddha hall; a full day on its own.
Door to door: About 1 h 15 min
Keihan line with one change at Chushojima, about 55 min
Keihan one- or two-day Kyoto–Osaka pass can beat a return ticket.
Kyotanabe
cautionDoor to door: About 15–25 min
JR or Kintetsu, one or two stops
Suburban; only worth it for a specific stop.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Uji Station area (JR and Keihan)
Business hotels and the main tea shops; JR for Kyoto and Nara, Keihan for Osaka and Kyoto.
Uji River east bank
Ryokan with river views near Ujigami Shrine and the Tale of Genji Museum; quiet at night.
Kyoto or Osaka (most travellers)
Uji is 20 min from Kyoto and about 55 min from Osaka, so a day trip needs no bed here.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥5,000–8,000 (≈ US$35–55) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥8,000–14,000 (≈ US$55–95) excl. bed
- High
- ¥14,000 (≈ US$95)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Business-hotel double room1 × 1 night × ¥14,000 | ¥14,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ¥9,000 | ¥18,000 |
| JR Kyoto → Uji, one way2 × ¥240 | ¥480 |
| Keihan Kyoto–Osaka sightseeing pass, 1 day2 × ¥700 | ¥1,400 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ¥2,500 | ¥5,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ¥3,890 |
| Trip total≈ ¥21,390 per person per day, bed included | ¥42,770≈ US$300 |
2026 estimate in yen; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Matcha tea ceremony at the municipal tea house | ¥1,000 (≈ US$7) |
| Longer matcha-grinding tea ceremony | ¥4,320 (≈ US$30) |
| Byōdō-in grounds and museum | ¥600 (≈ US$5) |
| Phoenix Hall timed tour, on top of entry | ¥300 (≈ US$3) |
| Mimuroto-ji entry | ¥500 (≈ US$4) |
| Nintendo Museum, adult / youth / child | ¥3,300 (≈ US$25) / ¥2,200 (≈ US$15) / ¥1,100 (≈ US$8) |
| Cha-soba or udon bowl | ¥700–1,500 (≈ US$5–11) |
| Matcha soft-serve cone | ¥350–600 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Cormorant-fishing boat, one hour | ¥1,800 (≈ US$13) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Phoenix Hall entry is a separate timed tour, Japanese-language only with an English transcript; last tour is well before closing, so go early.
- Many tea shops and cafés close by 17:00–18:00 and some shut one weekday; check before you build a day around one.Many tea shops and cafés close by 5:00 PM–6:00 PM and some shut one weekday; check before you build a day around one.
- Nintendo Museum tickets are dated and sold by lottery or advance sale only; no ticket, no entry.
- Summer is humid and the river path has little shade; carry water.
- Small tea shops may take cash only.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
Pocket card
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Uji宇治市
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ここまでお願いしますTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
Embassy
No embassies in Uji; most are in Tokyo, with consulates-general in Osaka and Kyoto (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- JR Kyoto → Uji: about ¥240 (≈ US$2), 20 min
- JR Uji → Nara: about ¥500 (≈ US$4), 35 min
- Keihan Osaka → Uji: about ¥410 (≈ US$3) with one change, 55 min
Say or show
- すみません — Excuse me / Sorry (sumimasen)
- ありがとうございます — Thank you (arigatō gozaimasu)
- 抹茶をお願いします — Matcha, please (matcha o onegaishimasu)
- いくらですか？ — How much is it? (ikura desu ka)
- カードで払えますか？ — Can I pay by card? (kādo de haraemasu ka)
- トイレはどこですか？ — Where is the toilet? (toire wa doko desu ka)
Tourist information desks sit by Byōdō-in and at JR Uji, daily 09:00–17:00.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Uji. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (heat and humidity), Golden Week, cherry-blossom weekends at the bridge · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for KIX and ITM: last-train cutoffs, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: Byōdō-in and the Sankyū-an street, the river and Uji Bridge, the east bank shrines and Genji Museum.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Byōdō-in, Ujigami Shrine, Kōshō-ji, Mimuroto-ji, Mampuku-ji, Nintendo Museum) and eat pages with last orders.
- Tea-ceremony booking fixtures so the ¥1,000 and ¥4,320 options can go green.
Sources
- officialUji City official site
- officialUji Tourist Association
- officialByōdō-in
- officialNintendo Museum
- secondaryWikivoyage: Uji, revision 5222681 (CC BY-SA 4.0)