The Uji River – Ujigawa in Japanese – flows through Kyoto’s southeast city of Uji, dividing it in two. The prominent position of this symbol of Uji City shapes the beautiful landscape of the town and provides opportunities for repose and recreation.
Most of the city’s attractions are within walking distance of the river, and these include the famous Byodo-in Temple featured on the 10 yen coin, a lovely starbucks and the Uji River bridge, which features prominently in The Tale of Genji.
Two of the highlights of summer spent at the river are the river cruises and cormorant fishing, in which trained birds are used to catch fish.
If you want to catch a glimpse of the traditional practices of cormorant fishing, aim to visit the Uji River between mid-June to late September.