Ueno 上野エリア

With so many famous and fabulous places to visit in Tokyo, the Ueno area is sometimes overlooked. But with Ameyoko , Ueno Park and a multitude of art galleries and museums, Ueno is an area that should be in your Tokyo itinerary.

Ueno is one of the major stations on the JR Yamanote Line. It is four stops from Tokyo Station and is also served by the Ginza and Hibiya subway lines. Shinkansen bound for Tohoku pass through Ueno.

The center of all things in Ueno is Ueno Park , or Ueno Onshi Koen as it is formally known. It is right next to the station and should be your first port of call. The park and its surroundings are home to Ueno Zoo, six impressive museums, and Kaneiji Temple.

An iconic symbol of Ueno is the panda. Though you won't see any roaming the park, you can see several at Ueno Zoo . The first pandas bred in 1972 were gifts from China, and since then Ueno Zoo has been successful at the notoriously difficult task of breeding them.

The zoo is home to a large collection of other animals, too. And despite being located in the heart of ultra-urban Tokyo, you will be surprised at the animals' habitats which do a good job of recreating their native environments.

Many people visit Ueno for the world-class museums and galleries located within the park. The National Museum of Western Art , the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, the Tokyo National Museum , the National Science Museum, and the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan (Tokyo Cultural Hall) are among the most well-known, but the Shitamachi Museum—introducing life in Tokyo over 100 years ago—may be the most unique and interesting for international visitors.

Walking from the park in the direction of Nippori Station will lead you to the Yanesen area , a term for the Yanaka, Nezu and Sendagi neighborhoods. Local, down-to-earth neighborhoods full of real-world charm, Yanesen is a stark contrast to Tokyo's skyscraper districts. Explore the cafes and shops—traditional yet hipster-cool.

South of the park in the opposite direction of Yanesen, Ameya Yokocho , or simply Ameyoko, is a bargain shopper's treasure trove. It's a different kind of a zoo-like atmosphere with market stalls, street eats and plenty of people.

Nearby, you can walk to Akihabara in one direction or, in the other, to Asakusa . The two areas are polar opposites: Akihabara is a mecca of anime, manga, video games, pop music, and cosplay while Asakusa is home to Sensoji Temple and a hub for Japanese traditional crafts and culture.