|
| |
|
UJI |
| |
|
|
| |
| Thirty minutes' train ride south of Kyoto, UJI doesn't look
particularly promising as you cross its broad, fast-flowing river among
the electricity pylons and industrial suburbs. However, the town has a
long, illustrious past and boasts one of Japan's most fabulous buildings,
the Byodo-in - for a preview, look at the reverse side of a ¥10 coin.
Somehow this eleventh-century hall, with its glorious statue of Amida
Buddha, survived war, fire and years of neglect and preserves a stunning
display of Heian-period art at its most majestic. Unfortunately, there's
not a lot else to do in Uji, except sample their famous green tea; since
the fourteenth century this area's tea leaves have been rated among the
best in the country. Most people visit Uji on a half-day excursion from
Kyoto, but it's only a little bit further from Nara . |
| |
|
