I visited Ujikami Shrine in Uji, and it left a quiet, timeless impression. The shrine feels deeply rooted in the history of the city, with an atmosphere that is both serene and sacred.

Ujikami Shrine is one of Uji’s most important heritage sites and is regarded as the oldest surviving Shinto shrine building in Japan, with its main hall dating to around 1060 in the late Heian period. It was originally built as a guardian shrine for nearby Byōdō-in, and it was once closely connected with Uji Shrine before the two were separated in the Meiji period.

The history of the shrine is tied to the story of Prince Uji no Wakiiratsuko, who is enshrined there along with Emperor Ōjin and Emperor Nintoku. According to tradition, the shrine was established in his honor after he sacrificed himself in a dispute over imperial succession, and the famous rabbit legend linked to his journey is said to have inspired the name “Uji.”

What makes Ujikami Shrine especially remarkable is how much of its original structure has survived. The honden is a National Treasure, and the shrine was recognized as part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, preserving a rare glimpse into early shrine architecture and Heian-period religious life.