Uji River
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The area
Neighbourhood: Southern Kyoto
Southern Kyoto has a reserved air. Though the Fushimi Inari Shrine is one of Kyoto's major tourist attractions, the surrounding nature, parks, gardens, temples, and shrines provide less-visited spaces for strolling and reflection. The Fushimi Inari Shrine itself is made up of 32,000 sub-shrines, and the mountain they are dotted across beckons hikers, picnickers, and lovers of the outdoors. Many of the mountain's off-set paths aren't frequented by tourists, and the mountain's serenity can be enjoyed at a leisurely pace. Southern Kyoto is the place to enjoy being outside, and to pay your respects to the ancient architecture and gods of the land that are celebrated here.
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838 within 3 miles
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484 within 6 miles
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4.0
396 reviews
Excellent
120
Very good
169
Average
95
Poor
9
Terrible
3
Jay H
Singapore, Singapore347 contributions
Apr 2019 • Solo
Further south of main kyoto station (30min direct trip will land you at this origins of Green Tea) , there are still tourists but not as many as those terrifying ones u saw at Kyoto station/Arashiyama etc
Byodoin Temple - a Unesco site of that area but since i have done alot of temples, decided to save the 600Y instead. Furthermore, from outside, its perimeter, you can still view the phoenix structure/rooftop
From the train station to its "shopping street" there are plenty of stores that sell green tea related products as well as soft-serve ie Ice-cream!!!! there is a tourism board around there too(u will never get lost as it is too ez to maneuver there)
the best is to sit into any of the teahouse and have a meal at the riverside, it is so calm and do your people/boat-watching as long as u wanted!!!
Shopping wise- some of the bigger name shops are also available in the cities or airport, just that variety is limited...if u want a larger variety of items, this is the place of green tea items
Also, if u feel cold and wanna a green tea latte or hot drink, most of the bigger shops offer u a good seat with takeaway cups too
From some photos shown online, it seemed that the river appeared nicer (or more romantic) at Night! with lighting (so if u r not a shopping-person, go at nite pls!!!)
3.5 Stars!
Byodoin Temple - a Unesco site of that area but since i have done alot of temples, decided to save the 600Y instead. Furthermore, from outside, its perimeter, you can still view the phoenix structure/rooftop
From the train station to its "shopping street" there are plenty of stores that sell green tea related products as well as soft-serve ie Ice-cream!!!! there is a tourism board around there too(u will never get lost as it is too ez to maneuver there)
the best is to sit into any of the teahouse and have a meal at the riverside, it is so calm and do your people/boat-watching as long as u wanted!!!
Shopping wise- some of the bigger name shops are also available in the cities or airport, just that variety is limited...if u want a larger variety of items, this is the place of green tea items
Also, if u feel cold and wanna a green tea latte or hot drink, most of the bigger shops offer u a good seat with takeaway cups too
From some photos shown online, it seemed that the river appeared nicer (or more romantic) at Night! with lighting (so if u r not a shopping-person, go at nite pls!!!)
3.5 Stars!
Written 17 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SeaKayak25
Barcelona, Spain333 contributions
May 2016 • Solo
Yes, this is a beautiful and clean river and there are tea shols and places for OCHAKAI (tea ceremony( and restaurants and tea vendors along the river. If you have come all the way from Kyoto to see Byodoin (the temple on the back of the 10 Yen Coin), then you need to at least stroll around and see a bit of the city, and this is a good place to appreciate the local life.
Written 22 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aucklander68
Auckland212 contributions
Jul 2016 • Family
This should be a number one activity for visitors to Kyoto between July and September. Each evening traditional fishing happens on the beautiful river. We got a JR train and walked down and purchased tickets at the river bank, although you could book in advance via Uji tourist information. Female cormorant trainers wear traditional dress and are rowed out into the river. Fire baskets attract river fish and the cormorants dive for the fish which they then regurgitate for their trainer. You are on a boat alongside and will see far more than if you stood on the river bank.
