Top 14 Uji Tea Tours

1.Green Tea Tour with Byodoin and Koshoji Temple Visits

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 72 reviews · from $111Our pick

Spend four hours in Uji with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide, tasting premium Gyokuro, learning tea customs, and visiting Byodo-in, Ujigami Shrine, and mountain-side Koshoji Temple. Guides such as Damien, Ferdinand, Brian, and David add history, temple etiquette, and local insight.

“This was the best tour we’ve done in Japan! Our tour guide Bryan was incredibly knowledgeable and really shaped our experience in Uji- we learnt about the history of Uji, visited several UNESCO sites, explored and learnt about many different shrines and temples and had an absolutely amazing Uji tea experience at a local tea shop. This was a zen and peaceful tour, where we really had time to enjoy every special moment. Bryan led us through local paths, away from tourist commotion, and really took us on a magical journey of Uji! Thank you for everything- I would 1000% recommend!Read more”

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2.UNESCO Heritage & Tea Ceremony Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 54 reviews · 3 hours · from $66

Start at JR Uji Station with an English-speaking guide such as Yuko, Katsuhiko, or Miyake-san. Walk to Byodoin Temple, learn tea etiquette at Taihoan, cross two suspension bridges, visit Uji and Ujigami shrines, and sample local matcha treats. Expect some walking and a Japanese-language ceremony with translation.

“Katz was an amazing guide! He made the experience unique, fun, and educational. He will not disappoint.”

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3.Matcha Grinding Experience and Walking Tour in Uji Kyoto

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 26 reviews · from $130Top rated

Meet your English-speaking guide, possibly Vincent, at Kyoto Station for a four-hour walk through Uji. Visit Byodo-in and Uji Shrine, grind tea leaves with a stone mill at Fukujuen Ujicha Kobo, then drink your matcha with Japanese sweets or ice cream.

“We had a great experience with Vincent! The tour ended up being a private tour which allowed us to go with the flow a bit more. He was great in showing us several temples and shrines, and talked us through the matcha making experience. We would definitely recommend it!”

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4.Kyoto & Uji: Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Osaka or Kyoto

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 25 reviews · from $57

Spend about nine hours with a guide visiting Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion, Kiyomizu-dera, historic hillside streets, and Uji’s river, shrine, Byodo-in, and tea street. Air-conditioned transport links the stops, while temple admission and lunch cost extra. Guides may include John, Jone, or Cave.

“Great tour, great tour guide! Perfect day and great planning allowed us to enjoy all the sights without rushing. Our Guide, Jone, was friendly and helpful, making the trip a truly memorable experience. Highly recommend this tour. Definitely worth it!”

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5.Slow Cycling Tour at Uji’s Matcha Green Tea Fields and Heritage

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 25 reviews · from $130

Ride a stylish BROMPTON bicycle through Uji with an English-speaking navigator, stopping at Chazuna, historic shrines, Koshoji Temple, the Uji River, and tea shops. The small group format, gentle pace, and flexible route suit curious visitors who want more than Byodo-in alone.

“We had an amazing tour with Takashi. He was a great guide!”

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6.Uji and Wazuka Matcha Farm Half Day Private Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · from $360

Spend four private hours with guide Masae exploring Uji and Wazuka, Japan’s celebrated tea valley. Walk beside the Uji River, visit Uji Shrine and Ujibashi Bridge, tour tea fields, taste at least three local teas, enjoy a Japanese bento lunch, and travel in an air-conditioned vehicle.

“Masae was very knowledgeable about matcha and very nice. We went to a farm and did a matcha tasting. She also showed us beautiful landscapes”

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7.Uji Tea Ceremony and UNESCO Heritage Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · from $70

Meet your English-speaking guide at Uji Station at 9:45 am for a three-hour walk through Byodoin Temple, Taihoan, Uji’s shrines, and riverside bridges. Guides such as Naoki, Katsuhiko, Maru, and Nobumasa Miyake bring local history to life, while the tea ceremony adds a hands-on cultural stop.

