Ujigami Shrine

UNESCO World Heritage

宇治上神社

Ujigami Shrine stands at the foot of Mt. Asahi on the east bank of the Uji River, in Uji City outside Kyoto City. Its main hall, built in the late Heian period, is the oldest existing shrine building in Japan, and it is part of the World Heritage site. Like the main hall, the worship hall, made with cypress cut in the early Kamakura period, is a National Treasure. In the grounds you can also find Kirihara-sui, one of the Seven Famous Waters of Uji. Entry is free, and the shrine is open from 9:00 to 16:10.

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Visitor information

Opening hours: Visiting hours: 9:00–16:10.
Admission: Free.
Getting there: About a 10-minute walk from Uji Station on the Keihan Uji Line, or about 20 minutes on foot from Uji Station on the JR Nara Line. The shrine is in Uji City, not in Kyoto City.

Hours and fees can change. Please check the official website before you go.

Good to know

The main hall (late Heian period) is the oldest existing shrine building in Japan.
Inside the grounds is Kirihara-sui, one of the Seven Famous Waters of Uji.
For questions or reservations, phone the shrine (0774-21-4634) between 9:00 and 15:50.

Tips for Muslim visitors

Kyoto's official tourism site describes the shrine as a quiet place.
On entering the grounds you will see a basin fed by a famous freshwater spring; visitors may simply look around.
Shinto shrines are open to everyone. Bowing, clapping and washing at the purification basin are optional; you can simply look around.
Shrines are usually busiest at New Year and during festivals. Early morning is often the calmest time to visit.
Charms, fortune slips and votive tablets are religious items. You do not need to buy or use them.
Plan your visit around prayer times. Below are today's prayer times for Kyoto and the verified places to pray nearby.
Food stalls and shops near popular sights usually do not have halal certification. Check the ingredients, or choose from the verified places on this site.