Byodo-in Omotesando — Attraction in Uji

This historic Omotesando (main approach) leads to the main gate of the World Heritage Site, Byodoin Temple. Located just a 10-minute walk from JR Uji Station and immediately across the Uji Bridge from Keihan Uji Station, it is easily accessible from both stations. Along both sides of the street, long-established Uji tea shops dating back to the Muromachi period line up, filling the air with the fragrance of tea. In 2001, the Ministry of the Environment recognized it as one of the "Top 100 Fragrant Landscapes to Pass on and Preserve." In addition to the long-established Uji tea shops, there are plenty of stores selling unique local products of Uji and souvenir shops. There are also numerous restaurants and cafes where you can leisurely enjoy a menu full of tea-based dishes, such as tea dumplings, matcha sweets, and tea soba noodles, as well as Kyoto-style obanzai (traditional home-cooked dishes). One of the major attractions is the ability to enjoy authentic matcha soft serve ice cream from Uji tea specialty stores while walking around. Try comparing the matcha soft serve from different shops and find...

Honestly I was quite disappointed by UJI & this whole area. If you are a first time Japan tourist, this might be fun and interesting to visit.

But if you live here/ have been to Japan multiple times save your time and go elsewhere. The shopkeepers here seem to just be here to make a markup on tourists. No personalised warm Japanese hospitality. Polite but dismissive since they just group you with other one time only tourists and they just do not care.

Matcha, drinks & other desserts are just as good around Japan. Without the jaded attitude & rushing you out service.

Pretty little area, maybe if you did the matcha tea milling experience then it might be worth a visit but we were...

Byodo-in Omotesando in Uji City is a captivating destination that offers a rich blend of cultural heritage, tea culture, and scenic beauty. As the approach to the historic Byodo-in Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the street is lined with traditional shops, tea houses, and restaurants that preserve the ambiance of ancient Japan. Visitors can enjoy Uji’s famous matcha through tea ceremonies, local cuisine, and various matcha-flavored treats. The area’s picturesque atmosphere, especially during cherry blossom season or autumn, combined with the opportunity to purchase artisanal crafts and tea utensils, makes Byodo-in Omotesando a unique and...