Discover Uji, Kyoto’s historic tea town, on a private walking tour through traditional tea streets, Byodoin surroundings, the scenic Uji River, and places connected to The Tale of Genji.
Begin near JR Uji Station and walk towards the Uji River. Compared with central Kyoto’s busiest sightseeing districts, Uji offers a calmer atmosphere where local tea shops, historic streets, river views, and cultural landmarks can be enjoyed at a relaxed pace.
Walk near Uji Bridge and visit the statue of Murasaki Shikibu, the celebrated author associated with The Tale of Genji. Learn how Uji became closely connected with the final chapters of this classic work and discover another side of the town beyond its famous tea culture.
Continue through the streets leading towards Byodoin, lined with traditional tea shops, cafés, sweet shops, and businesses specialising in Uji tea and matcha. Your guide will introduce how Uji developed into one of Japan’s best-known tea regions and explain some of the differences between matcha, sencha, and other local teas.
Explore the area around Byodoin, famous for its elegant Phoenix Hall and its image on the Japanese ten-yen coin. The standard guided route focuses on the surrounding streets and exterior area, keeping the experience flexible.
Guests who wish to enter Byodoin may do so at their own expense, depending on available time and admission conditions.
Continue along the Uji River, where bridges, trees, islands, and surrounding hills create a peaceful landscape that changes throughout the seasons.
Tea tasting is also optional and paid separately. Depending on opening hours and your preferences, your guide can recommend a local tea shop or café for matcha, Japanese sweets, or tea shopping.
Because this is a private tour, the pace can be adjusted naturally. Spend more time exploring tea streets, walking beside the river, learning about local history, visiting Byodoin, or browsing shops according to your interests.
Your guide can also help take natural travel photos using your own smartphone or camera, but photography is a supporting part of the experience rather than the main focus.
The tour finishes around central Uji, allowing you to continue independently with tea tasting, Byodoin admission, shopping, cafés, or further riverside exploration.
