A Japanese long story created by Murasaki Shikibu in the middle of the Heian period. Through the main character Hikaru Genji, the aristocratic society of the Heian period is depicted, including love, glory and downfall, political desires and power struggles.

Byodo-in Temple is a gorgeous building reminiscent of the prosperity of the Heian period. The last part of The Tale of Genji is set in Uji, and it is believed that the predecessor of Byodo-in appears in the story.
“During the Heian period, Uji is said to have been a place where many aristocrats gathered as vacation homes. It was an important transportation hub, with easy access to the capital, and the Uji River and mountains made for a relaxing time. It seems that the aristocrats liked Uji and had villas.[Byodo-in] is also called ``Uji-dono'' of Minamoto no Toru, who is said to be the model of the main character, Hikaru Genji. It started as a villa,” says Tanaka, a curator.

In the work, it is said that the villa that Hikaru Genji's son Yugiri inherited from his father was based on Uji-dono, and in Chapter 45, "Hashihime," Kaoru and other aristocrats visited Hatsuse. It depicts how it is being used for overnight stays.

``Ujiden was later inherited by Emperor Uda, Minamoto no Shigenobu, and Fujiwara no Michinaga, and was converted into a temple by their son Yorimichi. Amida-do (currently Phoenix-do), built the following year, represents the Pure Land of Paradise.'' . Murasaki Shikibu would have never imagined that Ujiden, which he admired at the time, would later become a temple visited by many people from all over the world.

After Hikaru Genji's death, the Uji Jyujo tells a love story told by Hikaru Genji's descendants. It refers to the last ten chapters from "Hashihime" to "Yume no Ukihashi" in The Tale of Genji, and focuses on Kaoru, who is said to be the youngest son of Hikaru Genji, and Nioumiya, who is the grandson of Hikaru Genji.

Although he is the prince of the emperor, Nioumiya is constantly rumored to be dating women as he searches for his soul mate. On the other hand, Kaoru has doubts about her birth, is interested in Buddhist monasticism in order to escape from the mundane world, and shows no interest in love affairs. A story of intense tragic love begins when two polar opposites fall in love with two sisters living in Uji.

Ujigawa plays an important role in the story and appears frequently. Among the waka poems written in the work, bridges and the flow of rivers are likened to love, and many expressions reminiscent of the Uji River are used. At the foot of the Asagiri Bridge is the Uji Jujo Monument, which depicts the scene in which the heroines Ukifune and Nioumiya row out onto the river in a small boat.

Also, at the end of the story, there is a scene where Ukifune, who is troubled by a love triangle with Nioumiya and Kaoru, tries to throw herself into the river. And now, I want to think about how the characters projected their emotions onto the Uji River while actually looking at them.

The Uji City Museum of the Tale of Genji was opened in 1998 by Uji City, which is involved in various initiatives as a place related to The Tale of Genji. You can experience the Tale of Genji and the culture of the Heian period and learn more about the story.

In the Heian-no-ma, the theme of Heian-kyo and Hikaru Genji, the ox-cart and costume restorations that appear in the story are exhibited, and in the Uji-no-ma, famous scenes from Uji Jujo are recreated on a life-size set, making the story even more familiar. So that you can feel it. In addition, original animations are also screened. We want you to experience the gorgeous world of The Tale of Genji, including Uji Jujo.