Visitor Information & Insider's Travel Tips

Ueno - A Collection of Arts, Culture, Zoo & Cherry Blossoms

 

Descriptions of Ueno

Ueno is a famous place for its collection of culture and arts such as museums, zoo, temples and shrines, and cherry blossoms.

 

After burnt in the battle between the samurais and the new government in 1868, Ueno Park was registered as Japan’s first park by the government.
Ueno Park is very large and comfortable with a fountain and benches. Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum of Western Art, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo University of the Arts and other concert halls and museums gather in the park, which was originally a part of Kan'eiji Temple.

 

Ueno Zoo is the first zoo in Japan. It has been exchanging animals with foreign zoos for over 100 years. Today’s center of attraction is the giant pandas from China, who have been living there since 2011.
In late March and early April, 1200 cherry blossom trees like pale pink fog attract many people. Ueno Park is one of the most popular cherry blossom spots in Tokyo.

Direct Guide to Ueno

From Tokyo Station

Take JR Keihin-Tohoku Line (via Omiya, Minami-Urawa) or JR Yamanote Line (via Ueno, Ikebukuro) to Ueno.
(around 5 minutes, \150) Keihin-Tohoku Line is convenient in the daytime because it is rapid.

 

From Shinjuku Station

Take JR Yamanote Line (via Ikebukuro, Ueno) to Ueno.
(around 25 minutes, \190)

 

From Shinagawa Station

Take JR Keihin-tohoku Line (via Omiya, Minami-Urawa) or JR Yamanote Line (via Ueno, Ikebukuro) to Ueno.
(around 15 minutes, \190) Keihin-Tohoku Line is convenient in the daytime because it is rapid.

 

From Shibuya Station

Take Ginza Subway Line (via Asakusa) to Ueno.
(around 25 minutes, \190)
Or, take JR Yamanote Line (via Shinagawa, Tokyo) to Ueno.
(around 30 minutes, \190) If you want outside views from the train window, choose this.

 

Travel Freely like a Local!

Check out The Easiest JR Train Maps & Subway Maps

 

 

 

Get a Google Map of Ueno

https://goo.gl/maps/LV13e

The National Museum of Western Art

Going out from Park Exit of Ueno Station, the nearest museum is the National Museum of Western Art, where paintings of Vermeer, Monet, Gogh, Picasso, etc, stop during their world tour.

Their permanent collection, which was made up mainly by a Japanese sponsor 100 years ago, is also attractive to art lovers. You will meet Corot, Gogh and other masterpiece painters.
In 2016, the building became a World Heritage Site as one of the 17 Works of Le Corbusier, a famous French architect, existing in 7 countries.

 

Outside of this museum, we can see Auguste Rodin’s sculptures for FREE.

“Le Penseur (The Thinker)” and “La Porte de l'enfer (The Gates of Hell)” are world-famous.

 

 

Ueno Park Cherry Blossom (Sakura) Festival

Cherry blossoms (sakura) spread out from late March to early April!
Ueno Park is one of the most beautiful sakura spots in Tokyo. It has been very popular among locals for a long time and a lot of international tourists visit here today.
The street is surrounded by more than 1000 cherry trees. It is like walking through an arch of cherry blossoms.

 

Travel Tip: Turn right to Benzaiten Hall, the temple's house on Shinobazu Pond, and Rental Boat Center.
The path is amazingly beautiful, so when you visit Ueno Park for cherry blossoms, never miss it!

 

 

 

 

Articles of Ueno Park Cherry Blossom Festival

• Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival) Ueno, Japan - Why You Shouldn't Miss Shinobazu Pond!
• A Perfect Guide to Ueno Park Cherry Blossom Festival IN THE EVENING
• Another Must-See in Cherry Blossom Season in Japan: Hana Matsuri, Buddha's Birthday Festival
• Tokyo Cherry Blossoms Information 2014 (Ueno Park)
• 3 Reasons to Visit Ueno Park AFTER Cherry Blossom (Sakura) Festival

 

National Museum of Nature and Science

You can see cool dinosaur fossils in National Museum of Nature and Science. A very big whale sculpture and an old black train are its landmarks.

