Like this post? Help us by sharing it!
I was going to leave a comment in response to Harry’s post about the autumn sumo events. But then I realised I had too much to say, so have turned it into a post instead 🙂
Basically, I’m so happy to hear the sumo is going to Uji! This is because a) sumo is awesome and b) I love Uji, so hopefully this will encourage more people to make the 20 minute trip out of Kyoto. When my friends and family came to visit me in Kyoto, I always took them to Uji. You could combine a morning in Uji with a trip to Nara or Fushimi Inari Shrine for a great day trip.
Uji is a pretty little town famous for lots of things. Firstly it is home to my favourite temple, Byodo-in, which is pictured on the back of the 10 yen coin.
Then there’s all the green tea and a lovely little tea house, Tai Hoan, where you can turn up and take part in a tea ceremony for just 600 yen. One of my former students volunteers here, demonstrating Japanese tea ceremony to visitors. So if you meet a 16 year old girl called Mari, tell her Ruth says hello!
Uji is also the setting for the world’s oldest novel, The Tale Of Genji, full of courtly life in medieval Japan, so check out the great Genji museum. I don’t usually spend much time in museums when I’m on holiday, but I thought this one was really interesting. They have a cinema where you can watch a gently animated version of one of the book’s chapters. Oh, and they have headsets with translations in various languages so you don’t have to battle with the Japanese audio.
Throw in fantastic firework festivals, riverside cherry blossom, cormorant fishing, great craft shops and cafes and you’ll soon realise that Uji has it all! I moved back to Bristol from Kyoto a year ago, and as I said my goodbyes to Japan, I made a special effort to go back to Uji. I really miss the place.