The Uji River (宇治川), which runs from Lake Biwa(琵琶湖), runs near the border between Kyoto and Osaka prefectures. Joined by the Katsura River(桂川) and Kizu River (木津川) Rivers and renamed Yodo River (淀川), it is approximately 30 km long. In the past, Uji prospered even though it was a villa for the Heian nobles, and it also developed as a production area of tea since the Kamakura period. Uji tea, one of the three major brands in Japan, is famous nationwide. It is also the setting of The Tale of Genji, The Tale of the Heike, and Manyoshu. Arashiyama in Kyoto's Rakusai area is also thriving as a villa for Heian aristocrats. There is a similar atmosphere of Kyoto here in Uji. Near Uji-bashi Bridge, there are World Heritage Byodo-in Temple Hoo-do Hall, Uji-Kami-jinja Shrine, The Tale of Genji Museum, and Ochaya (teahouse) that sells high-quality tea, making it a tourist attraction.