Rickshaw Tour of Uji: Traditional Bridge & Shrine Views

Roll through Uji's oldest streets in a rickshaw pulled by your guide

A rickshaw tour of Uji takes you through Japan's tea town on a traditional two-seat cart pulled by a trained local guide who shares the area's history. You cross the Uji Bridge, one of Japan's three oldest, and choose between visiting Ujigami Shrine (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Zen temple Kosho-ji, or both, depending on whether you book 90, 120 or 150 minutes. The tour is private to your group. Parties of three or four can book two rickshaws.

Step-by-step itinerary

Rickshaw tour of Uji highlights

• Ride traditional rickshaw with guide
• Cross Uji Bridge
• Visit Ujigami Shrine
• See Looking-Back Rabbit statue
• Roll up Kotozaka slope
• Photo stop at slope foot

The experience

Uji is built around tea and temples, and a rickshaw moves you between them at a pace that lets your guide stop for photos at the town's best viewpoints. You'll cross the Uji Bridge, which has stood for centuries, then roll past Uji Shrine before heading up Kotozaka: a stone-paved slope lined with maples that leads to your chosen destination. The route itself is the point: you're not rushing between sites but moving through the landscape the way locals have for generations.

Your guide pulls the rickshaw and narrates in English, pointing out details about the tea culture and architecture as you go. The 90-minute option includes entry to Ujigami Shrine, where you'll see the worship hall and main hall (the oldest existing Shinto shrine architecture in Japan), and the "Looking-Back Rabbit" statue. The 120-minute option takes you to Kosho-ji instead, one of Japan's oldest Soto Zen temples. You can enter the temple hall for an additional 500 yen, paid on site. The 150-minute tour includes both shrines. Each rickshaw seats two people, so if your group is three or four, you'll book two rickshaws and stay together as your guides coordinate the route.

The tour works for families with infants (they can sit on an adult's lap or ride in a stroller), and the surfaces are wheelchair accessible throughout. If you prefer not to book a rickshaw, public transportation options run nearby, though the rickshaw is what makes this tour distinct. It's the vehicle and the guide's presence that shape the experience.

What’s included

• Private rickshaw transportation pulled by a trained local guide.
• English-language narration and photo stops at scenic viewpoints.
• entry to Ujigami Shrine (90-minute and 150-minute options) or Kosho-ji Zen temple (120-minute and 150-minute options).
• crossing the Uji Bridge and the maple-lined Kotozaka slope.

Options for this experience

6 options

90-minute ride in one rickshaw for 2 peopleUp to 2 per booking · Guide in English · 11:30 and 14:00Ride lasting 1 hour 30 minutes, plus a visit to Ujigami Shrine

120-minute ride in one rickshaw for 2 peopleUp to 2 per booking · Guide in English · 11:30 and 14:00Ride lasting 2 hours, plus a visit to the Kosho-ji Zen temple

150-minute ride in one rickshaw for 2 peopleUp to 2 per booking · Guide in English · 11:30 and 14:00Ride lasting 2 hours 30 minutes, including Ujigami Shrine and the Kosho-ji Zen temple

See 3 more options

90-minute ride in two rickshaws for 4 peopleUp to 4 per booking · Guide in English · 11:30 and 14:00Ride lasting 1 hour 30 minutes, plus a visit to Ujigami Shrine, with two rickshaws

120-minute ride in two rickshaws for 4 peopleUp to 4 per booking · Guide in English · 11:30 and 14:00Ride lasting 2 hours, plus a visit to the Kosho-ji Zen temple, with two rickshaws

150-minute ride in two rickshaws for 4 peopleUp to 4 per booking · Guide in English · 11:30 and 14:00Ride lasting 2 hours 30 minutes, including Ujigami and Kosho-ji, with two rickshaws

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 11:30 and 14:00

Book up to1d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteJP¥ 500

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by 宇治　忍者屋の人力車観光

Is this one for you?Book 90 minutes to focus on Ujigami Shrine's interior; choose 120 minutes for Kosho-ji temple instead; pick 150 minutes to see both sites in one tour.

Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Ujigami Shrine and why is it on this tour?

Ujigami Shrine is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and holds the oldest existing Shinto shrine architecture in Japan, including its worship hall and main hall. It's also known for the "Looking-Back Rabbit" statue and the deity Uji no Wakiiratsuko enshrined there. The 90-minute and 150-minute options include a visit inside.

Can I visit both Ujigami Shrine and Kosho-ji on the same tour?

Yes, the 150-minute option includes both. You'll visit Ujigami Shrine and then roll up Kotozaka to Kosho-ji, the Zen temple. Entering the Kosho-ji temple hall costs an additional 500 yen, paid when you arrive.

How does the rickshaw tour work for a group of four?

Parties of three or four book two rickshaws so your group stays together. Each rickshaw seats two people and is pulled by a trained local guide, so you'll have two guides narrating the route in English and coordinating the stops.

What is Kotozaka and what will I see there?

Kotozaka is a stone-paved slope lined with maple trees that leads uphill to Kosho-ji. Your guide stops for photos at the foot of the slope, and you can walk up to the temple or simply enjoy the view from below.

Is the rickshaw tour accessible for people using wheelchairs?

Yes, all areas and surfaces along the route are wheelchair accessible. Infants can ride in a stroller or pram, and service animals are allowed. If you have mobility concerns, contact the operator to confirm the best option for your needs.