What are the admission fee and operating hours for Byodo-in Temple in Uji, Kyoto?

The admission fee for Byodo-in Temple is ~$4 per person. Operating hours are from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

What is the one-way fare and frequency of bus number 17 from Kyoto Station to Ohara?

The one-way fare for bus number 17 from Kyoto Station to Ohara is ~$3. This bus operates exactly twice per hour.

What are the adult price, dining time limit, and payment method for Kirin Buffet in Ohara?

The adult price for Kirin Buffet in Ohara is ~$14, and you can dine for 75 minutes. Payment is cash only.

What is included in the admission fee for Hosen-in Temple in Ohara?

The admission fee for Hosen-in Temple is ~$4, and it includes matcha tea and traditional sweets (red bean paste mochi). You must remove your shoes before entering.

What was the total price for the Matcha Soba Set and Parfait Set ordered by the author at Nakamura Tokichi Cafe in Uji, Kyoto?

The author ordered a Matcha Soba Set and a Parfait Set at Nakamura Tokichi Cafe, paying with a Travelog card, for a total of ~$20.

Osaka to Kyoto by Thunder Bird Express 2026: A Quick…

Day 2 of Our Adventure

We've arrived at JR Osaka Station, ready to whisk ourselves away to Kyoto!

From here, we'll hop on the Thunderbird Limited Express to Kyoto! We'll head to the 'Midori-no-Madoguchi' (the green ticket office) where the green machines are,

to exchange our pass for the Kansai Wide Area Pass and grab our reserved seats.

The friendly station attendant pointed us in the right direction,

and highly recommended taking the Thunderbird.

We booked our tickets for 8 AM,

and in about 30 minutes, we were directly in Kyoto! So smooth.

Navigating the Thunderbird Express

Yes, it's definitely the Thunderbird!

This way leads to our platform.

We're currently at Osaka Station, then it's Shin-Osaka,

and finally, Kyoto Station!! Our destination awaits!

Thunderbird Limited Express

The train matches the picture perfectly!

From here, you can reach more than just Kyoto;

the Thunderbird also takes you to Fukui, Kanazawa, and Toyama! So many possibilities!

We used the Thunderbird service,

and boarded by carefully checking the departure times.

As we boarded here,

we noticed a few fellow travelers excitedly photographing the arriving train.

And guess what? The vending machine offered some intriguing options like red bean porridge, crab soup, and even clam miso soup!

And just like that, we're at Kyoto Station!

Our next adventure? Heading to Uji, the famous green tea village where the magnificent Byodo-in Temple stands.

The best part? Our Kansai Wide Area Pass covers the JR Nara Line for free!

No need to even exit the station; we can hop directly onto the connecting train.

Welcome to Uji Station, Kyoto!

Just across the traffic light...

Here, you'll find the Nakamura Tokichi Cafe Main Branch,

while the one with a scenic view of the Uji River is

the Nakamura Tokichi Byodo-in Branch.

As I walked down this path,

it was incredibly cold,

so I even bought some adhesive heat packs from the pharmacy to stick on my clothes!

As you walk along the path, Byodo-in Temple appears! 

It's an alleyway with many houses.

Since it was before 9 AM,

there weren't many people around.

I could even hear the birds chirping!

It was absolutely lovely.

Let's head inside the entrance.

Byodo-in Temple

Admission Fee

It's ~$4 per person.

Opening Hours

8:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Byodo-in Temple (meaning 'Temple of Equality'), a Buddhist temple in Uji, Kyoto,

is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

This is Byodo-in Temple, which is also featured on the Japanese 10 yen coin.

I took these photos with my Nikon D5600

and my Galaxy Ultra phone.

The reflection in the water is absolutely stunning.

Because of the cold weather in Osaka,

I hadn't seen many flowers,

but here, there are plum blossoms!

You'll find an incredible array of green tea products here. 

Uji, the Green Tea Village

This is the TakoQ shop,

and I'm about to try their green tea sauce takoyaki!

The green tea takoyaki had a crispy exterior,

and while the green tea flavor wasn't too strong, it was a little salty.

Still, it was delicious!

