Was it the aroma of Uji tea that first drew families to this place? Uji tea is intertwined with Kyoto’s culture. Today we stand before Uji Municipal Uji Elementary School. Its story is one of community spirit and a commitment to education.
Kyoto faced challenges when the emperor moved to Tokyo in 1872. This led to a decline in Kyoto’s political and economic power. Locals embraced modernization to revitalize the city. They contributed money to build elementary schools. This formed the foundation for today’s elementary schools in Kyoto.
Unlike many schools nationwide, Uji Municipal Uji Elementary School was built by local people. This reflects a strong sense of community ownership. Even if schools close due to declining enrollment, the community retains a sense of ownership.
Uji is famous for its tea. The Uji area is known for matcha sencha and gyokuro teas. Tea cultivation has a long history here. In the Kamakura period tea cultivation was introduced to Kyoto. Later the shogunate encouraged tea plantations. This helped build Uji tea’s reputation.
Uji tea gained global recognition. In 1996 Häagen-Dazs released a green tea ice cream. This led to an increase in matcha production. Then in 2000 Starbucks began selling matcha-flavored drinks. Matcha’s popularity has only increased.
Uji’s environment is ideal for cultivating tea. The Uji and Kizu rivers flow through the area. The area has high annual rainfall and sloped terrain. Frequent fog inhibits frost that could damage tea sprouts.
Uji tea refers to tea processed by Kyoto-based producers. They use traditional techniques. The tea may be cultivated in Kyoto Nara Shiga or Mie.
At the Tea and Uji Community Center Chazuna you can learn about the history of Uji tea. You can harvest tea leaves and grind them to make matcha. According to Sakayori Naohito the key to whisking tea is to not be too forceful. This ensures it is mixed quickly.
Close to Uji Bridge is a tea house named Tsūen. It dates back over 850 years. Historical figures like Toyotomi Hideyoshi visited this tea house. Nakamura Tōkichi Main Store is a popular tea establishment dating back to 1854. It features white plastered walls and latticework.
Walking through Uji you will notice many matcha-flavored foods. These include matcha takoyaki and croquettes. A traditional souvenir is matcha dango dumplings.
Uji also has connections with sencha tea. Ōbakusan Manpukuji is a local temple established by Ingen. He introduced sencha culture to Japan.
Uji’s tea culture is recognized as “Japan Heritage”. Kyoto Prefecture is seeking World Heritage status for Uji’s tea landscape. As you stand here at Uji Municipal Uji Elementary School remember the link to the tea that surrounds it. It is a story of history culture and community.