An amazing experience. Not widely known and I couldn't find anything on line. We loved it so give it a go. It certainly breaks up the temples.
An amazing experience. Not widely known and I couldn't find anything on line. We loved it so give it a go. It certainly breaks up the temples.
Written 16 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
therisious
Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo365 contributions
May 2019 • Family
Alighting from the train station, it will take you about 5 min walk to reach the Uji river.
It's nice to stroll across and along this river. On the bridge, you can see the remants of history and greatness of this river.
You will not miss this when going to Byodo-in Temple.
It's nice to stroll across and along this river. On the bridge, you can see the remants of history and greatness of this river.
You will not miss this when going to Byodo-in Temple.
Written 5 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SINWSSS
Singapore, Singapore128 contributions
Jun 2018 • Family
Uji is the tea capital of Japan and definitely worth visiting for those into green tea. A short 17 min train ride from Kyoto, there are century old tea houses, shops, restaurants and shrines lining both sides of the river. Tea ceremonies, tea ware and high quality tea leaves are available at very resonable prices. Explore the streets lining the river as well as the small island in the middle. Everything is within walking distance and maps are available from the tourist information centres.
Written 17 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
YTCHENG
Hong Kong, China15,393 contributions
Nov 2019
Uji River ran along the center of city with many tea houses by the riverside. It was one of tourist attraction and recommended to have green tea tasting at one of the shops along the shopping street.
Written 9 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Damien-and-Sonia
Sydney, Australia146 contributions
Jul 2019
Uji is almost like a Kyoto suburb to the south. You willl go through it on the train to Nara and probably not give it much thought. We did as we found there was an evening attraction of traditional fishing with Cormorant birds on the river. Take the Nara train line about 25 mins south from Kyoto. On the northern side of the station is a real slice of suburban life with a small shopping centre baout 20 mins walk away. There;s a bit of an odd but large harware/houshold/pet...... just about everyihting store there that is pretty cool for getting lcoal products you might like (not food) and there's a few stores upstairs as well, including a electronincs store with local prices, that are slightly better than in town. After that adventure, we wandered back to the south side and the river. This side is older and more traditional in its construction and after 10 mins we were at the river. There is a lovely Buddhist temple by the river and is great to walk along the bank. Uji is a surprise as there is a lot to do on the south side I regret not having researched it more. Unfortunately, there had been a lot of rain recently and the river had risen and was moving fast so the Cormorant fishing had been cancelled. Despite the disapointement, Uji made up for it with a lovely riverside and,I reallly hate to say this but, the most beautiful bloody Starbucks you could ever have a coffee in!
Written 7 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
davehoppy
Perth, Australia98 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
Pretty little spot to take a walk along as we did on the way to the main shrines.
People exercising, practising in dragon boats on the inner channel and the cage with the fishing cormorants are kept here during the day.
Quiet but a very pretty little town which is really well set out for the tourist.
People exercising, practising in dragon boats on the inner channel and the cage with the fishing cormorants are kept here during the day.
Quiet but a very pretty little town which is really well set out for the tourist.
Written 11 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
YTCHENG
Hong Kong, China15,393 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
Uji River should be one of "must see" sight during our travel to Kyoto. The area was much quiet than other tourist spots which were more commercial and less photogenic. Furthermore, the tea tasting experience around that area was highly recommended. Nice to found that the constructed works on both sides of the Uji River was approaching completion and thus hoped the whole environment would become much improved in autumn period.
Written 15 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mary c
Sydney, Australia31 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
Nice and quiet place. With beautiful scenery, bridges and temples. Easy to get around. Better than busy places like Kyoto. A very short 20 minutes train from Kyoto. Don't forget to have its famous Green Tea ice cream. Better than anywhere else in Kyoto.
Written 23 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, we will be there in June, do they use cormorants for fishing in June?
Written 26 January 2018
Is there construction going on on the river?
susan
Written 23 March 2017
Some construction works still in progress but mainly concentrating on the dam and upstream region without disturbing tourists enjoyment in walking and admiring the scenery along the Uji River.
Written 29 March 2017
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