They even have green tea beer!

As you walk along the Uji River,

you'll notice the river's color is a beautiful jade green.

In Kyoto's Uji, famous for its river views,

I've arrived at Nakamura Tokichi Teahouse.

Uji, Kyoto, is one of Japan's top three green tea producing regions.

So naturally, you just *have* to try the green tea dishes!

As I entered the cafe, I spotted these photos.

You can order by touching the screen on the machine.

I decided to try the intriguing green tea soba and a matcha parfait.

While I hadn't heard much about the green tea soba's taste,

my curiosity got the better of me...

I meant to order individual items, but somehow,

I ended up ordering sets!

So, a matcha parfait set and a soba set.

Each inadvertently included green tea.

I paid with my Travelog card.

The matcha soba set and parfait set came to

3200 JPY – quite a hefty price!

Just place it down, and the payment processes smoothly.

My receipt is here!

This place usually has an incredible queue!

I got here early, so it was quiet,

but it quickly filled up.

The seating is spacious,

and you can even snag a spot with a river view!

The green tea noodles in katsuobushi broth were delightful,

and so warming!

There was also this massive piece of yubu (fried tofu pouch),

which was just *so* sweet.

They even have an explanation of what's tucked inside the matcha parfait!

It was a treasure trove of green tea cake, mochi, jelly,

ice cream, cookies, and berries –

absolutely delicious!

Nakamura Tokichi, the cafe brand,

also sells their green tea bags,

so of course, I had to grab one!

After six days of non-stop work back in Korea,

just sitting by the Uji riverside, spacing out and soaking it all in,

made me absolutely reluctant to leave for my next stop.

It was, hands down, my favorite place on this entire trip!

Back to Kyoto Station, it's time to head to Ohara!

When you exit Kyoto Station,

look for the alphanumeric signs and head to C3.

From there, you can catch bus number 17, which will take you straight to Ohara!

Here's the route map –

just be aware that only two buses run every hour!

I had my Suica transit card with me, but since you board from the back, and even though there's a reader there, it didn't register. When I got off, the driver asked where I boarded, so I told him Kyoto Station, and paid 550 yen for a one-way trip before getting off. It's quite expensive! A round trip would be 1,100 yen, but a Kyoto One-Day Bus Pass is cheaper, so you might want to buy and use a one-day pass at Kyoto Station instead.

I'll be catching the bus from here for the return trip as well.

The place I'm heading to is Kirin Buffet!

This is a buffet that doesn't use artificial seasonings and is made with fresh Kyoto vegetables. I drove an hour from Kyoto just to come here!

Normally, there's a long queue and a wait, but since I arrived late, around 3 PM, I was able to walk right in!

It's 2,300 yen for adults and 1,100 yen for children, and you can enjoy it for 75 minutes.

When you sit down, your plate setting is already there.

Mustard-pickled turnips, potato salad, green onion rolled omelet.

Lettuce, celery-apple dressing, ginseng-onion dressing.

Seasoned mashed potatoes.

Fried Onions, Braised Konjac, Bell Pepper Beef Stir-fry

The bell pepper beef stir-fry might seem simple, but...

the bell peppers were incredibly crunchy and bursting with freshness.

And the beef wasn't greasy at all; I truly went back for seconds, and thirds!

Oh, I really want to go again!

Fried Rice, Braised Radish

Curry and fried onions. The curry is quite flavorful!

Onigiri (Rice balls)

Stir-fried potatoes? Or perhaps a seasoned potato salad?

When I took my first bite, I was genuinely surprised!

It was incredibly crunchy,

and none of the dishes were overly salty.

Everything was just so fresh and unbelievably delicious,

I kept wanting more and more!

Even after coming back to Korea, I still think about it constantly.

I've visited Japan over 20 times, but this is hands down the number one meal I've ever had!!

Make sure to sprinkle the fried onions on the curry—

it makes it even more delicious, and while the seasoning is strong,

the onigiri are totally my style and absolutely mouthwatering!

It's a bit of a distance if you're in Kyoto, but I'll definitely go again, no doubt about it!

