Uji: Private immersion into Kyoto's tea and reglious culture

Gyokuro tea is the highest grade of green tea in Japan. Slowly steam the leaves in increasingly warm water while learning about the tea making and brewing process. Finish up by eating the tea leaves with some ponzu sauce for a healthy and unique snack.

Pay a visit to the oldest original shrine in Japan. A UNESCO world heritage site, this shrine also houses the last of Uji's underground spring water that naturally bubbles up to the surface. Local tea shops collect the water to make tea for their customers.

End your tea journey at the oldest Soto Zen temple in Kyoto. Zen Buddhism originally came in from China and helped pioneer the tea ceremony in Japan.

Enter into this magnificent temple dating back to the Heian period. The magnificent temple hall sits on a man made lake, and not only is it a UNESCO world heritage site, but it's also the same temple featured on the back of the 10 yen coin. Also see some of the artifacts from the temple in the subterranean temple museum.

Travel down the pilgrimage street leading to Byodoin Temple. Lined with tea shops, many going back to the medieval period, smell the aroma of fresh tea and discover the wide variety of tea produced in this historical region.

Stroll along this pleasant island in the middle of the river, and discover about the ancient tradition of cormorant fishing with birds.

Envelope yourself in Uji's rich natural beauty. Although shallow now, this river was the lifeblood for trade with the capitals of Kyoto and Nara, and tea, sake, and more from all over the country and the rest of Asia.