Feb 22, 2014 - 1 min read

Wisteria in Uji

Warm sunshine and pretty flowers on the Uji riverbank

By Cathy Cawood

Community writer

Wisteria and paper lanterns

Restaurants sell matcha ice-cream, and matcha noodles

Matcha ice-cream dusted with pure matcha powder... delicious!

Many of the shops and restaurants in the tourist area near Byodoin Temple have potted wisteria by the door

A large graceful potted wisteria

It is a Japanese custom to sprinkle water on the path outside the entrance

An enticing entrance

Many shops feature traditional door curtains

Uji is an old town, and you can see the occasional thatched roof here.

Paper lanterns decorate a casual riverside restaurant

There is a dragon boat festival on the Uji River in May

Wild wisteria  hangs from the forest beside Uji River

Purple petals scattered on the the side of the road leading to Amagase Dam

Uji is a pretty riverside town a short train journey from Kyoto. It is famous for green tea and for Byodo-in, the temple featured on the Japanese ten yen coin. In May wisteria blooms everywhere... wild wisteria growing rampant in the forest, and potted wisteria outside the shops in the tourist area. There is also a beautiful wisteria arbour in the grounds of Byodo-in.The Japanese word for wisteria is 'fuji'. At the same time the maple leaves are vibrant green and pink azaleas light up the shade. The weather is usually lovely in May, and if you are lucky you might even see some dragon boat racing. I highly recommend the matcha ice-cream!

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Cathy Cawood

By Cathy Cawood

Community writer

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Ann Yamagishi

Ann Yamagishi 10 years ago

Will try Uji next time when in Kyoto.The potted westeria is so charming.

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