大原リバーサイドカフェ来隣www.ohara-kirin.com

(Kirin's website)

Operating Hours

11:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Closed

Tuesday

Kirin · 114 Ohararaikoincho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 601-1242, Japanmaps.app.goo.gl

Kirin Google Maps

We arrived at Cafe Klum right next door.

KULM · 117 Ohararaikoincho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 601-1242, Japanmaps.app.goo.gl

Classic pudding, cheese pudding

Lemon cake

Crème brûlée, chocolate brûlée are also on the menu.

You can also find drip coffee, cafe au lait, juices, and even alcoholic beverages.

And yes, they even have pizza!

Inside, you're treated to a lovely view of the flowing river.

This is another perfect spot to just chill out and let your mind wander!

On the left side of the interior, behind the curtains gently swaying in the breeze,

you'll find basalt-like stones stacked up.

It actually made me think of Jeju Island – such beautiful scenery!

The drip coffee and cafe au lait together cost around ~$7.

Osaka was so incredibly cold that I could barely keep my wits about me.

I walked a ton, exploring without even pausing to take photos.

But I finally snapped one after quite a while!

Just a heads-up: both Kirin Buffet and KULM Cafe are cash-only.

Stepping out, we headed across the road to Hosen-in Temple.

Hosen-in, famous for its 'framed garden'.

You'll discover vibrant rapeseed fields and ancient stones cloaked in lush moss.

The air here is wonderfully fresh!

This is truly a village nestled deep in the mountains.

Sanzen-in Temple, famous for its beautiful moss garden, is also nearby, but I decided to save that for another time.

Welcome to the entrance of Hosen-in Temple!

Hosen-in Temple Admission

700 JPY

This includes a delicious matcha tea and a traditional sweet treat (a rice cake with red bean paste).

Upon entering, after removing your shoes...

Behold the magnificent 700-year-old pine tree!

I hear it gets incredibly busy here when the autumn leaves are at their peak.

This is the famous 'frame garden'.

The matcha, whisked to perfection from powdered green tea,

results in a rich, frothy brew, perfectly paired with a sweet red bean paste mochi.

With the mountains rising gracefully beyond the garden, the scenery becomes even more breathtaking.

And once again, I found myself simply gazing, lost in thought.

There's a wonderful reason why I keep finding myself in this state of tranquil contemplation:

At work, my mind is constantly juggling countless responsibilities and tasks.

But here, on this journey, doing absolutely nothing but soaking in the views and letting my mind wander freely... it's just incredibly rejuvenating.

Just sitting, peacefully observing, finding a moment of pure serenity.

Day 2 of Our Adventure

We've arrived at JR Osaka Station, ready to whisk ourselves away to Kyoto!

From here, we'll hop on the Thunderbird Limited Express to Kyoto! We'll head to the 'Midori-no-Madoguchi' (the green ticket office) where the green machines are,

to exchange our pass for the Kansai Wide Area Pass and grab our reserved seats.

The friendly station attendant pointed us in the right direction,

and highly recommended taking the Thunderbird.

We booked our tickets for 8 AM,

and in about 30 minutes, we were directly in Kyoto! So smooth.

Navigating the Thunderbird Express

Yes, it's definitely the Thunderbird!

This way leads to our platform.

We're currently at Osaka Station, then it's Shin-Osaka,

and finally, Kyoto Station!! Our destination awaits!

Thunderbird Limited Express

The train matches the picture perfectly!

From here, you can reach more than just Kyoto;

the Thunderbird also takes you to Fukui, Kanazawa, and Toyama! So many possibilities!

We used the Thunderbird service,

and boarded by carefully checking the departure times.

As we boarded here,

we noticed a few fellow travelers excitedly photographing the arriving train.

And guess what? The vending machine offered some intriguing options like red bean porridge, crab soup, and even clam miso soup!

And just like that, we're at Kyoto Station!

Our next adventure? Heading to Uji, the famous green tea village where the magnificent Byodo-in Temple stands.

The best part? Our Kansai Wide Area Pass covers the JR Nara Line for free!

No need to even exit the station; we can hop directly onto the connecting train.

Welcome to Uji Station, Kyoto!

