10 Selected Hotels Associated with the Tale of Genji in Uji, Kyoto
Uji in Kyoto where visitors can find Byodoin and Ujigami Jinja. It is also famous for the remarkable reflection in the water of Byodoin Ho-oh-doh, and one of Japan's oldest bridges, the Uji Bridge, which spans the Uji River. This area is also considered to be a top producer of tea and matcha-flavored confectioneries and other sweets that appeal to all types of visitors. Wouldn't you like to experience feeling the atmosphere of the Heian period in the city that is associated with "Genji Monogatari" (The Tale of Genji)?
This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
1. Uji Daiichi Hotel
This property is a 3 minute walk from JR Uji Station and is a perfect base to start your sightseeing to many different places because it is about 17 minutes by rapid service train to JR Kyoto Station and about 40 minutes to JR Nara Station. All the guest rooms have free Wi-Fi and provide amenities and many useful features. There is a restaurant that serves both Japanese and Chinese dishes on the first floor where you can enjoy things like hot-pot meals, seasonal dishes and a lunch menu. When you choose the breakfast-inclusive plan, they offer a choice of either Japanese or Western style meals at a reasonable price. There are convenience stores and supermarkets very close to this hotel as well as a famous hand-kneaded dumpling store called "Ujigawamochi" which is popular for their freshly made chadango (matcha dumplings) made without preservatives or artificial coloring. This hotel is about a 10 minute to Byodoin Temple which is a must see for sightseeing in Uji.
The Japanese/Chinese restaurant on the first floor is called "Wachu-saishoku Daihachi."
[Information about Uji Daiichi Hotel]
Address: 178-13 Uji-myoraku, Uji-shi, Kyoto (Google Map)
Nearest station: A 3 minute walk from Uji Station on the JR Nara Line
Estimated price: from 4,700 yen
Check-in: 3:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
HP: ujidai1.jp/index.html (Japanese Only)
2. Hanayashiki Ukifune En
This historic hotel has been open for business since 1894 and is very close to the street called "Ajirogi no Michi" which is well known for pedestrian traffic, and is famous for its line up of souvenir shops, restaurants and dessert shops. This hotel is known for its wide variety of food, such as a steak restaurant that is built in the "sukiya-zukuri" style, a Japanese residential architectural style which is often used for tea ceremony arbors, a restaurant that uses Bincho-zumi (hard white charcoal) to grill your food, and a Japanese restaurant where you can enjoy authentic "Kyo Kaiseki" (Kyoto's traditional meals that are served in courses) which uses seasonal ingredients while looking out on the Uji River. There are also 2 large public baths in different places, and on the third floor there is a bath with a superb view where you can appreciate the seasonal scenery. There is free Wi-Fi in the guest rooms, as well as a refrigerator and an espresso machine which will help make your stay more comfortable, and all of the guest rooms offer a remarkable view of the seasonal changes on the Uji River. This location is close to Byodoin which has been designated as a World Heritage site, and it is also within walking distance to Ujigami Jinja.
An example of dinner
[Information about Hanayashiki Ukifune En]
Address: 20 Uji-togawa, Uji-shi, Kyoto (Google Map)
Nearest station: About a 5 minute car ride from either JR Uji or Keihan Uji Stations
Estimated price: from 7,000 yen
Check-in: 4:00 PM
Final check-in: 9:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
HP: www.ukifune-en.co.jp/english/
HP: www.ukifune-en.co.jp/index.html (Japanese)
3. Aiso
This inn is located on Ajirogi no Michi where you can enjoy the breathtaking scenery along the Uji River as well as the historical significance of the area. Here guests can savor a popular signature item called "Unagi-iimushi" (glutinous rice seasoned with Japanese sansho pepper topped with broiled eel wrapped in bamboo skin), which you can enjoy at the hotel restaurant or by purchasing it at their souvenir shop. From the "Hamazashiki" room, guests can appreciate the beautiful contrast between the Thirteen Story Stone Pagoda which is the oldest existing stone pagoda in Japan and the vermilion colored Kisen Bridge. The inn is a traditional ｒyokan-style building and it only has a total of 4 guest rooms. Therefore, you will feel like you went back in time because you are surrounded by Uji's oldest historic ruins while looking out over the old part of town. The popular sightseeing destination Byodoin is just a 3 minute walk and Ujigami Jinja and the pier, which is famous for their summer sweetfish fishing using cormorants in the Uji River, are nearby.
