Short trip to Kyoto, Uji

Uji river, Kyoto

Probably everybody who is interested in Japan knows Kyoto. It was capital in Japan between 794 and 1869 and still attracts thousands of tourists every year.

One of our friends has moved to Kyoto due to job and my husband and I visited him last weekend. He lives near Uji city, Kyoto and took us Uji area.

Most of tourists go to Arashiyama to see a suburb scenery of Kyoto, but I don't like Arashiyama any more. It's too touristic. Many franchised souvenir shops and cafes and restaurants plus too many people make me tired and disappointed.

 
But Uji was really beautiful. Even though there are several famous temples and the river, there were not so many souvenir shops and people. You can enjoy walking along the river, and if you have time and like walking, 1 hour walk will take you Amagase forest and Amagase hanging bridge. (We didn't have time...)

Koshoji, Zen temple in Uji

Uji is famous for its green tea and there is a big factory museum called Fukujuen along the river. You can get free Matcha (whipped green tea) there.

So, if you plan to travel to Kyoto, try to go to Uji instead of Arashiyama. If you are my kind of people who don't like walking in crowded streets, you will like Uji more than Arashiyama :)