Just across the traffic light...

Here, you'll find the Nakamura Tokichi Cafe Main Branch,

while the one with a scenic view of the Uji River is

the Nakamura Tokichi Byodo-in Branch.

As I walked down this path,

it was incredibly cold,

so I even bought some adhesive heat packs from the pharmacy to stick on my clothes!

As you walk along the path, Byodo-in Temple appears! 

It's an alleyway with many houses.

Since it was before 9 AM,

there weren't many people around.

I could even hear the birds chirping!

It was absolutely lovely.

Let's head inside the entrance.

Byodo-in Temple

Admission Fee

It's ~$4 per person.

Opening Hours

8:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Byodo-in Temple (meaning 'Temple of Equality'), a Buddhist temple in Uji, Kyoto,

is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

This is Byodo-in Temple, which is also featured on the Japanese 10 yen coin.

I took these photos with my Nikon D5600

and my Galaxy Ultra phone.

The reflection in the water is absolutely stunning.

Because of the cold weather in Osaka,

I hadn't seen many flowers,

but here, there are plum blossoms!

You'll find an incredible array of green tea products here. 

Uji, the Green Tea Village

This is the TakoQ shop,

and I'm about to try their green tea sauce takoyaki!

The green tea takoyaki had a crispy exterior,

and while the green tea flavor wasn't too strong, it was a little salty.

Still, it was delicious!

They even have green tea beer!

As you walk along the Uji River,

you'll notice the river's color is a beautiful jade green.

In Kyoto's Uji, famous for its river views,

I've arrived at Nakamura Tokichi Teahouse.

Uji, Kyoto, is one of Japan's top three green tea producing regions.

So naturally, you just *have* to try the green tea dishes!

As I entered the cafe, I spotted these photos.

You can order by touching the screen on the machine.

I decided to try the intriguing green tea soba and a matcha parfait.

While I hadn't heard much about the green tea soba's taste,

my curiosity got the better of me...

I meant to order individual items, but somehow,

I ended up ordering sets!

So, a matcha parfait set and a soba set.

Each inadvertently included green tea.

I paid with my Travelog card.

The matcha soba set and parfait set came to

3200 JPY – quite a hefty price!

Just place it down, and the payment processes smoothly.

My receipt is here!

This place usually has an incredible queue!

I got here early, so it was quiet,

but it quickly filled up.

The seating is spacious,

and you can even snag a spot with a river view!

The green tea noodles in katsuobushi broth were delightful,

and so warming!

There was also this massive piece of yubu (fried tofu pouch),

which was just *so* sweet.

They even have an explanation of what's tucked inside the matcha parfait!

It was a treasure trove of green tea cake, mochi, jelly,

ice cream, cookies, and berries –

absolutely delicious!

Nakamura Tokichi, the cafe brand,

also sells their green tea bags,

so of course, I had to grab one!

After six days of non-stop work back in Korea,

just sitting by the Uji riverside, spacing out and soaking it all in,

made me absolutely reluctant to leave for my next stop.

It was, hands down, my favorite place on this entire trip!

Back to Kyoto Station, it's time to head to Ohara!

When you exit Kyoto Station,

look for the alphanumeric signs and head to C3.

From there, you can catch bus number 17, which will take you straight to Ohara!

Here's the route map –

just be aware that only two buses run every hour!

I'll be catching the bus from here for the return trip as well.

The place I'm heading to is Kirin Buffet!

This is a buffet that doesn't use artificial seasonings and is made with fresh Kyoto vegetables. I drove an hour from Kyoto just to come here!

Normally, there's a long queue and a wait, but since I arrived late, around 3 PM, I was able to walk right in!

It's 2,300 yen for adults and 1,100 yen for children, and you can enjoy it for 75 minutes.

When you sit down, your plate setting is already there.

Mustard-pickled turnips, potato salad, green onion rolled omelet.

Lettuce, celery-apple dressing, ginseng-onion dressing.

Seasoned mashed potatoes.

Fried Onions, Braised Konjac, Bell Pepper Beef Stir-fry

The bell pepper beef stir-fry might seem simple, but...

the bell peppers were incredibly crunchy and bursting with freshness.

