Byodoin, Uji · Getting there
How to get to Byodoin from Kyoto Station
Take the JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station to JR Uji Station: 17 minutes on the Miyakoji Rapid, no change. Then walk about 10 minutes.
Byodoin's garden opens at 8:45; last entry is 17:15.
There are two "Uji" stations
JR Uji and Keihan Uji are different stations, on opposite banks of the Uji River. Both are about a 10-minute walk from Byodoin, so either works. Just check which one your ticket or app means.
| JR Uji | JR Nara Line, from Kyoto Station, JR Inari (Fushimi Inari) and Nara. Same side of the river as Byodoin. |
|---|---|
| Keihan Uji | Keihan Uji Line, from Gion-Shijo, Sanjo and Osaka (change at Chushojima). Cross the Uji Bridge to reach Byodoin. |
Routes and times
| From | Train | Time on board |
|---|---|---|
| Kyoto Station | JR Nara Line (Miyakoji Rapid) → JR Uji. ¥240* | 17 min |
| Gion-Shijo or Sanjo | Keihan Main Line → Chushojima, change to the Keihan Uji Line → Keihan Uji. ¥360 from Gion-Shijo | 14 + 15 min |
| Osaka (JR) | JR Kyoto Line (Special Rapid) → Kyoto, change to the JR Nara Line → JR Uji | 27 + 17 min |
| Osaka (Keihan) | Keihan Main Line (Limited Express) from Yodoyabashi → Chushojima, change to the Keihan Uji Line → Keihan Uji | 39 + 15 min |
| Fushimi Inari | JR Inari Station is on the same JR Nara Line. Take a train toward Uji / Nara → JR Uji | — |
| Nara | JR Nara Line → JR Uji | 31 min |
Times: the temple's access guide (PDF), plus the 10-minute walk. Keihan fare: Keihan's fare table (adult, from 1 Oct 2025). *JR fare from a route search, not JR's own fare page; check at the station. Fares we couldn't confirm are left out. Checked 19 October 2026.
Walking from the station
- From JR Uji (about 850 m): walk east toward the Uji Bridge. Just before the bridge, turn right into the Byodoin Omotesando and follow it to the gate.
- From Keihan Uji (about 650 m): cross the Uji Bridge. At the far end, turn left into the Omotesando.
The Omotesando is the approach street to the temple, lined with shops selling Uji green tea, matcha sweets and soft-serve. You can't take food or drinks into the temple grounds, so finish them before you go in.
Fushimi Inari and Uji in one day
Fushimi Inari Shrine (JR Inari Station) is on the way, on the same JR Nara Line, so the two fit into one day. Interior tickets at Byodoin are sold from 9:10 and can run out on busy days, so we suggest Byodoin first, then Fushimi Inari on the way back.
Fushimi Inari Today: crowd forecast for the shrineTravelling with luggage?
A suitcase is awkward on the Omotesando and in the temple. Instead of hunting for a free coin locker at the station, you can leave it with a storage and delivery service such as Bag2Gate, run by the same team as this site.
Bag2GateBefore you set off
See today's best time to arrive — hourly forecast, no sign-upHow the Phoenix Hall interior tickets workLast updated: