Short on time but craving a full day of Japanese culture, nature, and unforgettable experiences? This epic day trip from Kyoto to Uji and Nara packs in serene temples, ancient tea culture, adorable (and slightly aggressive) deer, AND one of Japan’s most dramatic fire festivals—all in one go.
While both towns deserve a full day each, it’s absolutely doable (and very worth it) to combine them into a single adventure. Here’s how I made the most of one whirlwind day from Kyoto.
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Day Trips from Kyoto Itinerary:
Morning in Uji – The Birthplace of Matcha & A Treasure Trove During the Shortage
Just a quick 30-minute train ride from Kyoto, Uji is a peaceful riverside town with a big reputation—it’s known as the birthplace of matcha in Japan. With over 800 years of tea history, Uji’s lush hills and pristine waters have made it one of the country’s most celebrated tea-producing regions since the Kamakura period.
🍵 Why Uji Is THE Place for Matcha Right Now
If you’ve been hearing about Japan’s matcha shortage, you’re not imagining things. Due to changing weather patterns and increased global demand, high-quality matcha has become harder to find in recent years. That’s why Uji is a fantastic place to look—many of the tea shops here source directly from long-standing family farms and stock premium matcha that can be difficult to get elsewhere.
You’ll find everything from ceremonial-grade matcha to matcha-based sweets, soba, and even ice cream. And since many of the shops are run by multi-generational tea masters, you get not just matcha, but matcha with a story.
📍 First Stop: Byodoin Temple – A National Treasure (and on the 10 Yen Coin!)
Get here early—before the crowds and before most shops open. Byodoin Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most photogenic spots in Japan.
It was originally built in 998 AD as a countryside retreat for a powerful politician, then converted into a temple in 1052. Its most iconic building, the Phoenix Hall, was constructed just a year later and has survived nearly 1,000 years of wars, fires, and natural disasters.
You might recognize the Phoenix Hall from your wallet—it’s the beautiful building etched onto the back of the 10 yen coin. In spring, the hall is surrounded by cherry blossoms; in autumn, it’s framed by fiery maple leaves.
🕰 Byodoin Temple Visitor Info:
- Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM (last entry at 5:15 PM)
- Phoenix Hall Tours: 9:30 AM to 4:10 PM
- Admission: 700 yen for temple grounds and museum, plus 300 yen for a guided tour inside the Phoenix Hall
- Pro tip: Get there early to beat the tour buses and enjoy a peaceful morning stroll around the reflecting pond.
Inside the Phoenix Hall, you’ll see a majestic gilded statue of Amida Buddha, surrounded by intricate carvings of celestial beings that seem to float in mid-air. It’s a rare chance to glimpse authentic Heian-period Buddhist architecture and art in its original form.
🍵 Matcha Heaven: Best Teashops in Uji
Once the shops open, it’s time to sip your way through Uji. Here are my top tea stops:
- Matsusakaya (松阪屋嘉八 本店) – Family-owned for over 180 years! The sweet old owner gave me a matcha sample and shared stories from the Edo period. Total gem.
- Tsuen Tea (Tsuen Chaya) – Established in 1160 AD, this is Japan’s oldest teahouse! Grab their matcha soba set with river views.
- Itoh Kyuemon Uji Head Shop – A must for matcha parfaits and beautiful packaging.
- Fukujuen Uji Tea Factory – Great for souvenirs and a deeper dive into tea-making.
- Hoho Hojicha – Specializes in roasted green tea (hojicha), which has a comforting, nutty flavor.
After lunch and your matcha fix, head back to the station and catch a train to Nara—about 40 minutes away.
Afternoon & Evening in Nara – Friendly Deer and Fiery Traditions
After a matcha-fueled morning in Uji, hop back on the train and head to Nara, Japan’s first permanent capital, just under an hour away. Though often seen as a quick stop for deer selfies, Nara is one of the most culturally and spiritually important places in all of Japan. It’s home to not only the famous free-roaming deer of Nara Park, but also some of the country’s most iconic religious landmarks, including Tōdaiji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
🦌 First, the Deer Park
From Nara JR Station, you can walk or take a quick bus to the park. Along the way, don’t miss:
- Nakatanidou Mochi Shop – Famous for high-speed mochi pounding! There’s usually a crowd, but the line moves fast. Worth it for a chewy snack on the go.
At the park, be prepared—the deer will mob you the second they sniff those senbei crackers. But they’re adorable, and the backdrop of towering trees and temples makes it magical.
