Timeline
10:00
Grab a bowl of champon noodles at Dontaku. This cheap and tasty spot is directly across from JR Uji station. Look for the flashing light in front to find it.
10:15
Walk to Tsuen-chaya, the oldest tea house in Japan. Founded in 1160, it is one of the 30th oldest companies in the world. Browse their selection of traditional teas.
10:30
Tearoom Zuishō-an at Nakamura Tokichi Honten
Head to the back of the Nakamura Tokichi main store for the Tearoom Zuishō-an. Here you will grind your own matcha powder and participate in a full tea ceremony. The program includes two kinds of matcha: koicha and usucha. This is a more expensive but longer and more immersive experience than standard cafe stops.
11:15
Walk 15 minutes ENE to Ujigami Shrine. This modest shrine is a World Heritage site and is said to be the oldest Shinto shrine in Japan. It was built to console the soul of Prince Morozumi.
Local tip
The tea ceremony at Zuishō-an requires a reservation and has specific start times (11:00, 14:00, and 16:00). Arriving at 10:00 allows you to grab lunch and visit the historic tea shop before your ceremony slot. The shrine is a short walk from the tearoom, making it a perfect end to the morning.
Check before you go
- Nakamura Tokichi Honten cafe is open 10:00-17:00 daily.
- Tsuen-chaya is open 09:30-17:30 daily.
- The tearoom program starts at 11:00, 14:00, and 16:00 daily.
- Staff at nearby eateries like Dontaku may not speak English, but the menu is straightforward.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Uji (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).