wilderness travel treasure temples and tea houses japan

The famous Byodo-in temple, a world heritage site featured on the Y10 coin is here and if you’re a literary buff you’ll probably know that it features heavily in the Tale of Genji, the world’s first novel that provides fascinating insights into life in the Heian Court. It’s known worldwide for its green tea production and has a picturesque river running through the town. Uji offers a variety of attractions that will appeal to a wide range of visitors including gardens, Japanese arts, culture, and history. You can access Yodoyabashi easily on the Midosuji subway line from most parts of Osaka including Umeda, Namba and Shin-Osaka station. It’s under an hour from Yodoyabashi station including the same change at Chushojima station and costs Y420. I’d also recommend Keihan as an option if you are coming from Osaka. If you are coming from central Kyoto that will save the cost and time of making your way into Kyoto station. It’s a small station so the interchange is simple and quick, the trip will take just fractionally over 30 minutes and costs Y310. You will take an unreserved seat in the limited express for Yodoyobashi (Osaka) and make a quick change about 12 minutes in at Chushojima station, continuing on the Uji line. Travelling by Keihan Railway is convenient if you’re staying in central Kyoto where it will be easier to catch a Keihan train from stations such as Sanjo or Gion-Shijo. If you catch the rapid it will take 18 minutes, if you get a local train that stops at every station it will be just under 30 minutes.

It will cost Y240 and you will travel on the JR Nara line. It’s also most convenient if you’re arriving at JR station from another city by bullet train or staying nearby. This option is best if you have an active JR Pass you want to use. There really isn’t much in it so I’ll cover both options and why you would choose one over the other. Under 10 minutes either way and only a couple of minutes difference. If you consider the Byodo-in Omotesando, the shopping and restaurant street the runs parallel to the river along to the famous temple, as the heart of the area then it’s a 500 m walk from Keihan and a 700 m walk from JR. The Keihan station is closer to the river but on the opposite bank to the most popular attractions, the JR station is a little further back from the river but on the side where you’ll probably want to start your day. It’s part of Kyoto prefecture and a very easy day trip from Kyoto city but it’s also an ideal place to visit from several other nearby cities including Osaka, Nara, and Kobe.īy train from Kyoto station, you can use either the JR or Keihan train companies. Uji is convenient to access from many areas within the Kansai area. Additional tips for visitors to Uji and the rest of Kyoto.Even Starbucks is something special in Uji.Gunkanjima cannot be visited without a sanctioned tour group and certain areas are off-limits due to the danger of its crumbling buildings.Don't miss: Exploring the streets of former castle town Hagi, is a must for history buffs.

Other highlights are the industrial complex around Senganen Garden, ruins of the Miike Coal Mines in Kumamoto, and Hagi City in Yamaguchi Prefecture which is considered the birthplace of the Meiji Restoration. While the mostly-forgotten ruins have become hubs for urban explorers looking for creepy Instagram shots, they are an important part of Japan’s development as a country. The sites include the long-abandoned Gunkanjima Island, which was the inspiration behind the villain’s hideout in the 2012 Bond film Skyfall. Japan was the first Asian country to industrialize in a bid to keep up with America and Europe towards the end of the Edo period.

As relics of Japan’s iron, steel, and coal industries during the Meiji-era, this collection of manufacturing sites spans eight prefectures from Kagoshima to Saga.

Wilderness travel treasure temples and tea houses japan