🦌 Nara Deer – Sacred Messengers of the Gods
One of the most unforgettable experiences in Nara is meeting the 1,400+ wild deer that roam freely around Nara Park and the surrounding temple areas. These aren’t just any deer—they’re considered divine messengers of the gods.
According to legend, in AD 768, when the first of the four gods of Kasuga Taisha Shrine traveled from Ibaraki (north of Tokyo) to Mount Mikasa in Nara, he arrived riding a white deer. Since then, deer have been regarded as sacred animals in Shinto belief, and for centuries, killing a deer in Nara was a crime punishable by death. Although they’re no longer divine law enforcers, the deer are still protected as Natural Monuments and remain deeply woven into the city’s identity.
Visitors can feed them shika senbei (deer crackers) sold by vendors throughout the park. These special crackers are safe for the deer to eat—but be warned: once they know you’ve got snacks, they will follow you with determination. Some will even bow before demanding food in return!
A few quick tips:
- Hold your hands up if you don’t have crackers—they usually get the message and move along.
- Be cautious with small children, as the deer can get a little too excited.
- Never tease or grab the deer—they’re wild animals and should be treated with respect.
- Each autumn, male deer have their antlers painlessly trimmed in a ritual that’s been performed since the Edo period, to prevent accidental injuries to both people and other deer. Visitors in October can even watch this tradition up close!
🛕 Todai-ji Temple – Home of the Great Buddha
Towering just beyond the deer fields is the awe-inspiring Tōdaiji Temple (東大寺, “Great Eastern Temple”), one of Japan’s most important and iconic Buddhist temples. Founded in 752 AD during the Nara period, Tōdaiji served as the head temple for all provincial Buddhist temples across the country. It grew so powerful that by 784, the imperial government decided to relocate the capital from Nara to Nagaoka to curb its influence.
At the heart of the complex is the Daibutsuden, or Great Buddha Hall, which until recently was the largest wooden structure in the world—an impressive title, especially considering the current building, rebuilt in 1692, is only two-thirds the size of the original!
Inside sits the Great Buddha (Daibutsu), a 15-meter-tall bronze statue of Vairocana Buddha flanked by two fierce Bodhisattvas. The sheer scale of the hall and statue is hard to describe—you simply have to see it in person to fully grasp its majesty.
While you’re there:
- Don’t miss the pillar with the Buddha-sized nostril hole—it’s said that if you can crawl through, you’ll be blessed with enlightenment in your next life.
- Visit the nearby Todaiji Museum for ancient Buddhist artifacts and historical context.
⛩ Kasuga Taisha Shrine – Lanterns, Gods & Forest Spirits
Tucked into a serene forest beyond the park is the vermillion-colored Kasuga Taisha Shrine, one of Japan’s most sacred Shinto sites. Built in 768 AD by order of Empress Shōtoku, the shrine honors four powerful deities drawn from different regions across Japan—a rare occurrence for Shinto shrines, which usually enshrine only one or two.
What sets Kasuga Taisha apart—beyond its spiritual importance—is its stunning display of lanterns. Over 2,000 stone lanterns line the pathways leading to the shrine, while another 1,000+ bronze lanterns hang inside the main halls. This sea of lanterns is especially magical during the Mandōrō Lantern Festivals, held in early February and mid-August, when all are lit up at night, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.
The walk to the shrine is just as memorable as the destination—a winding path through peaceful forest, shaded by towering trees and dotted with smaller moss-covered shrines and (of course) more friendly deer. Many visitors find the deer near Kasuga Taisha are much calmer than the cracker-crazed ones in the central park!
🔥 Omizutori Fire Festival – Ancient Flames of Purification (March Only)
If you’re lucky enough to visit Nara in March, you’re in for one of the most dramatic and ancient cultural experiences in all of Japan: the Omizutori Fire Festival. Officially known as Shuni-e, this two-week Buddhist ceremony held at Tōdaiji Temple’s Nigatsudō Hall has been performed every year since 752 AD, making it one of Japan’s oldest continuous religious rituals.
The name “Omizutori” translates to “water drawing”, but the part that draws thousands of spectators is the Otaimatsu, or fire ceremony—a spectacular nightly event where monks run along the wooden balcony of Nigatsudō carrying enormous flaming torches, some up to 7 meters (23 feet) long and weighing 70 kilograms (154 pounds).
