Area Guide

UJI CITY

Byodo-in Temple

This UNESCO World Heritage site was originally built as a lavish villa for a powerful politician. It was his son that turned it into a temple and ordered the construction of the iconic Phoenix Hall - which graces the 10 yen coin today.

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UJI CITY

Ujigami Shrine

Built in 1060, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ujigami Shrine is a stunningly understated wooden structure and the oldest standing Shinto shrine in Japan. Water drawn from its Kirihara Spring is used to brew tea to oﬀer to the gods.

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UJI CITY

Mampuku-ji Temple

Founded in 1661 by Chinese zen master Yin-yuan, this ancient Buddhist temple features a distinctly Chinese style of architecture. Vegetarian Chinese fucha ryori meals can also be tasted at its on-site restaurant with reservation.

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JOYO CITY

LOGOS LAND

An outdoor recreation theme park recently opened in an area of Joyoshi Sports Park, operated by outdoor lifestyle brand LOGOS. Enjoy glamping and BBQs, or stay in their unique indoor-tent-style accommodation.

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JOYO CITY

Joyo Shuzo

This small batch artisan sake brewer uses only the ﬁnest rice and water drawn from its own well to produce award-winning sake. Its deeply aromatic umeshu plum wine is also a local favorite.

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JOYO CITY

Aodani Plum Groves

The largest ume plum orchard in Kyoto covering a massive 20 hectares. During the
ﬂowering season from late February to mid-March, the myriad hues of fragrant pink blossoms are enjoyed as part of the annual Joyo Plum Festival.

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YAWATA CITY

Shokado Garden and Art Museum

A Japanese garden that shares a deep aﬃnity with the Buddhist priest Shokado Shojo. The charming landscaped surroundings oﬀers seasonal views of plum blossoms, cherry blossoms, camellia, and maple leaves.

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YAWATA CITY

Sewaritei Yodogawa Riverside Park(Cherry Blossoms)

A 1.4km stretch of river bank at the conﬂuence of the Ujigawa and Kizugawa rivers, planted with roughly 220 cherry trees, creates a beautiful tunnel of ﬂowers in the spring and an ideal picnic spot.

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YAWATA CITY

Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine

This important and opulently decorated shrine stands at the top of Mt.Otokoyama. Curiously, the bamboo harvested from the temple grounds was used as the ﬁlament in Thomas Edison’s ﬁrst electric light bulbs.

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KYOTANABE CITY

Fugen-ji Fureai no Eki

A local farmers market featuring fresh fruit and vegetables, cut ﬂowers, green tea and other local items produced by some 100 local farmers and artisans.

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KYOTANABE CITY

Omido Kannon-ji Temple

Serene wooden Buddhist temple built at the bequest of Emperor Shomu that enshrines a stand- ing statue of the Eleven-faced Kannon. Surrounded by nature, the temple is picture-postcard perfect during the spring cherry blossom and fall leaves seasons.

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KYOTANABE CITY

Shuon-an Ikkyu-ji Temple

The renowned Zen buddhist monk Ikkyu Sojun spent his last days in this historic wooden temple. Its peaceful zen gardens and temple grounds are a little remote, but well worth the visit.

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KIZUGAWA CITY

Gansen-ji Temple

The three-story pagoda at this ancient temple is surrounded by nature, creating year-round photo opportunities. Simply stunning in the autumn, but equally as beautiful in early summer when the hydrangeas are in bloom.

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KIZUGAWA CITY

Joruri-ji Temple

This Heian-era Buddhist temple is constructed around a central pond and has the only existing Amida Hall, complete with nine statues of Amida representing the nine stages of nirvana.(Statues will go under restoration, 2 at one time until year 2022)

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KIZUGAWA CITY

Kaijusen-ji Temple

This peaceful mountain temple aﬀords beautiful views across the Kizugawa river valley and features a ﬁve-story wooden pagoda, designated as a National Treasure. Beautiful during the autumn leaves season.

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KUMIYAMA TOWN

Kumiyama Yume Tower 137

Completed in November 2018 and standing at 137m tall, this KBS Kyoto radio tower is 6m taller than Kyoto Tower and now a local landmark named by popular public vote.

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KUMIYAMA TOWN

Machi no Eki Crosspeer Kumiyama

This building is the heart of Kumiyama Town. It celebrates the technology and fresh, local produce that deﬁne this 'Manufacturing Town.' They also oﬀer rental bicycles to explore the area.

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KUMIYAMA TOWN

Nagare Bridge

This fascinating 356m wooden bridge spans the Kizugawa River and is engineered so that its deck boards can ﬂoat away during ﬂooding. The river’s fertile sandy banks provide an optimal growing environment for tencha green tea.

