Uji

Uji
This image and name rekindles memories of one of the most enjoyable side trips we took in Japan. That location, besides being near the Byodo-In temple, resonated all the more with me because I had read (struggled) with a literature course on The Tale of Genji by Lady Murasaki in college.
Going across the historic Uji-Bashi bridge and visiting the Tale of Genji Museum was a special experience. It really was a very Japanese place.

Originally shared by Lili Florea (Muza-chan)

Uji artistic manhole cover

Built for the first time in 646, the bridge over the Uji River remained in history because it was described in the Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari), which probably was the first novel in history.

Destroyed several times in battles or by flooding, it was always rebuilt, last time in 1996, and it still preserves the original form. Selected as a symbol of the Uji city, it is featured on the local artistic manhole covers.

http://muza-chan.net/japan/index.php/blog/uji-artistic-manhole-cover