 

 

Tokyo National Museum

Tokyo National Museum has a large collection of Asian and Japanese arts.

 

 

 

You can meet Dogus (Japanese sculptures made of clay 3000 - 6000 years ago) in its permanent exhibition.
There are also Japanese potteries, genuine swords, Buddhist sculptures and Ainu & Okinawan arts. If you hope to explore old and important arts, Tokyo National Museum is a right place.

 

Ueno Toshogu Shrine

There is a cozy shrine named Ueno Toshogu in Ueno Park.
It has a beautiful peony garden that is open in winter and spring. Peony flowers are displayed with straw snow fences in winter and with Japanese sunshades in spring.
The small but golden building of the shrine cannot be missed, either.

 

Ueno Zoo

Giant Pandas are the most popular in Ueno Zoo. You will see them soon after you enter the main gate. Even if they are sleeping, it's too early for you to give up to see them moving. Go to see other animals for a while and they wake up for meals soon. They love to eat very much.

 

There are elephants, lions, tigers, gorillas, shoebills (very strange birds) and other animals living in Ueno Zoo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part of Shinobazu Pond is part of Ueno Zoo. Swans, cranes, geese etc, inhabit in the large beautiful pond. It is originated from Temple’s garden, so the temple hall is seen beyond the zoo.

 

Just one day is too short to visit all of these museums, so I advise you to choose your interests.
More animals, arts and topics are on Blog Tokyo Direct Diary.

 

Have a good trip!

Date	Event	Place	Details
January - February	Winter Peony Garden	Toshogu Shrine	Peonies with straw snow fences are displayed in the Japanese garden.
Late March - Early April	Ueno Sakura (Cherry Blossom) Festival	Ueno Park	Cherry blossoms of 1200 trees bloom. Cherry Blossom Lighting at night, Traditional Music Stage and Antique Market are held.
Middle April - Middle May	Spring Peony Garden	Toshogu Shrine	Peonies bloom in the Japanese garden.
6, 7, 8 of July	Iriya Morning Glory Market	Iriya Kishimojin Temple	Flowerpots of morning glories (Asagao) are sold.
Middle July - Middle August	Ueno Summer Festival	Ueno Park around Shinobazu Pond	Lanterns on the pond at night, parades of local groups Antique Market and other events are held.
4 days in Middle October	Ueno Pottery Market	Ueno Park	Traditional Japanese pottery are sold. You also enjoy foods.
31th December (0:00 of New Year)	Watch-Night Bell	Kan-ei-ji Temple	The bell rings 108 times for New Year.

Ueno is a great place to stay though there are not so many hotels, because you can get an easy access to Narita Airport by Keisei Skyliner and to anywhere in Tokyo by Ginza Subway Line and JR Yamanote Line. Just 3 stations to Asakusa, another tourist attraction in Tokyo, on Ginza Subway Line.

 

Search Hotels in Ueno

Booking.com

 

A List of 4-Star Hotels in Ueno

• Mitsui Garden Hotel Ueno

Mitsui Group's beautiful hotel in Ueno.

• Hotel Coco Grand Ueno Shinobazu

Review Score 9.0 on Booking.com!

• Hotel Park Side

Just next to Shinobazu Pond as well as Hotel Coco Grand Ueno Shinobazu.

Business Hotels

In Ueno, there are many hotels whose prices are around 5,500 - 9,000 yen. These so-called business hotels will be confortable enough to stay though they are not so luxury.

 

For Backpackers

A youth hostel, whose building was a Business Hotel and renovated, opened in 2013. From Narita Airport, you will have a great access by Keisei Skyliner.
In Japan, there are not many big youth hostels named Youth Hostel. This youth hostel often gets full, so book as soon as possible!

• Tokyo Ueno Youth Hostel