Tea and Uji no Machi Historical Park “Chazuna”
We visited “Tea and Uji no Machi Historical Park Chazuna” which opened in August 2021 in Uji, Kyoto. Chazuna is a place where you can learn about Uji tea and the history and culture of Uji.
The location is right next to Keihan Uji Station. Historic sites and green squares spread out, and small children can be seen playing during the day.
The square is surrounded by tea plantations, and beyond that flows the Uji River, which generates the morning mist that is essential for the cultivation of Uji tea.
Chazuna Experience Class
Experience classes and workshops related to tea and Uji are held in the "Chazuna" building.
A typical example is matcha, which is made by grinding tea from a tea mill.
The experience of grinding tea from a tea mill with a view of the tea fields and gardens is a rare opportunity to do so.
There is also a Uji tea ceremony experience that can be taught by a tea ceremony teacher and a tea ceremony experience.
You can make your own original tea canister by choosing from a wide variety of washi designs.
Not only can it be used as a tea caddy to keep tea leaves in good condition, but it can also be used as an accessory case or interior decoration.
Uji Tourist Information
This large screen is a touch panel type, and you can check nearby sightseeing spots such as Byodo-in Temple.
By reading the QR code on the screen, you can check the information on your smartphone, which is convenient for sightseeing.
This is a corner that introduces nearby cafes.
Each store has a card, so you can take it with you as a guide.
There is also a space where you can sit comfortably, making it the perfect place to stop by at the beginning of your Uji sightseeing and plan your day.
Chazuna Observation Terrace
The view from the observation terrace is also nice.
You can see the tea plantation on the right side, and you can see the garden and the trains coming and going.
In Uji City, the area around Byodo-in Temple, a World Heritage Site, is designated as a "priority area for landscape planning" in order to preserve the scenery of Uji, the hometown of Uji, which is in harmony with the historical environment and the rich and beautiful nature.
From Chazuna, you can enjoy the unique scenery of Uji.
Nakamura Tokichi's Byodo-in branch is about a 7-minute walk from the "Tea and Uji no Machi Historical Park".
The building of Nakamura Tokichi Byodo-in has been selected as an "Important Cultural Landscape" as a remaining building of the restaurant and inn Kikuya, which represents Uji from the Edo period. You can relax and enjoy a cup of tea while gazing at the flow of the Uji River.
Please try to stretch your legs from tea.