Ueno Koen is also home to the Tokyo Zoological Gardens (open 9:30am-5pm, last entry 4pm, adults ￥600, free under 13 years old), famous for its pandas, giraffes, elephants, tigers or polar bears.
The neighouring Tosho-gu Shrine, dating from 1651, is the counterpart to the Tosho-gu in Nikko. Both were built in honour to Tokugawa Ieyasu by his grandson Iemitsu. The shrine itself (entry ￥200) is not as impressive as the one in Nikko, but the adjoining five-tiered pagoda is well worth a look. There are iron and stone lanterns all around the premises.
Ueno Park has several other religious buildings, ranging from a Nepalese or Thai looking stupa, to a branch of Kyoto's Kiyomizu-dera and an Inari Shrine reminding of Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Taisha, although both on a much smaller scale.
The Shinobazu-no-ike pond separates Ueno Park from Nezu to the North and Yushima to the South, both noted for their respective shrine. The Benten-do Hall sits in the middle of the pond, surrounded by lotuses. Note the strange Sofitel Hotel tower
Opening date
Land area
Number of trees
Variety of plants
Address
Nearest station
19 October 1874
533,981 m2
Tall trees : 8,650 / Shrubs : 86,800
Cherry trees, gingkos, azaleas, lotuses, etc.
Ueno Koen/Ikenohata 3-chome, Taito-ku, Tokyo
2min walk from Ueno (JR, Ginza & Hibiya lines), 1min walk from Keisei Ueno (Keisei line)
Shopping
Ueno used to be a typical working class district of Tokyo, the gate to economic migrant from Northern Japan. Although Ueno still contrast sharply with the elegance and refinement of Ginza, the situation has been improving noticably recently. The area around the station is in full redevelopment, with the opening department stores like Marui and Atre attracting a new young and smart clintele.
The toy shop "Yamashiroya" (山城屋) next to Marui (○｜) is a 7-floor paradise for manga, anime, games and stuffed-animal enthusiasts. Fans of Gundam, Miyazaki or Disney will find all they need here.
The Ameyoko (アメ横) bazaar between Ueno and Okachimachi is an open-air market selling everything from cheap clothes and accessories to fish and seafood. It is certainly worth a look for its un-Tokyoite atmosphere.
Near Ueno-Hirokoji station, more usual shops and department stores are clustered with a multitude of restaurants, bars and karaoke.