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IDE TOWN

Machizukuri Center Tsubakizaka

A farmhouse-style community center set amongst the rice ﬁelds along the old Yamashiro Kodo trail. Chat with the locals over a free cup of locally grown hojicha tea and learn more about the area through workshops and events.

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IDE TOWN

Mandoroyama Observation Deck

At 300m above sea level, this grassy spot aﬀords spectacular views over the entire Yamashiro area, from Ide directly below, Kyoto city, and even Osaka. The deck is illuminated during mid-summer (Jul 21‒Aug 31) for romantic night views.

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IDE TOWN

Tamagawa Cherry Blossoms

The attractive Tamagawa river is lined with 500 cherry trees and hundreds of bright yellow Japanese kerria plants, that blossom into life each spring attracting picnickers and photographers in their droves.

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UJITAWARA TOWN

Soen Koyuan Yantan

This renovated tea factory is now a hub of all things green tea in the historical tea growing village of Yuyadani, holding workshops and selling local teas, sweets and other tea products.

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UJITAWARA TOWN

Zenjo-ji Temple

This 1000-year-old Zen Buddhist temple features a magniﬁcent thatched-roofed main hall and houses many important cultural treasures including a wooden statue of the eleven-faced Kannon Bodhisattva.

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UJITAWARA TOWN

Nagatani Soen House

The pretty thatched-roofed birthplace of 18th Century tea master Nagatani Soen houses a tiny museum that explains how he revolutionized the production process of green tea with his method of steaming and rolling that has remained largely unchanged to this day. Advanced reservations required.

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KASAGI TOWN

Canoeing

The summer months are perfect for trying out canoeing on the gentle current of the Kizugawa River. From late March to the end of November, Kasagi Canoeing School oﬀers beginner courses to learn the basics and paddle downstream for 6km.

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KASAGI TOWN

Wakasagi Hot Spring Kasagi Ikoi no Yakata

Relax after a day exploring the Kasagi area in the healing waters of these natural hot spring baths. There is also a restaurant on-site serving up local fare including curry and soba noodles.

* Now a hot spring and a restaurant will be closed due to renovation. We apologize for the inconvenience.

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KASAGI TOWN

Kasagi-dera Temple

Situated at the top of Mt. Kasagi, this ancient Buddhist temple is famous for its buddha eﬀergies carved onto the surface of huge 12m high rocks. A popular spot during the autumn leaves season.

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WAZUKA TOWN

d:matcha Kyoto

A cafe and gift shop run by tea farmers located in the heart of Wazuka, that also oﬀers a wide range of tours and experiences including green tea picking, original sencha blending, and matcha grinding workshops.

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WAZUKA TOWN

Kyoto Wazukaso

Completing extensive renovation in 2016, this modern-Japanese guest house is surrounded by tranquil tea
ﬁelds and oﬀers comfortable lodgings with breakfast and dinner. Meals are prepared in a Japanese kaiseki style, featuring dishes infused with Wazuka tea and other seasonal ingredients.

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WAZUKA TOWN

Ishitera Tea Fields

The hills around Wazuka are covered in row upon row of perfectly manicured tea ﬁelds, creating a stunning photogenic landscape that produces Wazuka’s famous brand of rich green tea.

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SEIKA TOWN

Keihanna Science City

A massive research hub, featuring twelve cultural and scientiﬁc research districts across the wider Seika area where Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara prefectures converge. More than 140 research facilities reside in this national project at the forefront of scientiﬁc research.

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SEIKA TOWN

Strawberry Picking

Apart from green tea, Seika is also well known for its strawberries. From Winter to Spring, several farms open to the public including Hanayagi Farm and Hirobiro Strawberry Farm for all-you-can-eat strawberry picking fun.

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SEIKA TOWN

Keihanna Commemorative Park

Set in a huge area of natural woodland, this large public park includes a traditional Japanese water garden and is cleverly landscaped to replicate traditional Japanese countryside settings including rice-paddies and mountain forests.

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MINAMI YAMASHIRO VILLAGE

Dosenbo Tea Fields

Set on a plain some 500m up the hillside in Minamiyamashiro is the community of Dosenbo, part of a region of sencha tea production that has thrived since the Meiji-era. Its distinctive vertically ridged tea ﬁelds form a stunning landscape.

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MINAMI YAMASHIRO VILLAGE

Takayama Dam

The arch-gravity design of this dam constructed in the late 60s is unusual in Japan. The observation deck oﬀers picturesque views across Minamiya- mashiro and is popular during the spring cherry blossom season.

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MINAMI YAMASHIRO VILLAGE

Michi no Eki Ocha no Kyoto Minamiyamashiro Village

A modern roadside facility in the heart of green tea country oﬀering Yamashiro green tea, locally grown vegetables, souvenirs, and light meals. Green tea ice-cream and their unique specialty Yamashiro black tea are particularly popular.

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