Kyoto

Tuesday Tips: 6 SUGGESTIONS on HOW to PLAN Your NEXT SAKURA TRIP

Planning a Sakura trip can be stressful. For one, no one knows the exact date of the Sakura trees’ full bloom in each city until at least a week before. Secondly, everything — from plane tickets to hotel accommodations — gets expensive due to high demand from both locals and tourists.

Last year, my friends and I went on a 20-day Sakura trip. We started our journey in the cold and snowy Takayama and Shirakawa-go. Then, we went to Osaka to relax and work for a few days. Afterward, we continued our journey south to Hiroshima and Miyajima Island, using the JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass. We used the same pass to return to Osaka, where we based ourselves and took day trips to Nara, Kobe, and Himeji. We spent a few days in Kyoto before finishing our trip in Nagoya and Inuyama.

Months before our trip, we had planned our schedule to coincide with the forecasted Sakura full blooms in Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and even Nagoya. However, the colder-than-expected weather delayed the Sakura full bloom by almost a week or two. Believe it or not, we only managed to witness the full bloom in Nagoya towards the end of the trip.

In today’s Tuesday Tips post, I will share some suggestions on how you can plan your next Sakura trip. While I cannot guarantee that you’ll catch the full bloom, I can offer tips on how to save money and make the most of your trip. These suggestions are based on our experiences from last year.

Plan Trip Dates Ahead

First things first: plan your trip dates in advance. Historically, the Sakura trees are best viewed in famous cities during the last week of March through the first two weeks of April. If you can schedule your trip to include these weeks, it would be ideal.

Book Plane Tickets and Accommodations Ahead

Once you have an idea of when the Sakura trees are best viewed, you can start looking for affordable plane tickets and accommodations ahead of time.

My friends and I booked our Manila to Nagoya plane tickets as early as July the year before for a trip in late March. We waited for the return flight forecasts and purchased our tickets four months in advance. The ticket to Nagoya only cost us a little over ₱3,000, including baggage. The return ticket, however, cost almost ₱11,000 due to the late booking and baggage fees. If only we had booked everything earlier, we could have gotten a much cheaper return ticket.

95% of our accommodations (see photos below) were booked up to nine months in advance. My friends and I took advantage of credit card promotions with Agoda and Booking.com. We also made sure to book places with free cancellation and a pay-later option. Even during peak times like this, accommodations are cheaper when booked months in advance. Plus, you get access to the best options since others have not started planning yet.

Having our plane tickets and accommodations settled early gave us plenty of time to research and plan our itinerary.

Stay Longer and Base in Selected Cities

As mentioned above, no one knows the exact date of the Sakura full bloom. Everyone depends on forecasts made by the Japanese authorities. Staying longer in your selected cities gives you the time and flexibility to adjust according to these forecasts.

It is also ideal to choose one or two cities as your base while chasing Sakura. In our case, we based ourselves in cities like Osaka and Kyoto, which are within reach of many other cities like Nara, Kobe, and Himeji. Staying longer in these cities also gave us more time to wait for or chase the Sakura, depending on where it was best viewed during our visit.

Monitor Sakura Forecasts

I suggest that you continuously monitor the official Sakura forecasts released by the Japanese authorities. These forecasts are available as early as January and are updated every few weeks. However, I do not recommend planning your trip solely around these forecasts, as they are always subject to change.

These forecasts will give you an idea of where to go during your selected trip dates and which day trips you can take from your chosen bases.

Keep Itinerary and Schedule Flexible

I do not recommend Sakura trips for first-time visitors to Japan. Ideally, when chasing Sakura, you should have already visited the usual attractions in Japan. This allows you to focus entirely on chasing Sakura and doing nothing else. You will not have to worry about missing out on a temple or a particular site because you have already seen it before.

There are thousands of places, parks, and areas where Sakura can be viewed during this season. Keeping your itinerary flexible gives you the freedom to visit wherever Sakura is in bloom.

Last year, on our few days in Osaka, we had not seen any Sakura trees in full bloom. Fortunately, I came across a random Instagram post showing that a small park (Nakaoe Park) near Osaka Castle had Sakura trees in full bloom. Since we had no plans after visiting Osaka Castle, my friends and I decided to go to this park and were able to enjoy the beautiful cherry blossoms.

