Uji
Uji 宇治
Overview
Uji is today a suburban commuter town south of Kyoto. It is of course much more than that.
A quick glance at the back of a ten-yen coin will tell you why: Byodoin Temple, the town's best known attraction, adorns the reverse side of the brown coin, and is located in the heart of Uji.
In addition, the city has several other sites of historical significance: Manpukuji Temple, Ujigami Shrine, the Genji Museum (and lots of tea, as Uji supplies most of the tea used and consumed in Kyoto).
Getting there from central Kyoto involves roughly two hours of cycling, much of it on a car-free path that follows the Katsura River south out of Kyoto.
En route, you will pass - and can of course visit - Fushimi, which has many places worth visiting.
The route will approach Uji from Fushimi on Route 7 - which in most places has wide sidewalks, but around Rokujizo and beyond can be tight in places - following the Keihan branch line that ends at Uji Station.
The route's first site is Manpukuji Temple, which is quite close to Obaku Station on the Keihan Line to Uji.
Manpukuji Temple is Uji's most unusual temple. The head temple of the Japanese Obaku Zen sect, it is named after Wanfu Temple, which is in Fujian, China. As a result, the temple looks and feels very Chinese. It was built in the Ming style and was founded in 1661 by Yinyuan Longqi (Ingen), a Chinese monk, and his disciple Muyan. Ingen came to Japan along with a large group of tailors and shoemakers, artisans and sculptors. Their influence was and is large: they introduced Chinese calligraphy, painting, sculpture, and architecture. Moreover, the priest Baicha (aka, Gekkai Gensho), who developed the sencha tea ceremony, was an Obaku priest.
The next stop is the The Tale of Genji Museum. Though Lady Shikibu's novel takes place primarily in Kyoto - in and around the Imperial Palace - significant scenes occur in Uji. Kyoto for whatever reason has not shown interest in commemorating the author of the world's first novel, and Uji has picked up the slack.
From the Museum it is a short ride to Ujigami Shrine. Ujigami Shrine was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. It was founded in 1060, and is closely tied to Byodoin Temple, which is across the river.
The final stop is Byodoin Temple. It is part of two sects: Jodo-shu (Pure Land) and Tendai-shu. Byodoin was first built in 998 CE as a rural villa of Fujiwara no Michinaga. Like many other villas, it was converted to a temple; Fujiwara no Yorimichi did so in 1052. Its best known building is the Phoenix Hall. It was constructed 1053, and is the only remaining original building.
In addition to the sites noted above, in Uji, there are other places en route that can be visited. They include Fushimi Inari Shrine, Fushimi, and Tofukuji Temple.
Image © Wiiii
Getting to the Starting Point
From Kyoto City Hall, it is possible to ride the Katsura River bike path to to Fushimi and then head to Uji, or head though the city south past Tofukuji Temple. Both routes take roughly the same amount of time; the river route though is, until the Fushimi area, free of cars.
Total Riding Time
It will take about 90 minutes to two hours to ride from Kyoto to Uji.
Places of Interest
Manpukuji Shrine
34 Samban-wari, Gokanosho, Uji-shi, 611-0011 Japan Tel: 0774-32-3900
Open 9 am to 4:30pm daily.
Admission: 500 yen
The Tale of Genji Museum
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Admission until 4:30 p.m.) Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday) and Dec. 28 to Jan. 3
Admission: 500 yen
Ujigami Shrine
9 am - 4:30 pm
59 Ujiyamada, Matafuri, Uji
TEL 0774 21 4634; Free admission
Byodoin Temple
Daily 9 am - 5 pm (to 4 pm in winter)
116 Uji Renge, Uji, Kyoto Prefecture 611-0021
Tel: 0774 21 2861
Admission to the grounds: 600 yen; 500 yen more for admission to Phoenix Hall
Takara Yu Public Bath
Daily 4 pm - 11 pm; closed Fridays
Next to the Kyoto Health Center just south of the Meishin Expressway
Admission 410 yen
Bike Rental
Kyoto Cycling Tour Project, Inc. (KCTP) (near Kyoto Station)
552-13 Higashi-Aburanokoji-cho Aburanokoji-dori Shiokoji sagaru Shimogyo-ku Kyoto, Japan 600-8235
TEL 075-354-3636; bikes from 1000 yen for one day
Map
Uji Cycling Route
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