Uji Matcha Day Trip: 8 Shops, 17 Minutes From Kyoto
The 8 shops belong to 5 brands: Horii Shichimeien, Itohkyuemon, Marukyu Koyamaen, Nakamura Tokichi and Tsuen. Our matcha shops database lists 15 brands and 42 shops and cafes across Uji, Kyoto, Tokyo and Osaka. We checked the shop hours and the tea plans on the operators’ own pages on 17 and 18 October 2026.
If you only want a tin to take home, Kyoto Station already has branches. Nakamura Tokichi’s Kyoto shop in JR Kyoto Isetan is open 11:00–21:00, and Itohkyuemon Kyoto Station is open 10:30–18:30. Uji adds the main stores, the cafes by the river and the hands-on tea plans.
Getting to Uji from Kyoto and Osaka
JR runs straight from Kyoto Station to Uji Station on the JR Nara Line. The table below puts the Kyoto and Osaka routes side by side, with the fastest train, the fare and the first and last trains.
| Route | Fastest train | Fare | First / last |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyoto Station → Uji Station | 17 min (JR Miyakoji Rapid) | 240 yen | 05:33 / 23:46 |
| Osaka Station → Uji Station | 56 min (JR Special Rapid + JR Section Rapid, 1 change) | 960 yen | 05:14 / 23:00 |
From Kyoto Station, the JR Miyakoji Rapid reaches Uji in 17 minutes at the fastest. The fare is 240 yen one way, and you need no seat ticket. Some Miyakoji Rapid trains carry a reserved seat for +530 yen, but you can ride without one. A midday train leaves Kyoto at 10:04 and reaches Uji at 10:21.
The first train leaves Kyoto Station at 05:33 and the last at 23:46. Both are local trains, so they take longer than 17 minutes. JR counts the trip as 14.9 km. Our Kyoto to Uji route page has the full route details.
From Osaka Station, the fastest trip takes 56 minutes and costs 960 yen. You ride a JR Special Rapid and change once to a JR Section Rapid. The quickest run we found leaves Osaka at 08:06 and arrives at Uji at 09:02. The first train leaves Osaka Station at 05:14 and the last at 23:00. The distance is 57.7 km by JR’s fare count, and the Osaka to Uji route page covers the change.
All of these times and fares come from JR’s own search for trains on Wednesday 14 October 2026. Timetables change, so check the day before you go. The chart below sums up the four numbers worth saving on your phone.
The chart shows the trip in each direction from the big stations. Kyoto is 17 minutes and 240 yen away, and Osaka is 56 minutes and 960 yen away. The last trains toward Uji leave at 23:46 and 23:00.
Uji matcha shops and their hours
Two of the Uji shops stand on Byodoin Omotesando, the street of tea shops that leads to Byodoin.
Nakamura Tokichi has two shops in Uji. The Nakamura Tokichi Honten official store list gives the main store’s tea shop and cafe as 10:00–17:30, with last orders at 16:30. The cafe takes no reservations. On busy days it may stop seating guests before last orders.
The Nakamura Tokichi Byodoin shop has a self-service cafe and take-out, open 10:00–17:00 with last orders at 16:30. From JR Uji Station, walk down the Uji-bashi-dori shopping street toward the river until it ends. Bear right at the three-way junction into Byodoin Omotesando, and the shop is about 100 m along on the left. From Keihan Uji Station, cross Uji Bridge, turn left at the end and walk the same 100 m. Our Nakamura Tokichi page lists its other shops in Kyoto city, Tokyo and Osaka.
Itohkyuemon has three shops in Uji. The Itohkyuemon Uji main store official page lists 10:00–18:00, with cafe last orders at 17:30. The cafe has 60 seats and free parking for about 35 cars. The Itohkyuemon JR Uji Station store official page gives the same 10:00–18:00 and a cafe with 68 seats.
The Itohkyuemon Byodoin store official page lists 9:30–17:30, the earliest opening in Uji. The shop is a 1-minute walk from Byodoin. All Itohkyuemon shops close on 1 and 2 January and on some other days. Every Itohkyuemon shop also closes on Wednesday 21 October 2026 for a company event. Our Itohkyuemon page covers its shops in Kyoto city as well.
Tsuen sits at the east end of Uji Bridge. The Tsuen official main shop page lists 10:30–17:30, with last orders at 4 p.m., and the shop opens every day. Tsuen dates its tea house back to 1160. Its cafe looks out over the Uji River and serves matcha sweets and tea soba.
Horii Shichimeien sells from its head office. The Horii Shichimeien official company and shop page lists 10:00–16:30, with a lunch break from 12:00 to 13:30. The shop closes on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, so plan a weekday if you want to buy here. The family business was founded in 1879.