“It was a very interesting and informative tour in a beautiful area. Definitely recommend this tour. Our guide was great, the tea ceremony was nice and I appreciated the other beautiful stops. Thank you!”

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8.Kyoto Early Bird Tour in Uji and Fushimi Inari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · from $55

Start at Kyoto Station and travel with a group of no more than eight to Fushimi Inari, Byodoin Temple, and Ujigami Shrine. Guide Genki is available on some departures. Byodoin admission is included, while the ¥390 transport fee and lunch are extra. The tour ends at Uji Station.

“Our guide Genki was very knowledgeable with explaining the differences between Shinto and Buddhism. He gave us just enough information that we could retain it. The morning tour is not crowded, and we had lots of space around us. We diRead more”

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9.Private immersion into Kyoto’s tea and reglious culture

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · from $162

Spend four hours in Uji with a private guide such as Ferdi, Damian, Kevin, or Mika. Taste top-grade gyokuro, visit Ujigami Shrine, Koshoji Temple, Byodoin, its museum, and tea-lined streets, then stroll Uji Park beside the river.

“David was a knowledgeable guide who spoke English and Japanese. Tea drinking can be a complex event! Also visited a temple.”

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10.Cycling Tour at Uji’s Matcha Green Tea Fields and Heritage

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 4h 30m · from $160

Spend 270 relaxed minutes exploring Uji by BROMPTON bicycle with an English-speaking local navigator. Visit Chazuna, peaceful shrines, Kosho-ji, the Uji River, Tō-no-shima Island, and Byodoin, then stop for matcha treats. Groups are limited to six, and the route can be adjusted to your wishes.

“We had the pleasure of having Takashi-san as our guide, and the experience was simply beautiful and relaxing. The tour offered a wonderful opportunity to visit charming shrines that, refreshingly, weren’t too crowded. Riding the bikes calmly along the river provided plenty of scenic photo opportunities. Takashi himself is an excellent guide—attentive, pleasant, and always considerate of our needs and requests. This tour is highly recommended for anyone wis hing to explore a more rural, tranquil side of Kyoto while enjoying a peaceful and memorable day.”

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11.Kyoto Hidden Riverside Zen Mediation and Uji Matcha Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $105

Spend two quiet hours on a riverside deck in Kyoto learning beginner-friendly zazen from an instructor with decades of temple experience. An English-speaking cultural guide interprets the session, followed by premium Uji matcha and seasonal wagashi. The group is limited to 10 people.

“If you are thinking about doing this experience while in Kyoto, take this review as your sign that you should register right now. This has been the highlight of our trip, amongst some very notable experiences. Highly recommend!!!”

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12.Utilising upcycled Matcha! Creating matcha incense (Uji, Kyoto)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $55

At Eishin-in Temple in Uji, you will learn how discarded Uji matcha becomes incense, then shape 6 to 7 pieces in wooden moulds. The one-hour workshop includes a Japanese-speaking instructor, seasonal garden views, a gift box, and an optional English interpreter for ¥8,800 per group.

“This was such a unique experience. I’m so glad I was able to make custom incense with my family during our day trip to Uji. The location and atmosphere is very beautiful and our workshop instructor was informative and very kind.”

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13.Uji Matcha Tea Museum Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 1 day · from $3Best value

Visit Chazuna’s Uji Matcha Tea Museum for a self-guided look at tea production, Uji’s past, Gyokuro, and Sencha. Touch-friendly digital exhibits suit adults and children, while a tea-themed photo spot and 4K town display add a fun finish. Museum entry is valid for one day.

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14.Uji Walking Tour – Byodo-in temple and Tea Ceremony from Kyoto

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 3 reviews · from $96

Travel by JR train from Kyoto to Uji, walk beside the Uji River, join a 20-minute tea ceremony at Taihoan, and visit Byodo-in Temple with a licensed English-speaking guide. This small-group tour lasts about four hours and includes transport, tea, and temple admission.

“Uji is a very nice place to visit. The tour was good, covered a walk along the Uji river, tea ceremony and Byodoin temple. The best part is that the group is small, so easier to get around.”

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