On another occasion, it was a random day in Kyoto when I saw online that the Sakura trees were starting to bloom along the Philosopher’s Path. My friends and I immediately went to the area that afternoon, and we were treated to stunning views of cherry blossoms lining the long, beautiful path by the river.

Purchase Passes Perfect for Your Final Itinerary

Lastly, Japan offers hundreds of visitor passes that might be perfect for your plans or itinerary. Be sure to check if one fits your needs for additional savings.

In our case last year, my friends and I took advantage of the JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass. We used this pass to take the Shinkansen to and from Hiroshima from Osaka, as well as for the trains and ferry rides to and from Miyajima Island, the train to Nara, and the Shinkansen rides to Kobe, Himeji, and back to Osaka. We only paid ¥17,000 for the pass, but we got ¥33,000 worth of Shinkansen, local train, and ferry rides out of it.

I hope these suggestions help you plan your next Sakura trip. It might be too late to use them for this year, but hopefully, they will come in handy for your next trip. Sakura season in Japan is truly magical, and with a bit of planning, you can really enjoy it without the stress. Keep these tips in mind, and take your time to enjoy the beauty of the cherry blossoms. Best of luck with your future trips — I hope you catch the perfect bloom and have an unforgettable experience!

Have you been to Japan during Sakura, or are you planning to visit soon? I would love to hear about your experiences or any questions you might have! Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. If you have any further questions or need more details, you can also reach me directly at contact@thewkndtravel.com. I am happy to help with any clarifications or travel tips.

Thanks for joining me in today’s Tuesday Tips post. Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you next time!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Sakura 2024: KYOTO – Unexpected Discoveries in Japan’s Famous Old Capital City [April 2024]

Early last year, my friends and I flew to Japan for about 20 days to chase the cherry blossoms. We started our journey in Takayama and Shirakawa-go, where we were surprised by the snowy weather in what was supposed to be early spring. We then traveled to Osaka for a few days before taking the Shinkansen further south to Hiroshima, where we spent 48 hours exploring history, food, and more sightseeing. We returned to Osaka to drop off our luggage and took day trips to Nara, Kobe, and Himeji. After that, we moved on to the beautiful city of Kyoto.

We spent four full days in Kyoto. Although we had visited the city in the past, this trip was focused on chasing cherry blossoms. We avoided some of the usual sights like Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkaku-ji, and instead had unexpected discoveries that made this part of the trip even more fun and memorable. Allow me to share more details about our Kyoto experience below.

I have been to Kyoto several times before – in 2015, 2016, 2019, and 2023. I hope you check out those individual posts as well.

Once the capital of Japan, Kyoto is a large and renowned city on the country’s Honshu Island. It is famous for its beautiful temples, shrines, imperial palaces, gardens, and traditional wooden houses. Along with Tokyo and Osaka, Kyoto is often considered one of the three main destinations for people visiting Japan for the first time.

Flights to Japan

There are no direct flights connecting the Philippines and Kyoto, Japan. Filipinos typically fly into Kansai International Airport in Osaka before heading to Kyoto. My friends and I took the unconventional route, flying in and out of Chubu International Airport in Nagoya.

We flew with the country’s largest low-cost airline, Cebu Pacific Air. I wrote about both our inbound and outbound flights, and I hope you can check them out here: Flight Report: CEBU PACIFIC AIR 5J 5038 – Manila to Nagoya – Perfectly-Timed Low-Cost Flight to Central Japan & Flight Report: CEBU PACIFIC AIR 5J 5039 – Nagoya to Manila – Unexpected Inflight Treats on Our Expensive Flight Back to Manila.

A few years ago, I wrote about how to apply for a Japan tourist visa. Click here to learn more about getting one for yourself.

Osaka to Kyoto

Osaka and Kyoto are linked by several train lines: Shinkansen service, the JR Kyoto Line, the Hankyu Kyoto Line, and the Keihan Main Line. The best train line or route to take will depend on which areas of these cities you are coming from and going to.

I mentioned in previous posts that my friends and I got the JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass. However, we ended up not using the pass or the JR Kyoto Line because we found a faster and more convenient route via the local subway, with a transfer to the Hankyu Kyoto Line. We used our IC cards for these train rides.