The eighth Uji shop is Marukyu Koyamaen’s head-office shop in Ogura, south of the town centre. Our Marukyu Koyamaen page covers its matcha and its Kyoto city shop. The table below gathers the 7 shops that list their hours.
| Shop | Near | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Nakamura Tokichi main store | Uji | 10:00–17:30 (tea counter) |
| Nakamura Tokichi Byodoin | By Byodoin | 10:00–17:00 (tea counter) |
| Itohkyuemon Uji main store | Keihan Uji Station, about 5 min walk | 10:00–18:00 |
| Itohkyuemon JR Uji Station | JR Uji Station, about 1 min walk | 10:00–18:00 |
| Itohkyuemon Byodoin | By Byodoin | 9:30–17:30 |
| Tsuen main shop | By Uji Bridge | 10:30–17:30, open every day |
| Horii Shichimeien head-office shop | Uji | 10:00–16:30 |
Read the table with one detail in mind. The two Nakamura Tokichi times are the hours of the tea counter, and the shop counters run the same hours at both Uji shops.
JR Uji Station or Keihan Uji Station?
Uji has two stations on opposite sides of the river. Keihan Uji Station is on the east bank by Uji Bridge, and JR Uji Station is on the west side.
If you come from Kyoto Station by JR, you arrive at JR Uji Station. Leave by the south exit, signed 南出口 (minami deguchi, “south exit”). The Itohkyuemon JR Uji Station shop is about 1 minute from that exit.
We counted the walking times the shops give. 4 of the 8 Uji shops list a walk from both JR Uji Station and Keihan Uji Station:
- Itohkyuemon Uji main store: about 5 min from Keihan Uji or Mimurodo, about 12 min from JR Uji
- Itohkyuemon JR Uji Station: about 1 min from JR Uji, about 15 min from Keihan Uji
- Itohkyuemon Byodoin: about 5 min from Keihan Uji, about 10 min from JR Uji
- Tsuen main shop: right by Keihan Uji, 7 min from JR Uji
The Itohkyuemon main store is the farthest from JR. It sits 287 m from Keihan Uji Station. For the way back, take a bus from the Todo Aramaki stop near the store. It reaches Keihan Uji Station in about 2 minutes and JR Uji Station in about 9 minutes.
For Tsuen, walk east from JR Uji Station for about 7 minutes. The shop faces Keihan Uji Station across the road at the end of Uji Bridge. The chart below compares 3 shops from both stations, so you can pick an order that fits your route.
The pattern in the chart is simple. The JR Uji Station shop suits a quick stop on arrival, while the Byodoin shop and Tsuen sit closer to Keihan Uji Station.
Tea ceremony and matcha-making in Uji
Uji has more hands-on tea making than formal tea ceremony. In several plans you whisk the matcha yourself.
Our tea ceremony in Uji page lists 7 plans from 5 operators. You can grind tea with a stone mill at Kanbayashi Sannyu or Fukujuen. You can whisk your own bowl at Taihoan or Takumi no Yakata. You can also tour Marukyu Koyamaen’s matcha factory.
Kanbayashi Sannyu charges ¥1,650 to grind Uji tea, then whisk and drink it with sweets. One person alone, or a same-day booking, pays ¥2,200. You book by phone, and the shop stands on the Byodoin approach. Cancelling costs 50% a week before, 70% the day before and 100% on the day.
Fukujuen runs two plans. Grinding your own matcha takes 40 minutes for ¥2,750, with the last start at 15:00. Children from elementary school age pay the same, and children 12 and under need an adult taking part too. You pay at the desk on the day and can walk in if there is space. The matcha manners class takes 60 minutes for ¥3,850, starts at 11:00 and needs 2 to 4 people booked at least 3 days ahead.
Taihoan is run by Uji City and charges children the same as adults. A bowl of thin tea costs ¥1,500 and takes 20–30 minutes in the large tatami room. When seats are free, you can buy same-day tickets at the Uji City Tourist Center. Making matcha yourself costs ¥3,600 for 40 minutes, booked at least 3 days ahead online with a card.
Takumi no Yakata teaches you to whisk matcha in 30 minutes for ¥1,500. It is a casual lesson, and you book by phone, fax or the website. Marukyu Koyamaen runs a 90-minute factory tour for ¥1,000, with a video, the factory, the tasting room and the tea room. You whisk matcha at the end. Tours run on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for 2 to 10 people, booked at least a week ahead.
The bars below put the 7 adult prices in order. They run from the ¥1,000 factory tour to the ¥3,850 manners class.
| Item | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Factory tour, 90 min | 1000 yen | Marukyu Koyamaen |
| Whisk matcha, 30 min | 1500 yen | Takumi no Yakata |
| Taihoan bowl, 20–30 min | 1500 yen | Taihoan |
| Stone mill (Kanbayashi) | 1650 yen | Kanbayashi Sannyu |
| Grind matcha, 40 min | 2750 yen | Fukujuen |
| Make matcha, 40 min | 3600 yen | Taihoan |
| Manners class, 60 min | 3850 yen | Fukujuen |
Price and length do not line up. Across the 6 plans with a set length, the median works out to ¥2,794 per 45 minutes by our calculation. The factory tour costs the least per minute, and Taihoan’s make-your-own plan costs the most. Entry fees are not added.
