What other travelers are saying about Tale of Genji Museum (Uji City)
Really surprised by the quality of the exhibits. There are immersive activities, a film to watch about the tale, incense ingredient smelling and a smart tablet audio guide for different languages. We left feeling like we could view Uji differently after the visit.
Generally a nice and welcoming museum. The exhibition rooms are really colorfull, what adds an extrap ositive touch to the stay there. They put really a lot of different interactive and fun options in the museum and you can use the audioguide or the VR panels to get most specific and interesting information of the exhibiton items in the first room.
I didn't taste the sweets and the food in their café (with a cool souvenir shop) becaus I wasn't hungry, but the food looked really nice.
They offer even a cinematic/theatrical room, unfortunately I didn't pay attention to the screening times, so if you want too enjoy thisexperience, keep them in mind and ask them directly when you arrive so you can plan to go there. I think this might be a nice experience though.
Very fun museum! Small, but the exhibits are creative and many are interactive. Most text is in Japanese, but you can rent an audio guidebook in English for free. Definitely recommend if you're in Uji!
After waking up early to summit Mt Inari, I took a convenient train south to Uji. As a history student who loves seeing history manifest and interact in cultural output, I’ve been obsessed with museums on art and literature. Uji is my favorite city so far. The museum is conveniently located near Uji River, and you can visit two beautiful shrines on the way to a bridge, which you can cross to reach the gorgeous Byodoin Temple.
The museum is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with last entry at 4:30 p.m. It's closed every Monday (if Monday is a national holiday, the museum closes the following day instead). Regular admission fees are ¥600 for adults and ¥300 for children, though discounts are sometimes available through partner businesses.
The museum is an 8-minute walk from Uji Station on the Keihan Uji Line, or a 15-minute walk from Uji Station on the JR Nara Line. From central Kyoto, you can take either the Keihan Uji Line or JR Nara Line to reach Uji Station. Both train lines provide convenient access from downtown Kyoto.
No, prior knowledge isn't required. The museum conveys the stories through models and videos for easy understanding, and visitors are introduced to the story line and main characters through life-size sets and exhibitions. However, some English translations are available, though the museum primarily appeals to those familiar with the tale.
The permanent exhibition features "Heian no Ma" (room of Heian-kyo) and "Uji no Ma" (room of Uji) with themes of Hikaru Genji and the "10 Quires of Uji," connected by a futuristic drum bridge. The museum displays the culture of the Imperial Court of the Heian period, aristocrats' costumes, and residential furnishings through projected images, models, and exhibitions. There's also a video exhibition room with films about the story.
Most visitors spend approximately 1-2 hours exploring the museum thoroughly. The museum features dioramas, interactive exhibits, and films that bring the story to life, so allow enough time to experience both the permanent exhibition rooms and the video presentations. The museum works well as part of a larger Uji sightseeing itinerary that includes nearby temples and tea shops.
