The PERFECT Day Trip from Kyoto? | Uji, Japan 🇯🇵

The PERFECT Day Trip from Kyoto? | Uji, Japan 🇯🇵

This is Uji, a name synonymous with the fine screen tea for over 800 years. It is a place of profound beauty, home to the magnificent Biodin Temple and the final poignant setting for the legendary Tale of Genji. Join me as we spend a day in Uji. The original Uji Bridge was built around 646 and is the main bridge over the Uji River. The current bridge was built in 1996 in a traditional style, incorporating cypress trees and bronze detailing. The bridge is also a focal point in Japanese literature and art, including in the tale of Genji. If you haven’t heard of the tale of Genji, it is a novel which follows the life of Genji, the son of an emperor, written by a noble woman in the 11th century by the name of Mirasaki Shikibu. It is said to be the first written novel. The last chapters of the Tale of Genji are set in Uji, making it a great place for a museum based on the story. We didn’t visit the Tale of Genji museum this time, but next time we visit Uji, we will definitely be heading there. All through Uji, there is statues dotted throughout the city, paying homage to the Tale of Genji. Another part of Uji that we wanted to visit, but we didn’t have time this time, was the Kosheri Temple. It’s located on the northern bank of the Uji River and was founded in 1233. But they are both on the to visit list the next time we head to Uji. We checked out Khan’s Uji Station which is definitely worth stopping by for its architecture alone. Built in 1996, it is designed in the brutalist style by Hiroyuki Wakabashi. It makes use of concrete as its building material and there is a beautiful stained glass window in there as well. [Music] Next we headed to Bodin. Uh we got here about 11:1 11:30 so we had to wait in line. Bodin was once a villa owned by the Fujiwar clan before being converted into a Buddhist temple in 1052. H O Hall is also known as a mea or phoenix hall and is the famous building that is featured on the ten coin. It is one of the most famous examples of Buddhist architecture. There is also a museum on site. The Hosakan Museum exhibits the original temple bell and Phoenix roof ornaments and other significant objects that are no longer in the Phoenix Hall. Boden was great to visit, but it is very much a place you only need to visit once. The tourist path that you follow is quite linear and you essentially feel like you’re on a tourist conveyor belt whilst visiting. You don’t really have an opportunity to backtrack if you wanted to, which is frustrating. But I get it. They have thousands of visitors every day. They want you in and out as efficiently as possible. [Music] We next walk through the main shopping street of this part of Uji. As mentioned earlier, Uji is traditionally known for its green tea. So, a lot of the restaurants and the omiyagi places are selling things that specialize in green tea. So, if you don’t like green tea, you may want to go further a field for lunch. But, it is definitely worth checking out some of the snacks. Uh, we got these lovely wagashi sticks and they were gorgeous as well as delicious. The Nintendo Museum was our final stop for our day in Uji and I was excited for this. We do have a standalone video about the Nintendo Museum, which I’ll link to in the description box below. There’s two levels to the museum. One focused on the history of Nintendo, which displays the innovations of each console, as well as prototypes, and the second floor, which is actually the ground floor, which is dedicated to experiences and gameplay. You can’t film on the history floor, but it is definitely worth taking the time going through each display and learning about how Nintendo developed each console and what games were most popular on that console. [Music] The experiences are amazing. My favorite was the giant controllers. You play with a second person and Ben and I absolutely wiped the floor in Mario Kart. Whilst we’re in line waiting, uh we watched a dad and their son smash through Super Mario. So, you will definitely be entertained either by people’s skill or lack thereof uh whilst you’re waiting for your turn. The Nintendo Museum is entry by lottery. We initially missed out when we first applied, but we kept checking the site to see if there was any openings, and I highly recommend you do the same. Uchji has a wide variety of things to do and see and it is absolutely perfect for a day trip if you’re staying in Kyoto, N or Saka. Whilst you may have a problem in the tourist areas getting meals and things to eat that aren’t green tea related, I hope you use that to either encourage yourself to go and try something new if you don’t enjoy green tea or to go further away from the tourist part of Uji and find something that you do enjoy. Uji definitely has something to offer to everyone. Whether you’re a gamer and you want to go see the Nintendo Museum or if you’re just wanting some chill time, we will definitely be in Uji the next time we visit Canai. I hope you enjoyed this video. Let me know in the comments below if you’ve ever been to Uji. And thank you very much for watching.

Is Uji the perfect day trip from Kyoto? We think it might be! In this Japan travel vlog, we spend a day in Uji, a stunning city famous for having the world’s best matcha, the beautiful Byodoin Temple (the temple on the 10 yen coin!), and the brand new Nintendo Museum!

Join us as we explore the best things to do in Uji, from ancient history to modern gaming icons. If you’re planning a trip to the Kansai region (Kyoto, Osaka, Nara), you NEED to add Uji to your itinerary.

✅ TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 – The Charm of Uji, Japan
0:18 – Uji Bridge & The Tale of Genji
1:01 – Exploring the Town & a Pokémon Surprise!
1:21 – Keihan Uji Station’s Unique Architecture
2:08 – Arriving at the Magnificent Byodoin Temple
3:08 – The Main Shopping Street (Matcha Heaven!)
3:33 – Visiting the NEW Nintendo Museum!
4:18 – Gaming Experiences at the Nintendo Museum
4:52 – Final Thoughts on Uji

In this Uji travel guide, you’ll see:
► The historic Uji Bridge, a key setting in “The Tale of Genji.”
► The stunning Byodoin Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site featured on the 10 yen coin.
► Delicious wagashi and matcha snacks in Japan’s green tea capital.
► A full tour of the brand new Nintendo Museum, exploring Nintendo’s history from Hanafuda cards to the Nintendo Switch.
► Interactive gaming exhibits where you can play on giant controllers!

Uji is an easy train ride from Kyoto and offers a perfect, less-crowded alternative to other popular day trips. It’s a must-visit for Japan travel, especially for fans of history, food, and video games.

If you want see our Nintendo Museum video, make sure you head here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEV7G8vVtfA

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