Tranquil and Quaint Town – Uji

Slow Travel in the Tranquil and Quaint Town – Uji Byodo-in Temple, with nearly a thousand years of history, is one of Japan's most representative World Heritage sites. Ujigami Shrine, the oldest shrine in Japan, is also listed as a World Heritage site, and every beam and pillar is considered a national treasure. The representative building within Byodo-in, the Phoenix Hall (originally named Amida Hall), houses an approximately 8-meter-tall statue of Amitabha Tathagata, carved by the famous Heian-era Buddhist master Jocho. The walls and pillars around it are vividly painted with images of heavenly beings, phoenixes, and arabesque patterns, decorating the hall as if it were a magnificent and dreamy Pure Land. The image of Byodo-in on the Japanese 10-yen coin and the phoenix on the 10,000-yen note are both from Byodo-in in Uji, Kyoto. Ujigami Shrine was built in the year 313 and has a history of over 1,700 years. The shrine's grounds are rich in historical and cultural significance, and it houses many of Japan's important cultural properties. 📍Address: Byodo-in Temple, Renge-116 Uji, Kyoto 611-0021, Japan 📍Address: Ujigami Shrine, 1 Yamada, Uji, Kyoto 611-0021, Japan