Uji, Kyoto at a glance
Uji lies in the south of Kyoto Prefecture, in the Yamashiro region, and is an easy half day from Kyoto. Two of its sites belong to the UNESCO World Heritage listing of 1994: the Byodo-in temple and the Ujigami Shrine. The town is also part of the southern tea region of the prefecture, so many visitors combine the temple with green tea.
You can go alone by train or book an Uji tour. Tours on offer range from a one-hour matcha grinding session at a tea museum to a half-day walk with the Byodo-in and a tea ceremony, or a full day by bus from Kyoto or Osaka.
Our picks: Uji tours
The museum and matcha session is the short option, and the walking tour combines the World Heritage sites with a tea ceremony. The early-morning tour is the one to pick if you want Fushimi Inari in the same trip.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Uji heritage walk with tea
- English-speaking guide
- Byodo-in admission
- Tea ceremony or matcha class
A guided walk through Uji's World Heritage sites with a 30-minute tea ceremony or matcha-making class. Byodo-in admission is covered.
Check availability →Early morning in Uji and Fushimi Inari
- English-speaking guide
- Byodo-in admission
Five and a half hours in the morning covering Uji and Fushimi Inari with an English-speaking guide. Byodo-in admission is paid.
Check availability →
Tea museum ticket and matcha making
- Museum ticket
- Matcha-making experience
One hour in Uji with the museum visit and a hands-on matcha session. The meeting point is in Uji, not in central Kyoto.
Check availability →Uji tours and green tea experiences
Matcha grinding, tea ceremonies and guided walks to the Byodo-in, with live prices and availability.
Green tea tours in Uji: what is on offer
Four kinds of tours, from one hour to a full day.
Tea museum and matcha grinding
One hour in Uji, with a museum ticket and a session in which you make matcha yourself. The meeting point is in Uji, not in central Kyoto, so you travel there on your own.
Heritage walk with tea ceremony
A walk of 3 to 3.5 hours with an English-speaking guide. It starts at Uji station and includes entry to the Byodo-in and a 30-minute tea ceremony or matcha class. Hotel pickup is not included.
Early tour with Fushimi Inari
A morning tour of about 5.5 hours from Kyoto Station that combines Uji with Fushimi Inari. A guide and the Byodo-in entry are included.
Full-day bus tours
Day tours of about 9 hours from Kyoto Station or Osaka take in Uji together with other Kyoto sights, and one version adds Nara. They include a vehicle and a guide. Check which entries are part of the price.
Day trips from Kyoto →Grinding leaves, a matcha tasting and a full tea ceremony are three different things. Read what each offer includes. For tea ceremonies in the city, see our page on Kyoto activities and tea ceremonies.
Byodo-in Temple, Kyoto: tickets and hours
The Byodo-in is the main sight in Uji. Your ticket covers the garden and the museum. The garden cannot be booked on its own. The garden opens from 8:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with last entry at 5:15 p.m. The museum opens from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry at 4:45 p.m. Both open daily as a rule.
Visitors with a disability certificate pay half, and so does one companion.
Byodo-in entry fees 2026
Prices in yen per person.
| Ticket | Adults | Junior and senior high school | Elementary school |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garden and museum | ¥700 | ¥400 | ¥300 |
| Groups of 25 or more | ¥600 | ¥300 | ¥200 |
| Phoenix Hall interior (extra) | ¥300 | – | – |
For most visitors, the garden and museum ticket is enough. Add the Phoenix Hall if you arrive early and want to see the inside.
Inside the Phoenix Hall
The interior of the Phoenix Hall is a separate visit. You register in the garden on the day and pay ¥300 on top. Visits run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. and last 20 minutes each, with up to 35 people per visit. When all visits are full, registration can close early, and the hall can close for ceremonies.
If seeing the interior matters to you, go to the registration point first, then walk the garden while you wait for your time.
Ujigami Shrine and the World Heritage sites
The Ujigami Shrine is the second Uji site in the UNESCO listing, which covers 17 parts in Kyoto, Uji and Otsu. The Byodo-in ticket is not a combined ticket for the shrine. Check the shrine's current hours on the day.
With the Byodo-in, a walk to the shrine and a tea break, a half day in Uji is well filled. For more temples in the city, see our guide to Kyoto temples and shrines.
Getting to Uji from Kyoto
Two railway lines, no bus needed.
JR Nara Line
From Kyoto Station, the JR Nara Line takes about 20 minutes to Uji. Not every local train is that fast, and the walk inside the stations comes on top. On the way you pass Inari station, so you can stop at Fushimi Inari first.
Getting to Kyoto →Keihan Line
From Gion-shijo in the center, the Keihan fare to Uji is ¥360 (fare valid since 1 October 2025). This suits you if you stay near Gion or Kawaramachi. Check the timetable and where you change trains before you go.
If you would rather not organize the train, a guided tour from Kyoto Station handles the route for you. Combining Uji with Nara in one day works best on a bus tour. For Nara itself, see Nara from Kyoto.
Plan the rest of your trip
Pages that go well with a day in Uji.
Uji: frequently asked questions
How do I get from Kyoto to Uji?
Take the JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station, about 20 minutes, or the Keihan Line from Gion-shijo for ¥360. Both reach Uji without a bus.
How much is the Byodo-in entry fee?
Adults pay ¥700 for the garden and museum, junior and senior high school students ¥400 and elementary school children ¥300 (2026). The Phoenix Hall interior costs ¥300 extra.
Can I go inside the Phoenix Hall?
Yes, in visits of 20 minutes for up to 35 people, between 9:30 a.m. and 4:10 p.m. You register in the garden on the day. When all visits are full, registration can close early.
Is a tea ceremony included in Uji tours?
Not in every tour. The half-day heritage walk includes a 30-minute tea ceremony or matcha class, the museum session is about grinding matcha, and the bus tours focus on sightseeing.
How much time do I need in Uji?
A half day covers the Byodo-in, the Ujigami Shrine and a tea break. If you also want to see the Phoenix Hall interior, arrive early in the day.