Uji was a clear highlight in Japan; maybe because it was way calmer than most other locations, its more subtle beauty, and of course because of the great matcha one can find there! It is a genuinely nice place to spend time at without feeling overcrowded, although it’s clearly not exactly a hidden gem anymore. (Of course mainly due to these guys’ marketing efforts!)
Uji has a nicely sized river with a handful of perfectly usable, photogenic bridges! Which is a great start for any place that wants to prove itself as a great destination for walks! Especially with a little matcha, and while contemplating The Tale of Genji, which is partially located in Uji and its author(ess?) is honored with this little statue in the last picture.
A great many nice details can be found while walking around the city.~
Another official highlight in Uji is the Byōdō-in temple which also made it to UNESCO world heritage, so just as the matcha, we were not the first people to find out about it. It is really pretty, though, and with a little lake around it, there is always some angle for a photo with both water and nice sun light!
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