Accommodation

My friends and I stayed at The Pocket Hotel Kyoto-Karasumagojo for four nights. We booked this hotel for its location and budget-friendly price. We reserved a twin room with a shared bathroom for ₱11,140.14 for two people, and we made our reservation about 9 months in advance.

The Pocket Hotel Kyoto-Karasumagojo is a boutique hotel under the Sotetsu Hotel Management. It is located at 423 Matsuyacho Gojodori Karasuma Higashi Iru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 600-8105 Japan. It is just a 1-minute walk from Exit 1 of Gojo Station on the Karasuma Line of the Kyoto Municipal Subway. The hotel is about a 10- to 15-minute walk from Kyoto’s Shinkyogoku Shopping Street and about a 15- to 20-minute walk to and from Kyoto Station.

The hotel has 121 private rooms and features high-speed Wi-Fi in all rooms, shared bathrooms (on specific floors), a laundry room for guests who need to wash clothes, male and female toilets on each floor, and complimentary daily bath amenities and sleepwear changes. It also has a small lounge area on the ground floor, near the reception. The hotel features self-check-in and check-out facilities and only accepts cashless payments through credit cards and QR codes.

Going Around Kyoto

Kyoto is connected by a vast transportation system, including buses, local subway lines, and inter-city train lines. The city also offers a wide variety of duration-based tourist passes.

My friends and I did not purchase any passes. We used our JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass for travel to and from Arashiyama on our first day, and we used our IC cards for the remainder of our stay in Kyoto.

Unexpected Discoveries

We intentionally avoided some popular places like Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, and Nishiki Market. We had already visited quite a few of these popular spots and wanted to explore them at night this time.

ARASHIYAMA

We visited Arashiyama during sunset and witnessed some amazing views from the other side of the Togetsukyo Bridge. We also noticed that there were very few visitors around at that time. Afterward, we stopped by the dimly lit Bamboo Forest before heading back to Kyoto.

HŌKAN-JI TEMPLE

We walked from our hotel to Hōkan-ji Temple to see how the place looked at night. We also stopped by % ARABICA Kyoto Higashiyama for coffee.

NINENZAKA

The famous Ninenzaka looked beautiful at night. It was much less crowded compared to how it is during the daytime.

GION

We walked around Gion on our way back to the city center. The streets were full of people exploring the historic district.

KIYAMACHI-DORI

Kiyamachi-Dori had beautiful cherry blossom trees in full bloom. My friends and I visited this area both during the day and at night to take some photos with the Sakura trees.

PHILOSOPHER’S PATH

The Philosopher’s Path is a scenic route along a cherry blossom tree-lined canal that runs between Ginkaku-ji and the Higashiyama neighborhood.

We visited the path a few days before the expected full bloom and were treated to a stunning sight of the cherry blossom trees in bloom.

NANZEN-JI

Nanzen-ji is a Buddhist temple and serves as the head temple of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism.

KEAGE INCLINE

Keage Incline is a former railway that connects Lake Biwa Canal to the Kamo River. It is now a gently sloping pedestrian path lined with cherry blossom trees.

KYOTO SHINKYOGOKU SHOPPING STREET

Kyoto Shinkyogoku Shopping Street is a pedestrian arcade, or shotengai, offering everything a shopper could want—from clothing stores and artisan boutiques to drugstores, entertainment venues (like karaoke), cafes, and restaurants.

That wraps up our Kyoto adventures from April 2024. From the unexpected cherry blossom trails at Keage Incline to the beautiful Philosopher’s Path, this leg of the journey was full of surprises. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out my previous Kyoto experiences.

My friends and I also visited Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Osaka, Hiroshima, Himeji, Nara, and Kobe during this trip. You can find all posts related to this adventure under the Sakura 2024 category.

Have you been to Kyoto, or are you planning to visit soon? I would love to hear about your experiences or any questions you might have! Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. If you have any further questions or need more details, you can also reach me directly at contact@thewkndtravel.com. I am happy to help with any clarifications or travel tips.

Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me expand my reach and keep you updated with the latest blog posts, itineraries, and flight reports on this website. Thank you, and see you next time!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

JR KANSAI-HIROSHIMA AREA PASS Review – Is It Worth It?

