Another Side of Kyoto: Exploring Uji and Wazuka – Home of Japanese Green Tea
This tour will show you a different side of Kyoto—peaceful, uncrowded, and surrounded by nature. We will explore the Uji area, often called the 'Kyoto of Green Tea,' where you can admire the breathtaking scenery of tea plantations. Along the way, we’ll visit Byodo-in Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as Shojyuin Temple, a small yet charming gem.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel
- If you are staying at a hotel in Kyoto, I can pick you up directly from there. If you are coming from outside Kyoto, I will meet you at JR Kyoto Station.
Byodoin-Temple
Byodo-in Temple in Uji is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its Phoenix Hall (Houou-do), a stunning 10th-century structure that appears to float over a reflecting pond. It’s featured on the Japanese 10-yen coin and is a masterpiece of Buddhist Pure Land architecture.
Shojuin Temple
Shojuin Temple in Ujitawara is known for its iconic heart-shaped window, symbolizing harmony and happiness. Surrounded by serene nature, the temple also features colorful ceiling paintings of seasonal flowers and wildlife, making it a picturesque and peaceful spot. This temple is small yet very charming and one of my personal favorites.
Town of Wazuka
Wazuka, located in southern Kyoto (Prefecture), is a small town renowned for its tea cultivation, particularly high-quality Uji tea. With over 800 years of tea-growing history, it offers picturesque landscapes of terraced tea fields and scenic countryside. In this area, we will go for a walk around the fields and enjoy the view. Also, we will have lunch in this area.
Ending Point
At your hotel in Kyoto ( Or JR Kyoto Station)
Want to personalize this tour?
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This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide fee
Transportation between the sites (car driven by the guide, Honda Vezel 4 seaters),
Parking, gas, toll
Meals, Admission fees for temples, (For Byodoin Temple: 700 yen, approximately 4.5 USD, Shojuin Temples, 800 yen, approximately 5 UDS- Please bring cash since they only accept cash) , and Travel Insurance (The guide is not responsible for any accidents that may occur during the tour)
Tour Important Information
*In Wazuka, we will be walking quite a bit, though the paths are mostly flat and not very challenging. Please wear comfortable shoes. If you’d prefer to minimize the walking, let me know, and I can adjust the itinerary accordingly.
* Although my car can accommodate up to four passengers (excluding the driver), the rear seat may feel a bit small. If you have more than five people in your group, please let me know before making a reservation.
In case of bad weather, such as heavy rain, storms, typhoons, or snow, walking around Wazuka may not be ideal as there is little shelter available. If that happens, I will provide alternative options for your tour.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
About Tour Guide Kanae O.
Hello! I am Kanae, a nationally licensed guide. While working full-time as a lecturer at a local university in Kyoto, I have also been guiding for two years.
Born and raised in Kyoto, I am excited to share the beauty and culture of my hometown with my customers. Kyoto is an enchanting city, and even as a local, I am continually fascinated by its many charming spots. Whether it's the serene temples, vibrant markets, or hidden gems, there is always something new to explore and appreciate in this wonderful city.
Also, since my home is close to Shiga Prefecture, I am very familiar with the area. While Shiga may not be as popular as Kyoto, it offers a wealth of attractions for tourists. From historical sites such as temples and shrines to the stunning natural beauty of Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, there is much to see and do. I am passionate about promoting Shiga and sharing its unique charm with visitors.
Reviews
Jennifer G.
“Great day with Kanae!”
Kanae was an excellent host for our day of sightseeing. She was knowledgable and we had great conversations about life in Japan. We packed so much into our day with her that we couldn’t have done on our own. We are very grateful to her for showing us around her beautiful hometown!
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Kanae O.
Dear Jennifer, Thank you very much for your kind and thoughtful review. I truly appreciate your words. I had a wonderful time with both of you and really enjoyed spending the day together. It was a pleasure showing you around Kyoto, and I’m so glad we were able to make the most of the day and visit so many places. Your interest and openness made the experience even more enjoyable for me. Thank you again for choosing me as your guide. I hope you had a great time throughout your trip in Japan—and next time, please don’t forget to try aburi mochi! Warm regards, Kanae
Edyta R.
“Wonderful!”
I am a woman in my 50's and this was my first time travelling to Japan. Normally, this private tour is booked for a group of people who know each other, but since I was a solo traveller and it was not possible for me to join a group, therefore I booked this tour solely for myself. This was a very unique experience for me and it felt truly special. I booked this private tour with my Japanese guide Kanae. She is a wonderful guide and a very kind person, who also communicates very well in English. She is intelligent, knowledgeable, polite, caring and resourceful. It was so great and very convenient to travel from site to site to site with Kanae in her car. She is also an excellent driver and her car is very spacious, clean and comfortable. Touring this way, allowed me to save a lot of time and energy. During this tour, Kanae showed me many amazing places in Kyoto with beautiful architecture and stunning nature. She explained to me the significance of each place and she answered all my questions very well. I had so much fun and I truly enjoyed this private tour with her. Thank you Kanae for making this tour accessible, educational, easy and fun. I will treasure these moments forever. It was perfect for me, especially since I've developed problems with my feet while in Japan and I could not walk as far and for as long as I normally could in the past. I enjoyed having this private tour of Kyoto with Kanae and I highly recommend it. Thank you Kanae!!! Edyta (Canada)
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Kanae O.
Dear Edyta, Thank you so much for your wonderful and thoughtful review. I truly appreciate your kind words. It really means a lot to me. It was such a pleasure spending the day with you, and I genuinely enjoyed our time together. I feel very fortunate to have met you and to have been part of your journey in Japan. Guests like you make my work especially meaningful. Thank you again for choosing me as your guide. I hope your travels continue to be filled with great experiences, and I would be very happy to see you again someday. Warm regards, Kanae
Peter A.
“Wonderful Day”
We had a great day with Kanae. The best description is that it was like being shown around by a family member or old friend we had known for years. She was very organised, making contact in advance to clarify pick up arrangements and ask whether we had questions or requests. She was on time on the day, lovely to talk to, and very knowledgable on the sites visited, with best ways to access, parts to see, and how to avoid crowds (as much as possible).We are pretty quick walkers so finished at all the sites with lots of time to spare so Kanae took us to her favourite local Ramen shop for lunch. Great food and a place we would never have found ourselves - a highlight in its own right. Would definitely recommend and would certainly book with her again if in Kyoto.
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Kanae O.
Peter, thank you very much for your kind and thoughtful review. I truly appreciate it. I had a wonderful time with you both and really enjoyed our day together. You were such lovely guests, and I felt very relaxed guiding you. I’m also happy that you enjoyed the ramen restaurant. It’s one of my favorite spots in Kyoto, so it meant a lot to me that you liked it as well. Thank you again for choosing me as your guide. I would be very happy to see you again if you return to Kyoto. Warm regards, Kanae
$301/ per group
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