[Information about Aiso]
Address: 3-4 Uji-togawa, Uji-shi, Kyoto (Google Map)
Nearest station: 10 minute walk from both Uji Stations on either the JR Nara Line or the Keihan Uji Line
Estimated price: from 4,900 yen
Check-in: 3:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
HP: www.wao.or.jp/aiso/index.html (Japanese Only)
4. Hostel In Uji Kirinya
This hostel is located close to both the Uji Bridge which is considered to be one of Japan's oldest bridges and Byodoin Omotesando where all the local Ujicha (Uji tea) shops are all lined up. Men and women are separated in dormitory-style rooms that have bunk beds, the rooms accommodate up to 12 people, and there is a private Japanese-style room for families or groups. They offer a shared shower for guests, as well as a common area living room. The historical town of Uji, which is famous for its World Heritage Byodoin, is also the animation set of "Hibike! Euphonium" (Let the Euphonium Sound Echo) which is based on a novel that boosted the popularity of this town and nowadays fans are streaming in. This property is within walking distance to the previously mentioned popular sightseeing spots and the prices are reasonable.
Shared living room
[Information about Hostel In Uji Kirinya]
Address: 4-4 Uji-myoraku, Uji-shi, Kyoto (Google Map)
Nearest station: 7 minute walk from Uji Station on the JR Nara Line or a 5 minute walk from Uji Station on the Keihan Uji Line
Estimated price: from 2,800 yen
Check-in: 4:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
HP: ujikirinya.web.fc2.com/ (Japanese)
5. Uji Ichiban Hotel Nigauri
This property opened in May 2016 and offers the entire building to only one couple/group per day. Time in Uji can be spent luxuriously because the atmosphere of the Heian period is still present to this day. There is no on-site staff, so you will feel like you are staying in a private cottage. The layout of the property features a living room, kitchen, bedroom, Japanese-style room and hinokiburo (Japanese cypress bath) as well as satisfying amenities and Wi-Fi. The hinokiburo bathroom is approximately 5 tatami mats (90 square feet) and from there, you can view the inner garden. There are nearby convenience stores and supermarkets, and if you walk about 100 meters you can see both the site of a stone statue of Murasaki Shikibu (the world's first novelist) and the Uji Bridge. Walking on the Uji Bridge while looking at the beautiful Uji River and heading out to the The Tale of Genji Museum in Uji where you get the opportunity to sense the world of Genji, is a recommended course to take.
Hinokiburo with a view of the inner garden
[Information about Uji Ichiban Hotel Nigauri]
Address: 2-17 Uji-satojiri, Uji-shi, Kyoto (Google Map)
Nearest station: 5 minute walk from both Uji Stations on either the JR Nara Line or the Keihan Uji Line
Estimated price: from 7,600 yen
Check-in: 3:00 PM
Final check-in: 9:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
HP: uji-ichiban-yado.com/ (Japanese)
Book with Rakuten Travel (Japanese)
6. Kimiya
This ryokan is located in the town of Uji which is famous for Ujicha, a type of Japanese tea and the site of The Tale of Genji. It is a 5 minute walk from JR Uji Station and it is about 17 minutes by rapid service train to JR Kyoto Station. In the Japanese-style guest rooms they offer A/C, television, and a set-up for tea, and there are also 4 public baths available 24 hours a day. It is within walking distance to Uji's popular sightseeing spots such as the World Heritage Byodoin which is a 15 minute walk away and Ujigami Jinja which is a 20 minute walk away. There are many things to see in Byodoin, but the national treasure of "Ho-oh-doh" the building that appears on the 10 yen coin and the gold "Ho-oh" (phoenix) that appears on the back of the 10,000 yen note are especially famous.
An image of Byodoin Ho-oh-doh which appears on the 10 yen coin.
An image of the gold "Ho-oh" which appears on the back of the 10,000 yen note.
[Information about Kimiya]
Address: 140 Uji-ichiban, Uji-shi, Kyoto (Google Map)
Nearest station: 5 minute walk from Uji Station on the JR Nara Line or a 10 minute walk from Uji Station on the Keihan Uji Line
Estimated price: from 5,400 yen
Check-in: 4:00 PM
Final check-in: 8:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
HP: www.kyo-yado.com/Uji-kimiya/ (Japanese Only)
7. Tomi-chaya Japanese Hotel
This hotel is on the same street that has all the souvenir shops and restaurants, and is also very close to the street called Ajirogi no Michi where you can look out on the spectacular scenery of Tono Island that is home to the Thirteen Story Stone Pagoda which has been designated as a important cultural property. They have 13 guest rooms that vary in size, and large public baths in 2 different locations, and you can do your own laundry for free. If you choose the meal-inclusive plan you can enjoy seasonal Japanese dishes. You can walk to the famous sightseeing spot Byodoin in about 3 minutes and the World Heritage site Ujigami Jinja is also within walking distance. On the street called "Sawarabi no Michi" which leads to Ujigami Jinja, one can find a shop called "Ujicha Dojo Takumi-no-Yakata" where they offer set tea-menus such as Uji matcha or Gyokuro (green tea of the highest quality) that comes with a confection. They also hold chakabuki (tea recognition game) by reservations only, as well as a class that teaches people how to make tea properly.
