If you want to get a feel for old Tokyo, Ueno in the Taito District is a good place to start.
Entirely lacking in high-rise condos or whiz-bang shopping malls, by Tokyo standards it's distinctly down-market, in contrast to places like Ginza, but that means that eating, shopping and drinking are all affordably priced. Ueno has excellent connectivity not just around Tokyo, but to all of northern Japan as well. Safety is not an issue, but the areas to the southwest of Ueno Station has a high density of sex-clubs etc., with active bouncers and prostitutes soliciting their trade. |
Ameya Yokocho is a packed shopping bazaar full of stalls selling almost anything you can imagine.
It runs roughly south of Ueno Station along the inside of the JR Yamanote Line tracks to Okachimachi Station, and comprises of two markets: the covered Ueno Centre Mall and open-air Ameyoko itself. The mall offers a variety of souvenirs and clothes. And Ameyoko is one of Tokyo’s fine street markets with hundreds of food stalls, and a big selection of foods. If you are looking for a more typically "Asian" market street in Tokyo, with bargaining expected and friendly vendors trying to out-shout each other, this is it. It is often mistakenly believed that the district got its name in the post-war years from the American blue jeans and other items that were sold on the black market, but really the "Ame" comes from the sweets "ame in Japanese" that were sold there - Ameya Yokocho "candy store alley". |
Ueno Park adjacent to the Ueno Station is a 300 acres public park, home to most of the attractions in the area, including temples, shrines, the Ueno Zoo and a concentration of Japan's major museums.
In cherry blossom season, Ueno Park is one of Tokyo's most popular spots for outdoor Hanami parties. In recent years the park and its attractions have drawn over ten million visitors a year, making it Japan's most popular city park. |
Ueno Park occupies land once belonging to Kaneiji Temple, which was a family temple of the ruling Tokugawa clan during the Edo period. The Ueno area was the scene of a large battle when there was a power struggle between the Tokugawa Shogun and Japan’s Meiji Emperor.
Most of the temple buildings were destroyed in the Battle of Ueno during the Boshin War, when the forces of the Tokugawa Shogunate were defeated by those aiming at the restoration of imperial rule. A 5-story pagoda, Kaneiji's main hall and some smaller buildings are all that remain of what were once 30 buildings. Admission is free. |
Near the main entrance to the park from JR Station stands an unassuming statue of a pudgy man walking his dog.
This is the statue of Takamori Saigo "1828-1877", who has become one of the most lionized and celebrated figures in Japanese history. Saigo Takamori was a leader in the overthrow of the Tokugawa Shogunate who later rebelled against the weaknesses he saw in the Imperial government that he had helped to restore. This statue is a symbol of Ueno and one of the most popular statues in Japan. |
Kiyomizu Kannondo Temple was built in 1631 as part of Kaneiji Temple.
Its design was inspired by one of Japan’s best known temples, Kiyomizudera in kyoto. The temple is dedicated to Kosodate Kannon, the goddess of conception, favored especially among women hoping to have children. It has a wooden balcony extending from the hillside overlooking Shinobazu Pond. Admission is Free. |
Bentendo Temple is an octagonal temple hall on an island in Shinobazu Pond. The temple is dedicated to Benten, the goddess of knowledge, wealth, good fortune and music.
Shinobazu Pond is a large natural pond divided in three sections; one called Lotus Pond because of the plants that during the summer cover its surface, one called Boat Pond that refers to the rental boats it hosts, and the third called Cormorant Pond which takes its name from the birds that inhabit it. During the cherry blossom season Bentendo's grounds would be crowded with visitors and the usual festival food stalls. Admission is Free. |
Ueno Toshogu Shrine is one of many shrines across Japan that is dedicated to the memory of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Ieyasu was the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate "1603-1868", which is the third and last of the shogunal governments in Japanese history. The most famous Tosho-gu Shrine is located in Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture.
