Ueno Park, Tokyo, Japan
This world filled by the most picturesque and incredible gardens and parks always captivate the minds of nature lovers and curious backpackers. In the same line, this article will explain one of the world’s most beautiful yet interesting parks in Asia. Ueno Park is a spectacular public park in Tokyo containing several historical significance, cultural richness and numerous travel oriented attractions.
Despite its cultural and historical richness, Ueno Park is a great place to experience a peaceful oasis amidst the bustling city in order to enjoy the park’s renowned museums, eye-catching cherry blossoms, and number of zoos. Let us dig more about Ueno Park to understand its legacy in Japan.
Related Search: 12 Unique Things to Do in Japan.
Top 6 Ueno Park Attractions
Perhaps Ueno Park is not just popular for its surrounding gardens or cultural values. Ueno Park attracts combinations of multiple things.
1. Cherry Blossom
Visiting Japan is truly based on enjoying the breathtaking beauty of Cherry Blossom. In the same way watching Cherry Blossoms in Ueno Park is a spectacular thing in the entire Japan. Since the park is home to around 1,200 cherry blossom trees, every year Ueno Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival) is held here. Cherry Blossoms usually start in Ueno Park from late March to early April. Interestingly during Cherry Blossoms, the park hosts some of the events like music festivals, parades, picnicking and the magical glow of 8000 hanging lanterns. Take a leisurely stroll through park pathways and Shinobazu Pond to get blooming varieties like Ichiyo and Kanzan and enjoy traditional hanamai.
2. Tokyo National Museum
Considered as the Japan’s oldest and largest museum showcasing the massive collections of traditional Japanese artefacts and other Asian art. Tokyo National Museum established in 1872 and today it is home to more than 1,20,000 art works, 89 sorts of national treasures and 650 types of cultural properties of Japan. Additionally Museum serves samurai armor, traditional pottery, ukiyo-e paintings and popular Buddhist sculptures to explore. Interestingly each layers of the building contains different collections like The Honkan- houses of Japanese art and Heiseikan display- archaeology evidences.
3. Shinobazuno Pond
Shinobazuno Pond is a large natural pond located in the heart of the Ueno Park. Pond covering most beautiful greeneries and other natural attractions, like lotus and boat pond. Shinobazuno Pond is easily accessible through charming bridge, where visitors leisurely take some boat rides, watch popular cherry blossom seasons and other autumn colourful foliage. Despite of its renowned features, Pond often known for its tranquil atmospheres offering peaceful spot for relaxing, picnicking and capture perfect photos. Open daily from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm, pond easily accessible through 3 major boat options like row boats, pedal and swan boats.
4. Ueno Zoo
Founded in 1882, Ueno Zoo is recognised as a Japanese first zoo or Ueno Zoological Garden. Zoo is popular for its diverse collections of animals from Giant Pandas and Sumatran Tigers to Western Gorillas and South American Tapirs. At present Zoo includes 3000 sorts of animals under 300 different species. Out of that Giant Panda is more attractive to watch, additionally Lions, Elephants and Tigers also popular. Spread across 53 hectares of land, Zoo bifurcated into 2 sections, such as East Gardens (where elephants, tigers, gorillas, Ezo sika deer, Hokkaido brown bears and Japanese Seroes available) and West Gardens (giraffes, kangaroos, hippos, okapis, aye-ayes and Vivariums are exist). Zoo pens daily from 9:30 am to 17:00 pm, except Monday.
Ueno Zoo Ticket Price
| Age of Visitor | General Admission | Annual Passport |
| Adults (16-64) | 600 yen | 2400 yen |
| Senior (65+) | 300 yen | 1200 yen |
| Students (13-15) | 200 yen | Nill |
| Children (0-12) | Free | Nill |
Note:
- Admission is completely free for disabled and one assistant per disabled person.
- Admission is also free on March 20 (on Ueno Zoo’s Anniversary day), May 4 (Greenery Day) and October 1, (Tokyo Citizen’s Day).
5. National Museum of Western Art
National Museum of Western Art is a museum houses of Western artworks shows the evidences of early 20th century renaissance. Museum designed by the renowned Swiss French architect Mr. Le Corbusier. Today it holds around 6,000 sculptures, painting, and art work of mid-20th century like Van Gogh, Monet and Rodin. Country’s only one museum exclusively focused on western artists and artworks. Opened in 1959, its museum architecture recognised by the UNESCO World Heritage Site where visitors can enjoy occasional exhibitions and educational programs are took place. From National Museum of Western Art visitors easily access nearest attractions like Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum and Kaneiji Temple.
6. Ueno Toshogu Shrine
It is a 17th century Shinto shrine purely dedicated to Tokugawa leyasu. Ueno Toshogu Shrine popular for its intrinsic carvings, traditional architectures and beautiful lush green surroundings. Shrine offers ornate gates and carving craftsmanship insist us to take perfect photos and explore to study of Tokugawa leyasu. Today this shrine stand as a political, cultural, and spiritual legacy of Japanese kingdom. Built in 1616, Shinto shrine located within Ueno Park founded by the Tokugawa Shigunte.
Ueno Park Entrance Fee/ Ticket Price
Entrance Fee to Ueno Park is completely free of cost, but visitors need to pay separate ticket fee to enter Ueno Zoo and Museums.
Ueno Park Opening Hours
Ueno Park opens daily from 5:00 am to 11:00 pm itself. But Parks most of museums and zoo are open daily at 9:00 or 9:30 am and close around 16:00 pm and 17:30 pm.
Ueno Park during Autumn
Ueno Park is truly a gem to visit for those who keen to indulge in the beauty of Japanese nature, cultures, surroundings and different museum collections. But did you know that visiting Ueno Park during autumn could be more value to your journey? Yes, autumn witnessing most peaceful, calm and green surrounding in Ueno Park.
Autumn is a season when parks tree leaves turns to a jamboree of vibrant into orange and yellow. Trees like Malpe and Ginkgo usually leaves with bright yellow of the ginkgo leaves. However it is more attractive to watch cherry blossoms and less tourist traffic to enjoy bright festivals.
Additionally, Autumn in Ueno Park offers some of the recreational activities like open air concerts and art exhibitions, Ueno Zoo and traditional Japanese music performances. Do not miss to try season inspire dishes and snacks like sweet potatoes and chestnut based treats.
Winter in Ueno Park
Ueno Park is a place must enjoyable even during winter season. Cherry Blossom in spring is name making itself during the winter season, illumination event of more than 1,00,000 sakura colour LEDs. There are some attraction which are completely recommended to see during winter season only like Year End and New Year’s traditional events. Winter season also exhibits some of the traditional Japanese events like Ameyoko in winter. Do not miss to try out winter inspired dishes like Oden, and Meat Buns (Nikuman).
As like Autumn, Ueno Park filled by the winter loving animals like Snow Bears, snow covered park sceneries, and winter leisure museums. Additionally park boasts winter limited museums and art galleries including Tokyo National Museum and Ueno Royal Museum, where visitors eligible to watch special exhibitions and events.
It is recommended to keep winter friendly dress and sweaters or cardigans. Since park filled extreme snow coverage’s and cold temperatures it is advisable to adjust temperatures. Taking proper cold weather precautions is first thing to enjoy rest of Ueno Park’s winter attractions.
Related Articles: Things to Do in Kyoto, Japan.