Early last year, my friends and I purchased the JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass for our trip around Hiroshima and the Kansai Region. We used this pass to travel to Hiroshima, Nara, Kobe, and Himeji from our base in Osaka.

Today, I will give you an in-depth look at this area pass and whether it’s worth purchasing. Read on below to learn more.

JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass

The JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass is an unlimited rail (and bus) pass offered to foreign tourists who wish to travel around the Kansai Region and Hiroshima for five consecutive days. The pass includes unlimited Shinkansen (bullet train) rides between Osaka and Hiroshima.

Price & Inclusions

The JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass costs ¥17,000 for adults (12 years and older) and ¥8,500 for children (6 to 11 years old). The pass is valid for five consecutive days from the date of the first trip/ride.

According to the West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) website, the JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass covers the following:

Unlimited use of the Sanyo Shinkansen (including Nozomi and Mizuho) between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima, including the Hello Kitty Shinkansen
Unlimited Shinkansen seat reservations on ordinary cars
Unlimited use of local, rapid, and limited express JR trains in the JR-West coverage area
Unlimited use of the JR Ferry to and from Miyajima Island (Itsukushima)
Unlimited use of Kyoto Tango Railway going to Amanohashidate
Unlimited use of Wakayama Electric Railway
Unlimited use of local JR buses around Hiroshima, Kyoto and other West Japan JR buses within the covered areas
Free bicycle rental at Ekirin Kun outlets in the designated areas

Limitations

This area pass also comes with certain limitations. First, the pass is only available to foreign visitors/tourists (with valid landing permits) in Japan. It is not available for purchase by locals or residents of Japan. Second, the pass can only be used by a single person. It is tied to the person’s passport details, so it is not transferable. Additionally, the pass holder must always carry their passport.

Third, the pass does not cover the Tōkaidō Shinkansen route between Shin-Osaka and Kyoto. It also cannot be used on any other Shinkansen routes outside the Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima route. Fourth, Shinkansen seat reservations via ticket machines can only be made up to six times. Any seat reservations beyond the 6th must be made at the offices.

Where To Buy

The JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass is available for purchase on the West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) website. It is also available through accredited local travel agencies worldwide. You can find the list of accredited travel agencies here. The area pass is also available for purchase on online travel platforms such as Klook and KKDay.

Please note that the pass must be exchanged within 3 months from the date of purchase.

How To Use It

Each purchased pass must be exchanged at designated JR-West ticket offices or selected JR-West stations for physical tickets. These passes can also be exchanged at green ticket machines labeled e5489. The machine will require the customer to present the reservation number, e-ticket QR code, and a foreign passport with an IC chip. Seat reservations can also be made at these green ticket machines.

The JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass works like any other single-journey ticket. The ticket holder must insert the JR Pass along with the seat reservation ticket (if applicable) at every station checkpoint and retrieve them after passing through.

Japan Rail Pass Fare Calculator

Websites in Japan have created JR Pass fare calculators to help determine whether purchasing a particular pass is worth it, depending on your itinerary.

The JR Pass and Japan Travel websites offer fare calculators for the standard 7 to 21-day passes. The Japan Guide website provides a more detailed fare calculator that includes all available regional passes.

Where Did We Use

My friends and I purchased our JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass from Klook. We paid ₱6,346.00 each and exchanged our pass vouchers at a green ticket machine located at Osaka Station.

We used our passes for 5 consecutive days and traveled the following route: Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima via the Nozomi bullet train, Hiroshima to Miyajima Island (Itsukushima) via train and ferry (round trip), Hiroshima Meipuru-pu sightseeing bus to our accommodation, Hiroshima to Shin-Osaka via the Nozomi bullet train, JR line from Shin-Imamiya Station to JR Nara Station and back, Shin-Osaka to Shin-Kobe, Shin-Kobe to Himeji both via the Nozomi bullet train, Himeji to Shin-Osaka via the Hikari bullet train, and Kyoto Station to Arashiyama Station and back.

We used the pass to visit Hiroshima, Nara, Kobe, Himeji, and Kyoto all within 5 days. We didn’t use it for our trip to Kyoto (because we found a faster and more convenient option), but we did use it for the return train service from Kyoto to Arashiyama.

Was It Worth Purchasing?

