UJI
The city near Kyoto, where Caitlin travels alone to confront her past
"When the train pulled into Uji a half hour later, Caitlin stepped onto the platform warily, as though the town itself were a being alive and aware of her return, ready to suck her into its waters." (PAGE 227)
| Uji City lies about 12 kilometers (a 25-minute train ride) south of Kyoto. Ash opens on the banks of the Uji-gawa, a river that originates in Lake Biwa and flows swiftly through the center of Uji City. Cormorant fishing is a tourist attraction on the river, but the most famous sight in Uji is Byodo-in, a temple that was originally a villa built in the early 11th century. Its Phoenix Hall, one of only three remaining original buildings, contains a lacquered-wood statue of the Amida Buddha that has been designated a National Treasure. Byodo-in is extremely popular and heavily touristed, so it is not surprising that Caitlin's father and Oide avoid visiting it, opting instead to stroll along the banks of the Uji. The temple where Caitlin's father interviews the priest and where Caitlin sits on the veranda with Mrs. Ishii is entirely fictional; however, the hills surrounding Uji contain numerous temples. The Uji area has been famous for tea production for hundreds of years. |
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For photos and more information on Uji, see:
http://www.kiis.or.jp/kansaida/uji/index-e.html
