Deep Kyoto

good places - good people

A Trip to Uji on Inside Kyoto

By

A window onto Uji... Kosho-ji Temple's Chinese style gate looking out onto Koto-zaka or "harp hill".
A window onto Uji… Kosho-ji Temple’s Chinese style gate looking out onto Koto-zaka or “harp hill”.

My article, A Trip to Uji, is now up on Chris Rowthorn’s Inside Kyoto site. In it I describe a complete circuit of all of Uji’s major sites. Uji is a remarkably well preserved town with several shrines and temples of historical interest, including two World Heritage Sites, and all set within  a beautiful natural landscape. Many locations there are associated with the Tale of Genji and so there is a Tale of Genji of Museum there too.  In my article I visit all of these locations and manage to fit in a special river-side lunchtime recommendation, and matcha ice cream at Japan’s oldest tea shop! Check out the article at the link: A Trip to Uji.

A Trip to Uji
Click to read the full article.

Here are some pictures from Kosho-ji Temple which didn’t make it into the final article.

IMG_0358 (Medium)
The garden at Kosho-ji
IMG_0378
A colorful image of Daitokuten. One of the Seven Lucky Gods, Daitokuten is a god of wealth and a plentiful family kitchen. He is easily recognized by his magic money making mallet, and the fact that he stands on bales of rice.
IMG_0374 (Medium)
Timbers from a dismantled Fushimi Castle were used in the temple’s construction. It is said that there are blood stains from the castle siege on the ceiling of the main sanctuary, but it was too dark for me to make them out.
IMG_0363 (Medium)
This is a pleasant temple to visit in all seasons, but especially in the fall for its maples, and in spring for its azaleas.