Was the JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass worth the purchase given our route above? The answer is YES. With the help of Google Maps, I manually checked every ride we took. The total fare cost of everything listed above without the pass was around ¥33,000 per person.

The pass only cost us ¥17,000 per person. Including all bus and local train rides, it saved us around ¥16,000 per person. That is almost double the original pass cost! What a steal.

At the end of the day, the pass will only be worth it if you carefully plan your itinerary and make sure to maximize its inclusions within the 5-day usage period. While it may not be the most affordable option for visiting the Kansai Region and Hiroshima, it can become a valuable investment with proper planning and usage. If you plan to stay solely within the Kansai Region, you can consider these cheaper alternatives: the JR Kansai Area Pass and the JR Kansai WIDE Area Pass.

What do you think of the JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass? Is it something that suits your travel style? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about the pass? In addition to posting below, you can also send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me in today’s pass review. In case you missed it, my friends and I flew to Japan for 20 days to experience the cherry blossom season from March to April 2024. You can find all posts related to this trip under the Sakura 2024 category.

Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you next time!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

2024 in a Nutshell: Back to Where It All Started

It is now 2025. Happy New Year!

The last three months of 2024 were so busy that I got sick during the holidays. Our relatives from overseas also came home for the New Year. Apologies, I did not have the time to write and post my 2024 recap during the break. Well, it may be a little bit late, but here it is.

Despite being very busy with work, I continued to travel in 2024. I visited different cities, stayed in various hostels, flew with new airlines, and continued to travel on a budget. I did not post much about my trips last year, but I will give you a preview of where I went. After the “revenge travel” year of 2023, I basically returned to the places I first visited about a decade ago.

Kansai, Japan

I flew to Japan with my relatives in February 2024. I toured them around Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara for five full days.

We visited the usual sights like Osaka Castle, Dotonbori, Umeda Sky Building, Universal Studios Japan, Shinsaibashi, Nara Deer Park (in Nara), Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Kinkaku-ji, and Fushimi Inari Taisha (in Kyoto). We also spent some time shopping around Shinsaibashi and Namba.

Japan Sakura Trip

I, along with two friends, flew back to Japan a month later to experience the Sakura season for the first time. This was also my 10th trip to Japan in 9 years. Our journey began in the cold and snowy Takayama and Shirakawa-go, followed by a few workdays in Osaka, and some relaxing yet educational days in Hiroshima. The full bloom of the Sakura was delayed by one to two weeks due to extreme cold weather.

We caught the start of the full bloom during our few days in Kyoto and finally experienced it in its full glory during our final days in Nagoya. We traveled around Japan for 20 days, chasing the cherry blossoms, and we were thrilled to catch the best views during our last days.

Cebu, Philippines

In April, my sister and I took our house “ate” of 10+ years on a free weekend vacation trip to Cebu. We enjoyed the beautiful views from the Sirao Flower Farm, the Temple of Leah, and the Taoist Temple. We also had the famous Cebu lechon for lunch, strolled around Magellan’s Cross and the Sto. Niño Basilica, and bought goodies from Tabo-an Market.

The following day, my sister took her to Cebu Ocean Park. I joined them afterward for dessert, arcades, and dinner. We flew back to Legazpi on our third day. Cebu was the first-ever domestic destination I visited as a solo traveler back in February 2012.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Last May, I flew to Kuala Lumpur with my colleagues for a weekend getaway. During our trip, I took them to some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, such as Bukit Bintang, the Petronas Towers, Chinatown, and Genting Highlands.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was the first city I visited outside the Philippines when I traveled there in April 2013. It holds a special place in my memories as my first international adventure.

Hong Kong SAR

I joined my aunt and her family in Hong Kong last July for her birthday trip. We spent a day at Hong Kong Disneyland, where we enjoyed as many rides as we could due to the shorter-than-usual queues (only 40 minutes max, compared to 125 minutes in December 2023).

We also visited The Peak, Lantau Island, Ngong Ping, and Citygate Outlets. Looking back, Hong Kong was the third destination I visited with my Philippine passport back in October 2013.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam

In August, my friend and I flew to Saigon to rediscover the city. We stayed and explored for five full days. We went on day tours to the Mekong Delta and Cu Chi Tunnels. We also walked around the city and checked out the War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh Market, Bui Vien Walking Street, Saigon Opera House, the Coffee Apartment, and many more.

