Uji River

The Uji River is a Class A river flowing through Uji City in southern Kyoto. The Seta River, which flows out of Lake Biwa, changes its name to the Uji River along the way, becoming a broad, calm flow as it runs through the Uji area. From JR Uji Station, walking east along the main road for about 10 minutes brings you to Uji Bridge over the Uji River. Uji Bridge was built in 646 (Taika 2) and is regarded as Japan’s first full-scale bridge, counted among Japan’s Three Ancient Bridges. The current bridge was rebuilt in 1996 and features a traditional design with hinoki cypress railings and bronze giboshi finials. The "Sannoma" platform projecting on the upstream side is said to be connected either to the guardian deity Hashihime once worshipped here or to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who had water drawn here for tea ceremony use. The Uji Tea Festival ceremony known as the "Meisui Kumisage no Gi" is held at this spot. Looking south from Uji Bridge, you can see Byodo-in Temple on the right, and in the river lies a sandbar known as Ukishima. The area is said to have hosted villas of Heian-period aristocrats and became the setting for "The Tale of Genji – The Uji Chapters." In the Kamakura period, tea was introduced to Uji and, under the patronage of Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, it developed into a major production region.