And the beef wasn't greasy at all; I truly went back for seconds, and thirds!

Oh, I really want to go again!

Fried Rice, Braised Radish

Curry and fried onions. The curry is quite flavorful!

Onigiri (Rice balls)

Stir-fried potatoes? Or perhaps a seasoned potato salad?

When I took my first bite, I was genuinely surprised!

It was incredibly crunchy,

and none of the dishes were overly salty.

Everything was just so fresh and unbelievably delicious,

I kept wanting more and more!

Even after coming back to Korea, I still think about it constantly.

I've visited Japan over 20 times, but this is hands down the number one meal I've ever had!!

Make sure to sprinkle the fried onions on the curry—

it makes it even more delicious, and while the seasoning is strong,

the onigiri are totally my style and absolutely mouthwatering!

It's a bit of a distance if you're in Kyoto, but I'll definitely go again, no doubt about it!

大原リバーサイドカフェ来隣www.ohara-kirin.com

(Kirin's website)

Operating Hours

11:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Closed

Tuesday

Kirin · 114 Ohararaikoincho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 601-1242, Japanmaps.app.goo.gl

Kirin Google Maps

We arrived at Cafe Klum right next door.

KULM · 117 Ohararaikoincho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 601-1242, Japanmaps.app.goo.gl

Classic pudding, cheese pudding

Lemon cake

Crème brûlée, chocolate brûlée are also on the menu.

You can also find drip coffee, cafe au lait, juices, and even alcoholic beverages.

And yes, they even have pizza!

Inside, you're treated to a lovely view of the flowing river.

This is another perfect spot to just chill out and let your mind wander!

On the left side of the interior, behind the curtains gently swaying in the breeze,

you'll find basalt-like stones stacked up.

It actually made me think of Jeju Island – such beautiful scenery!

The drip coffee and cafe au lait together cost around ~$7.

Osaka was so incredibly cold that I could barely keep my wits about me.

I walked a ton, exploring without even pausing to take photos.

But I finally snapped one after quite a while!

Just a heads-up: both Kirin Buffet and KULM Cafe are cash-only.

Stepping out, we headed across the road to Hosen-in Temple.

Hosen-in, famous for its 'framed garden'.

You'll discover vibrant rapeseed fields and ancient stones cloaked in lush moss.

The air here is wonderfully fresh!

This is truly a village nestled deep in the mountains.

Sanzen-in Temple, famous for its beautiful moss garden, is also nearby, but I decided to save that for another time.

Welcome to the entrance of Hosen-in Temple!

Hosen-in Temple Admission

700 JPY

This includes a delicious matcha tea and a traditional sweet treat (a rice cake with red bean paste).

Upon entering, after removing your shoes...

Behold the magnificent 700-year-old pine tree!

I hear it gets incredibly busy here when the autumn leaves are at their peak.

This is the famous 'frame garden'.

The matcha, whisked to perfection from powdered green tea,

results in a rich, frothy brew, perfectly paired with a sweet red bean paste mochi.

With the mountains rising gracefully beyond the garden, the scenery becomes even more breathtaking.

And once again, I found myself simply gazing, lost in thought.

There's a wonderful reason why I keep finding myself in this state of tranquil contemplation:

At work, my mind is constantly juggling countless responsibilities and tasks.

But here, on this journey, doing absolutely nothing but soaking in the views and letting my mind wander freely... it's just incredibly rejuvenating.

Just sitting, peacefully observing, finding a moment of pure serenity.

Osaka to Kyoto by Thunder Bird Express 2026: A Quick Travel Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

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Osaka to Kyoto by Thunder Bird Express 2026: A Quick Travel Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

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% Arabica Kyoto Arashiyama Review 2026: Latte & Location

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TRVLOGUE

Osaka to Kyoto by Thunder Bird Express 2026: A Quick Travel Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Share this article

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Osaka to Kyoto by Thunder Bird Express 2026: A Quick Travel Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Share this article

Featured in Collections

Osaka Day Trips to Kansai Vicinity: Essential Courses for Kyoto, Nara, Kobe

Related Travel Stories

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