The last time I explored the city was back in May 2014, during my fourth international trip out of the Philippines.

Sydney, Australia

I flew to Sydney, Australia, in September for business. After the work portion of the trip, my colleagues and I decided to extend our stay by two days and explore the city. We visited the usual sights, including the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and The University of Sydney. We also made our usual stops at Coles and Chemist Warehouse for some shopping hauls.

Sydney holds a special place for me, as it was my first-ever trip outside of Asia back in August 2018.

Jakarta, Indonesia

I flew to Jakarta for work last November. I visited our local office and attended a trade show. Unfortunately, I did not have the chance to go out and explore the city, as I was there for a full 48 hours and focused solely on work.

It was during this trip that I had the opportunity to fly with our flag carrier, Philippine Airlines, internationally for the first time. I will post about this flight in the coming weeks.

Seoul, South Korea

I flew to Seoul, South Korea, the same day I returned from my Jakarta work trip. I stayed and re-explored the city for a little over a week with my high school friends.

We visited the usual spots like Hongdae, Myeongdong, Nami Island, N Seoul Tower, Bukchon Hanok Village, Insadong, and Hangang Park. We also checked out areas we had not visited during our previous trips—Seonsu-dong, Seoul Forest Park, Starfield Suwon, COEX Starfield, and Dong-myo Flea Market.

South Korea issued my first-ever tourist visa back in 2014. I visited the country twice—once in November 2014 and again in November 2015—but had not been back since. It was great to see Seoul again after 9 years.

Looking back on these trips, it is amazing to see how much travel has shaped my experiences and memories over the years. From rediscovering familiar places like Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur to exploring new districts in Seoul and Saigon, each journey has brought something special.

Whether it was business or leisure, solo adventures or trips with friends and family, I am grateful for the opportunity to see the world and create unforgettable memories. I look forward to more discoveries, new and renewed friendships, and the joy of exploring even more of the world this year.

Wishing everyone a travel-filled 2025! May all your dream trips come true.

Kansai 2023: UJI – Do-It-Yourself Half-Day Tour Around Kyoto’s Green Tea Heaven + Kyoto Side Trip [April 2023]

Early this year, I flew to Japan for a week for the first time since the pandemic and since I flew to Fukuoka in 2019. I did not make any concrete plans on where to go or what to do. I went there to enjoy being in the country again after not visiting it for over 3 years.

In case you missed it, I already shared a few details about this trip. I talked about my domestic flight experience with Peach Aviation here: Flight Report: PEACH AVIATION MM 158 – Fukuoka to Osaka Kansai – Future-Proof & Efficient Japanese Domestic Low-Cost Flight. I also shared some photos of Osaka and Nara here: Kansai 2023: OSAKA & NARA Photoblog.

One of the new places I explored during this trip is Kyoto’s green tea heaven, Uji. Allow me to share with you what I did and where I went on this half-day trip to Uji. I will also share photos and details of my side trip to Kyoto on the same day.

I have been to Kyoto a few times in the past. I went there last October 2015 during my first trip to Japan. I re-visited the city again in 2016 during my 13-day expedition around Nagoya, Kansai and Hiroshima. In 2019, I spent a day in Kyoto from Osaka with my sisters and explored the city highlights.

Uji

Uji is a small city nestled between Kyoto and Nara. The city became a beneficiary of developments during the Heian Period when Byōdō-in Temple and Ujigami Shrine were constructed.

Today, the city is famous for its quality green tea products. It is one of Japan’s most important green tea production and distribution areas; it is also the place-to-be for green tea and matcha lovers.

Transportation & Access

Going around Uji is easy and tourist-friendly. The best way to get around the important sights is by foot. The city center is so small to the point where you can walk around the center in one morning or one afternoon. The city’s tourist information center suggests a typical walking route to see and explore the city’s attractions in one loop.

The city is connected to the rest of Japan through two stations: JR Uji Station in the Nara Line (south of the Uji River) and Keihan Uji Station in the Keihan Uji Line (north of the Uji River). JR Pass holders are advised to get off at the JR Uji Station, while IC card holders can take the Uji local train line. Both stations are connected to other major train lines in Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka.

