Byodoin Temple & Uji Tea Sweets: Guided tour with tastings

The Phoenix Hall sits over a thousand years old, and the tea shops around it are still brewing.

A guided tour of Byodoin Temple in Uji, Japan, combines a visit to the Phoenix Hall (an architectural masterpiece symbolizing the Pure Land in Buddhist belief) with a walk through Byodoin Omotesando Street, where you taste green tea sweets in both traditional and modern shops. Admission and a live English-speaking guide are included. The tour runs about 80 minutes. Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or during pregnancy.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Byodoin Temple and explore Uji

• Visit Byodoin Temple and Phoenix Hall
• Explore Byodoin Temple museum and gardens
• Walk along Byodoin Omotesando Street
• Taste green tea sweets and local treats

The experience

Byodoin Temple stands as the centerpiece of Uji, built over a thousand years ago by aristocrats who designed the Phoenix Hall to resemble the wings of a mythical phoenix. The roof's western orientation aligns with Buddhist cosmology: the direction of the Pure Land, or paradise. You'll walk through the temple's intricate grounds, past a picturesque pond and lush gardens, and visit the on-site museum to see ancient artifacts that anchor the site's spiritual and artistic history.

After the temple, your guide leads you to Byodoin Omotesando Street, the arcade that developed right at the temple entrance to serve visitors. The street fills with the aroma of freshly brewed green tea (Uji is Japan's renowned tea region), and the shops here stock everything from traditional Japanese confections to modern tea-infused sweets. You'll taste a range of them as you browse, moving between historic spots and trendy newer ones that line the street.

The tour is led by a live English-speaking guide who walks the full route with you. Public transportation options are nearby if you need them to reach the starting point.

What’s included

• Admission to Byodoin Temple.
• live English-speaking guide for the full tour.
• tasting of green tea sweets at shops on Byodoin Omotesando Street.
• access to the on-site museum with ancient artifacts.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30, 10:30, 12:30 and 14:30

Book up to1d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by DeepExperience

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guided walk that pairs Byodoin Temple's architecture with Uji's tea shops in one afternoon: the guide structures both stops so you see the temple's history and taste local tea culture without backtracking between them.

Top questions

What is the Phoenix Hall and why does it face west?

The Phoenix Hall is the architectural centerpiece of Byodoin Temple, built over a thousand years ago. Its roof is designed to resemble the wings of a mythical phoenix, and it faces west because that direction aligns with the Pure Land, paradise in Buddhist belief, in the cosmology of Amida Buddha.

Will I have time to buy tea sweets on Omotesando Street, or is it just a walk-through?

You'll taste a range of green tea sweets during the tour, moving between both historic and trendy shops on Byodoin Omotesando Street. The street is designed for browsing and sampling, so you have time to explore the local confections, though snacks beyond the tasting are not included in the tour price.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs about 80 minutes total, covering Byodoin Temple and the Omotesando Street tasting walk.

Is this tour accessible if I have mobility concerns?

The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health. It is suitable for all other fitness levels. Public transportation options are available nearby to help you reach the starting point.

What's included in the price?

Admission to Byodoin Temple and the guide fee are included. The tour features a live English-speaking guide for the full route.