[Information about Tomi-chaya Japanese Hotel]
Address: 11 Uji-togawa, Uji-shi, Kyoto (Google Map)
Nearest station: 15 minute walk from Uji Station on the JR Nara Line or a 10 minute walk from Uji Station on the Keihan Uji Line
Estimated price: from 7,200 yen
Check-in: 3:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
HP: www.tohmi.com/ (Japanese Only)
8. Kyo-Ryouri Ujigawa Ryokan
This ryokan is located on the edge of the Uji River and offers only 4 Japanese-style guest rooms with tatami flooring. If you choose the meal-inclusive plan, you will be able to enjoy meals such as chasoba (Buckwheat noodles flavored with Uji tea), gomadofu (sesame tofu), and yuba konnyaku (tofu skin yam cake). In addition to the lodging plans, they offer a plan that lets you experience the making of matcha in a tea house called "Sankyuan" at a long-established tea shop called "Mitsuboshien Kanbayashi Sannyu Honten" which is known for its yuba chakaiseki (a light meal served during a tea ceremony). This place is ideally located for sightseeing because the main entrance to Byodoin is just a 2 minute walk, and The Tale of Genji Museum is a 9 minute walk. There is a temple called Manpukuji which was founded by a Chinese Zen monk named Ingen Zenji and it is located on the Keihan Uji Line, and there you can experience Zen meditation. With prior reservation, you can enjoy vegetarian meals handed down from Buddhist monks in China. Uji Station is the closest station to the property, and if you would like to go to Manpukuji get off at Obaku Station which is 2 stations away from Uji Station and walk 5 minutes.
A picture of Hotei Maitreya at Manpukuji Temple
[Information about Kyo-Ryouri Ujigawa Ryokan]
Address: 2-2 Uji-renge, Uji-shi, Kyoto (Google Map)
Nearest station: 7 minute walk from Uji Station on the JR Nara Line or a 4 minute walk from Uji Station on the Keihan Uji Line
Estimated price: from 7,100yen
Check-in: 3:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
HP: ujigawa.com/index.html (Japanese Only)
9. Business Hotel Uji
This hotel is close to JR Ogura Station which is one stop away from JR Uji Station which is known as the threshold to all of Uji's sightseeing destinations. It is also a 3 minute walk from Ogura Station on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line and there are convenience stores, restaurants and bars nearby. Each room offers Wi-Fi and amenities, and some of the guest rooms have a separate water closet for the toilet and other rooms are handicap accessible. It is an approximate 2 minute train ride from JR Ogura Station to JR Uji Station which offers easy access to many popular sightseeing spots including Byodoin and Ujigami Jinja which were both built in the Heian period and are now registered as World Heritage sites.
The World Heritage site Ujigami Jinja is also known as a power spot.
[Information about Business Hotel Uji]
Address: 16-4 Nishiyama, Ogura-cho, Uji-shi, Kyoto (Google Map)
Nearest station: 3 minute walk from Ogura Station on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line or a 6 minute walk from Ogura Station on the JR Nara Line
Estimated price: from 6,000 yen
Check-in: 4:00 PM
Final check-in: 8:00 PM (Need to contact property if checking in after 8 PM)
Check-out: 10:00 AM
HP: www.pension-uji.com/original5.html
HP: www.pension-uji.com/ (Japanese)
Book with Rakuten Travel (Japanese)
10. Koryuen Seizanso
This ryokan is located on the Uji river and serves Kyoto-style cuisine. There are 2 large public baths from where you can enjoy different scenery of the Uji River during the year as the seasons change. This location also allows you to experience and enjoy Ujicha and sightseeing spots associated with the Genji Monogatari. It is also close to Ajirogi no Michi that has souvenir shops and restaurants up and down both sides of the street, and the Thirteen Story Stone Pagoda, an important cultural property that is also nearby. You can also walk to many other popular sightseeing spots including Byodoin and Ujigami Jinja which are now registered as World Heritage sites. They offer free Wi-Fi in all of the guest rooms and have rooms that are perfectly suited for small or large groups or families that vary from a 8 tatami mat room to suites with 2 separate rooms consisting of both a 16 and a 12 tatami mat room. If you choose the meal-inclusive plan, you will be able to enjoy a Japanese-style set menu including obanzai (Kyoto small plates) for breakfast, and for dinner they offer various unique meals found only in Kyoto using fresh seasonal ingredients. You can savor both breakfast and dinner while you relax in your very own room.
An example of a meal
[Information about Koryuen Seizanso]
Address: 27-1 Uji-togawa, Uji-shi, Kyoto (Google Map)
Nearest station: A 15 minute walk from both Uji Stations on either the Keihan Uji Line or the JR Nara Line
Estimated price : from 13,000 yen
Check-in: 3:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
HP: www.seizanso.com/ (Japanese Only)
The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.
About the author