Language is the main limit. 0 of the 7 plans say they are run in English. Taihoan runs its sessions in Japanese with an AI translation device. Fukujuen and Kanbayashi Sannyu have English pages for their stone-mill plans, which helps with booking. If you need a chair, 1 of the 7 plans can seat you: Taihoan’s make-your-own session uses a western-style room with tables for about 8 people. Our tea ceremony database compares Uji with Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo.
Uji matcha brands with main stores in Uji
Horii Shichimeien grows tea at Okunoyama, a garden about 10 minutes on foot from its head office.
The company says Okunoyama is the only one of Uji’s 7 historic tea gardens still farmed, with 650 years of history. You can view it over the fence at any time, but you cannot go inside. Ask at the shop counter if you want printed notes on the garden.
All 5 brands sell matcha online, and we counted each one’s list. The prices below are online shop prices checked on 18 October 2026. Shop prices can differ, so check the tag before you pay.
Nakamura Tokichi Honten lists 12 teas from 1,980 yen with tax, for a 30 g tin, up to 23,760 yen. It has 9 shops in Uji, Kyoto city, Tokyo and Osaka. Some of its prices went up for orders from 1 September 2026.
Itohkyuemon lists 6 teas from 1,944 yen with tax, for 20 g, up to 10,800 yen. Our list has 5 of its shops in Uji and Kyoto city. The brand itself lists 11 shops in Japan plus 1 in Taiwan, and the 11th, Nishiki Takakura, opened on 1 September 2026.
Marukyu Koyamaen lists 12 matcha from 2,052 yen for 20 g, up to 43,200 yen. The shop does not say whether tax is included, so we show the price as listed. It has 2 shops, in Uji and Kyoto city.
Horii Shichimeien lists 12 teas from 2,484 yen with tax, for 30 g. It has 1 shop, the head-office counter in Uji. Tsuen lists 10 teas from 2,376 yen with tax and sells from its 1 main shop by Uji Bridge. All 10 of its matcha were in stock on 17 October 2026.
Some brands cap how much matcha you can order online, and the matcha shops database shows each limit. For the price per gram across all 15 brands, see our matcha prices article. Japan’s tax-free rules for visitors change this November, so read our tax-free shopping guide before a large purchase.
Planning an Uji day trip: opening hours
Uji’s matcha shops keep daytime hours. We counted the hours of the 7 shops that list them. They open between 9:30, at Itohkyuemon Byodoin, and 10:30, at Tsuen main shop. They close between 16:30, at Horii Shichimeien, and 18:00, at Itohkyuemon JR Uji Station.
The chart below lays the day out in four steps, from the train in the morning to the last shop counter.
The steps in the chart follow the real numbers. The fastest morning Miyakoji Rapid leaves Kyoto at 09:34 and reaches Uji at 09:51. That puts you in town after Itohkyuemon Byodoin opens at 9:30 and just before most shops open at 10:00.
Tea plans run from 20 minutes to 90 minutes. Fit them around their fixed times. Fukujuen’s manners class starts at 11:00, and its grinding plan takes the last group at 15:00. Marukyu Koyamaen’s factory tour runs only on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Shop in the afternoon with closing times in mind. Every shop with listed hours closes by 18:00, and Nakamura Tokichi’s main store takes last cafe orders at 16:30. On a weekend, Horii Shichimeien stays closed, so buy there on a weekday. Tsuen says it opens every day of the year.
The last trains in our routes database, 23:46 from Kyoto Station and 23:00 from Osaka Station, run toward Uji. For the return, check the trains from Uji Station on the Kyoto to Uji route page before you leave.
FAQ
How long does it take from Kyoto to Uji?
The fastest JR Miyakoji Rapid takes 17 minutes from Kyoto Station to Uji Station. Local trains take longer. From Osaka Station, the fastest trip is 56 minutes with 1 change.
How much is the train from Kyoto to Uji?
The JR fare from Kyoto Station to Uji Station is 240 yen one way. You need no seat ticket. Some Miyakoji Rapid trains offer a reserved seat for +530 yen.
Are tea ceremonies in Uji in English?
0 of the 7 tea plans in Uji say they are run in English. Taihoan uses Japanese with an AI translation device. Fukujuen and Kanbayashi Sannyu have English booking pages for their stone-mill plans.
What time do matcha shops in Uji close?
The 7 Uji shops that list hours close between 16:30 and 18:00. Horii Shichimeien closes first at 16:30 and stays shut on weekends and public holidays. Itohkyuemon’s Uji main store and JR Uji Station shop close last at 18:00.
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