Byodoin Omotesando

This historic Omotesando (main approach) leads to the main gate of the World Heritage Site, Byodoin Temple. Located just a 10-minute walk from JR Uji Station and immediately across the Uji Bridge from Keihan Uji Station, it is easily accessible from both stations. Along both sides of the street, long-established Uji tea shops dating back to the Muromachi period line up, filling the air with the fragrance of tea. In 2001, the Ministry of the Environment recognized it as one of the "Top 100 Fragrant Landscapes to Pass on and Preserve."

In addition to the long-established Uji tea shops, there are plenty of stores selling unique local products of Uji and souvenir shops. There are also numerous restaurants and cafes where you can leisurely enjoy a menu full of tea-based dishes, such as tea dumplings, matcha sweets, and tea soba noodles, as well as Kyoto-style obanzai (traditional home-cooked dishes). One of the major attractions is the ability to enjoy authentic matcha soft serve ice cream from Uji tea specialty stores while walking around. Try comparing the matcha soft serve from different shops and find your favorite.