There is no admission fee for visitors to enter most of the shrine precincts, but there is a fee "500 yen", in order to go beyond the karamon. This allows you see the back of the karamon and to get closer to the honden, but the hall itself remains closed. There is an extra admission fee "700 yen", to enter the peony garden. |
Tokyo National Museum is considered the oldest national museum and the largest art museum in Japan, and is one of the largest art museums in the world.
The Museum is a gigantic complex that houses over 110,000 art objects including 87 priceless national treasures, covering Japanese history from the Jomon period to the 20th century. |
National Museum of Nature and Science is a decent natural history and science museum with interactive displays.
The museum focuses on the living world, with life-sized representations of practically every life form the earth has ever seen, from dinosaurs to the blue whale "outside the old building" to hundreds of exotic insects. There are also sections covering technology, the physical sciences, and hands-on exhibits for children, as well as the stuffed and mounted body of Hachiko, of Shibuya statue fame. |
National Museum of Western Art was established in 1959 and now houses an extensive collection of Western art, including the original of Rodin's famous The Thinker.
The museum has regular special exhibitions which usually attracts many visitors. Free Admission for permanent collection on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month, May 19, and November 3. |
Shitamachi Museum – Shitamachi is the name of a part of the old Tokyo that was inhabited by Edo's lower classes, including craftsmen, fishermen, sailors and merchants.
What remains of the old Shitamachi can nowadays be found in and around Tokyo's Taito Ward, for example in Asakusa. This is a small museum that offers a glimpse into life from the late Meiji to early Showa Periods, with re-created houses and stores, and cultural artifacts. |
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum is one of Tokyo’s major art spots. The museum doesn’t have a permanent collection. It displays variety of art works including calligraphy, paintings and sculptures.
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum consists of six galleries from which one is managed by the museum and the other 5 are rented to various art groups. Some exhibitions are paid, others are free. The museum has a casual restaurant and a shop which sells variety of items including stationary, fashion accessories, and even painting tools and calligraphy and craft items. |
Ueno Zoo is Japan's oldest zoo opening on March 20, 1882.
It's a mid-sized zoo of 14.3-hectare that's home to more than 3000 individuals representing over 460 species. Its most popular residents are two panda bears that the zoo has received from the Chinese Wolong Nature Reserve in February 2011. Ueno Zoo has more species on exhibition than any other zoo in Japan. |
Ueno Station AccessMain stations in different wards of Tokyo including Ueno Station can easily be accessed by JR Yamanote Line.
JR Ueno is a large station. It is a three-story building with four floors underground, including the platforms for the Shinkansen. Ueno Park is just next to JR Ueno Station. Easiest access is provided by the station's "Park Gate" on the Third Floor. Park Exit leads to Ueno Park. |
Ueno Muslim Friendly AccommodationHere as you see, there are few Muslim friendly hotels in the Ueno area. Once you click on any of the hotels, you will be redirected to an online booking website where you can make your reservation.
There are more Muslim friendly hotels in Tokyo listed on our website. For booking random hotels you can search with Hotels.com, or the Hotel Map below which shows hotel prices and location on the map. There are Vacation Rentals in the Ueno area which suit travelers who prefer to rent a living space, especially for larger groups, families or those who seek a more local, everyday life experience. If you are traveling light and looking for a more economical place to stay Hostels are a good option. For booking a rental car use the search engine below. Fill out the details; pickup and drop-off places, date and time, and press search. You will be redirected to Rental Cars website where a list of available cars will be shown to you to choose from. |
|
|
Ueno Park - Taito-ku, Tokyo
Sources
- Tokyo National Museum - Top
- A Street In Ueno Area
- Ameya Yokocho
- Ueno Park - Cherry Blossom Season
- Kaneiji Temple
- Takamori Saigo
- Kiyomizu Kannondo Temple
- Bentendo Temple
- Ueno Toshogu Shrine
- Tokyo National Museum
- National Museum Of Nature And Science
- National Museum Of Western Art
- Shitamachi Museum
- Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
- Ueno Zoo
- Ueno Station