As the fiery torches arc through the night sky, sparks and embers rain down onto the crowd below. It’s believed these sacred sparks purify onlookers and bless them with good fortune for the year ahead.
Rituals Through the Weeks
The Omizutori Festival runs from March 1 to 14, with different rituals taking place throughout the two weeks:
- March 1–11: Each evening, ten 6-meter-long torches (about 20 feet) are carried along the balcony in a fiery procession. These weigh around 40 kg (88 lbs) and create a spectacular shower of sparks above the audience.
- March 12: The main event. The torches are even larger and heavier, and the display is the most dramatic of the festival. This night draws the largest crowds, including busloads of visitors from all over Japan who come just for this experience.
- March 13 (early morning): The Omizutori water-drawing ceremony takes place before sunrise. Monks descend from Nigatsudō by torchlight to a sacred well that is said to flow only once a year. This water is collected and used as holy water throughout the temple for the following year.
- March 13 (evening): The Dattan ritual takes place inside Nigatsudō—an intense, mysterious ceremony filled with horns, bells, and ritual fires, not usually accessible to the general public but deeply symbolic.
- March 14: The festival concludes with a short but stunning final torch display, where all the torches are lit at once for a brief, powerful 10-minute finale.
Dates may vary slightly year to year, so be sure to double check before planning!
🧣 Tips for Attending
As someone who’s been lucky enough to attend—yes, it’s absolutely worth the effort. I arrived about 90 minutes early to claim a spot in the fenced-off viewing area, and I’m glad I did. The crowd builds steadily, and by the time the ceremony starts, the area is packed all the way back, shoulder to shoulder, with eager faces glowing in the torchlight.
Here are a few practical tips to make the most of it:
- Be respectful – while the fire display is stunning, this is first and foremost a sacred religious ceremony, and photography may be restricted during certain parts.
- Arrive early – especially on March 12. Tour buses arrive from all over the region, and the viewing areas fill up fast.
- Dress warmly – March nights in Nara can drop to 35°F (2°C), and you’ll be standing outside for a while. Dress in layers, wear thick socks, and bring heat packs and even a blanket or cushion if you plan to sit.
- Protect your hair and clothing – those sparks may be blessings, but they can leave small marks or even light burn holes. Bring a small towel or scarf for your head and wear clothes you don’t mind potentially marking.
- Bring snacks and water – food stalls may be limited depending on the night, and you could be waiting a while.
- Admission: Free to view the torch ceremony. No tickets are needed, though donations are welcome.
Whether you come for the fire, the atmosphere, or the deep-rooted tradition, Omizutori is unforgettable. There’s something incredibly powerful about standing among a crowd of strangers, eyes turned toward the balcony, as the night sky lights up with ancient fire.
Getting To Kyoto from Nara
After the festival, you can take either:
- A local JR train (covered by the JR Pass)
- Or the Kintetsu Express train from Kintetsu-Nara Station—faster but not JR Pass eligible. I took this one since it was late and I wanted to get back quickly.
🛏️ Where to stay in Nara:
If you want to avoid the post-festival rush, staying overnight in Nara is a great idea. There are ryokans and guesthouses near the park that let you soak in the city’s peaceful atmosphere.
- 🏨 Hotel Tenpyo Naramachi
- Located near Sarusawa Pond and Kofuku-ji Temple, this boutique hotel blends modern comfort with traditional Japanese design. With views of the five-story pagoda and easy access to Nara Park, it’s a peaceful and culturally rich place to stay.
- ♨️ Onyado Nono Nara Natural Hot Spring
- Just a few minutes from JR Nara Station, this hotel offers relaxing natural hot spring baths, tatami-style rooms, and perks like free late-night ramen. It’s a favorite for travelers wanting a cozy, rejuvenating stay near the heart of the city.
Final Thoughts: Uji & Nara in a Day
Combining Uji and Nara into a single day trip from Kyoto is ambitious—but totally doable and incredibly rewarding. You’ll get matcha, temples, deer, mochi, and maybe even sacred fire in one unforgettable day.
If you have more time, split them into two days. But if you’re short on time like I was, this route gives you a deep dive into Japan’s spiritual, culinary, and cultural soul—all less than an hour from Kyoto.
Save this post for your next Kyoto itinerary and let me know if you make it to Uji, Nara, or the fiery heights of Nigatsudo!
And if you’re planning your own Japan itinerary and want more ideas, feel free to reach out or browse my other posts 😊
