Ujigami Shrine

Welcome to Ujigami Shrine, a place of extraordinary historical depth and quiet spiritual power. While it may appear modest compared to the scarlet grandeur of nearby Byodo-in, this shrine holds a distinction of immense scholarly…

Before reaching the World Heritage Ujigami Shrine, we pass through Uji Shrine, which is often referred to as the 'Lower Shrine.' Until the Meiji period in the late nineteenth century, these two shrines were actually one single…

As we enter the main grounds of Ujigami, we are met by the Haiden, or the Oratory. This building dates back to the early Kamakura period, roughly the early thirteenth century. …

To the right of the Haiden, sheltered by a small wooden structure, is the Kirihara-mizu. This is one of the 'Uji Shichimeisui,' or the seven famous springs of Uji that were used for the tea ceremony in ancient times. …

Behind the Haiden, we find the crown jewel of the site: the Honden, or the Main Shrine. Scientific testing of the timber through dendrochronology has confirmed that this building was constructed around ten sixty, making it the…

Ujigami Shrine is nestled at the base of Uji Mountain, and the forest that surrounds it is considered part of the sacred precinct. There is a hiking course that begins just behind the shrine, leading up to a viewpoint where you…

As we conclude our visit to Ujigami Shrine, we leave a site that has anchored the spiritual life of Uji for nearly a thousand years. We have seen the oldest shrine architecture in Japan, touched the waters of a legendary spring,…