Places Visited in Uji

I took the local trains from Osaka and got off at Keihan Uji Station. I dropped by the tourist information center and asked for the recommended walking loop, and I was given a map with the best possible route. I went to the following places:

UJIGAMI SHRINE

Ujigami Shrine is a Shinto shrine on the north side of the Uji River. It is believed to be one of Japan’s longest-standing shrines and is linked to the Byōdō-in Temple. The shrine was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1994.

UJI SHRINE

Uji Shrine is another Shinto shrine found lower than the Ujigami Shrine, also on the north side of the Uji River.

UJI RIVER

The Uji River is a beautiful river that flows through the city. River cruises and traditional fishing activities happen on this river during peak seasons.

ASAGIRIBASHI BRIDGE

Asagiribashi Bridge is a walking bridge that connects the northern part of the city to Kyoto Prefectural Uji Park.

KYOTO PREFECTURAL UJI PARK

Kyoto Prefectural Uji Park is an island park with scenic views of the city and a 13^th-century stone pagoda. The park is on two islands – Tachibana Island and Tō-no-shima Island.

UJI CITY MUNICIPAL TEA HOUSE TAIHOAN

After crossing the river and walking around the park, I walked to the municipal tea ceremony house (taihoan) to witness a traditional tea ceremony. I had a wonderful experience watching the tea ceremony. The ceremony has a ¥1,000 fee, and it includes mochi and a high-quality Uji green tea. Photos and videos were not allowed during the ceremony.

BYŌDŌ-IN TEMPLE

Byōdō-in Temple is a Buddhist temple built during the Heian Period. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed site is also the temple found at the back of the 10-yen coin. Entry to the temple grounds costs ¥600 per person.

AGATA SHRINE

Around 100 meters from Byōdō-in’s exit is Agata Shrine. It is a Shinto guardian shrine of Byōdō-in.

MATSUSAKAYA KAHACHI

I randomly came across this local tea shop named Matsusakaya Kahachi. I was invited by the two old gentlemen to go inside their shop and was taught how to make a hot sencha green tea drink from dried tea leaves.

They offered me three small cups of sencha tea. They do not speak English but tried their best to converse with me using their hands and gestures.

I liked their sencha tea product and bought both sencha tea leaves and matcha green tea powder from this shop. I had a beautiful and heartwarming experience with these two old gentlemen. I want to visit them again in the future and buy lots of green tea leaves and matcha powder from their shop.

PS. I asked for their permission to post their photo on my website.

UJI BYODOIN OMOTESANDO

Uji Byodoin Omotesando is the city’s green tea and matcha heaven. This 300-meter street is full of wooden houses and merchant shops selling green tea leaves, matcha powder, and everything green tea or matcha.

I came across this unique restaurant that serves ramen with matcha noodles. I tried it for lunch and paired it with their signature Uji matcha gyoza. It was weird at first, but okay for the experience.

TSUEN TEA HOUSE MAIN BRANCH

On the way back to Keihan Uji Station, I dropped by Tsuen Tea House’s main branch and tried their sakura matcha soft serve ice cream. I had one of the best and most flavorful soft-serve ice creams in this store!

The soft-serve iced cream costs ¥380. Customers can choose between matcha only, sakura only, or sakura matcha (mixed) flavors.

SURUGAYA KEIHAN UJI STATION

I also dropped by a local confectionary shop named Surugaya and tried their ¥100 green tea mochi sticks.

Kyoto Side Trip

After spending 4-5 hours around Uji, I took the local from Keihan Uji Station to Gion-Shijō Station in Kyoto. I spent the remaining 3 hours walking around Gion, and I visited Nishiki Market, Ponto-chō, Ninenzaka, and the Instagram-famous Hōkan-ji Temple. Here are some photos of these famous Kyoto spots.

NISHIKI MARKET

PONTO-CHŌ

NINENZAKA

HŌKAN-JI TEMPLE

After my quick trip to Kyoto, I took the train back to Osaka, dropped by the supermarket to get some food, walked back to my hostel, had dinner, and called it a day.

This sums up my long but fun day around Uji and Kyoto. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send these questions to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s blog. I hope you stay tuned for more Japan-related content in the future. I hope you can also visit and follow my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram! Thanks again and see you in the next one.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.