The latest in 2023! 21 recommended sightseeing spots in Ueno. How to enjoy each area, including Ameyoko and Yanaka

*Prices include tax.

JR Ueno Station, a terminal station in northern Tokyo, is the starting point of the city. To the west of the station is the vast Ueno Park, which is home to some of Japan's leading art galleries, museums, multipurpose halls and other cultural facilities.

In addition to the park area, we also recommend exploring the area centered around the bustling Ameyoko shopping street south of JR Ueno Station, and the downtown Yanaka area that spreads out to the northwest of the park. We will introduce you to must-see spots on your walk around the city, covering standard tourist attractions such as parks and art museums, as well as popular gourmet specialties.

*Business hours and offerings may be subject to change.

[Ueno Park Area 1] Recommended historical and natural spots

This is the area for those who want to experience culture and history. The vast Ueno Park is not only pleasant with its lush greenery, but also has public art such as statues. Have lunch at a Western restaurant with a history as long as the park. Walk past Shinobazu Pond in the park to visit Western-style buildings and shrines.

Relax at Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park

Ueno Park is dotted with some of Japan's most famous art galleries, museums, and a zoo. After touring the museums, you can relax in the seasonal flowers and Shinobazu Pond in the park.

Shinobazu Pond is a natural pond that is divided into three areas by banks. The Lotus Pond is completely covered with lotus flowers, and the highlight is the contrast between the lush green leaves and the pink flowers that bloom in the early morning from late July to August.

At the Boat Pond, you can enjoy a relaxing time on a swan boat or a rowboat. In the West Garden of Ueno Zoo, there is also the Cormorant Pond, where cormorants and other birds live. There are also many cherry trees around Shinobazu Pond, and it is crowded with people during cherry blossom viewing season.

Ueno Park

Meet the world's three rarest animals at Ueno Zoo

Ueno Zoo, famous for its giant pandas, was Japan's first zoo and opened in 1882 (Meiji 15).

Currently, the zoo is home to 2,500 animals of 350 different species, including the aye-aye and fossa, which are found nowhere else in Japan. It is also the only place in Japan where you can see the world's three rarest animals, the giant panda, the okapi, and the pygmy hippopotamus, all at once.

The merchandise section is always bustling, with merchandise featuring various animals at the zoo, including the most popular item, pandas.

Ueno Zoological Gardens

Enjoy seasonal scenery and traditional flavors at Ueno Seiyoken

On the banks of Shinobazu Pond, Ueno Seiyoken, a pioneer of Western cuisine in Japan, continues to serve traditional flavors. It opened in 1876 (Meiji 9) as a social venue within the park when Ueno Onshi Park opened. Ueno Seiyoken Cafe Ran Landore is a place where you can casually enjoy the traditional flavors of Ueno Seiyoken.

There is also a terrace seating area overlooking Shinobazu Pond, where you can enjoy your meal in an open and airy atmosphere. The recommended dish is the Omelette Rice with Hayashi Sauce (1,780 yen), which you can enjoy with the special demi-glace sauce. The slowly stewed beef is tender, and the rich sauce is exquisite.

Ueno Seiyoken Main Store (formerly Ueno Seiyoken Cafe Randore)

Experience the "Taisho period downtown" at the "Shitamachi Museum"

Many people have seen hand-cranked telephones, hand-pumped wells, tobacco trays, etc., but have never touched them. The Shitamachi Museum was established as a place where people could experience the world of the Taisho and Showa eras' downtown culture, which is gradually disappearing.

The first floor is a reproduction of a merchant's house and a tenement house. The tenement house is set to be inhabited by two families: a mother and daughter who run a sweet shop, and a family of craftsmen who make copper pots (metal water heaters for making hot sake), and is decorated with everyday items and furnishings that were used at the time.

On the second floor, materials related to the downtown area and daily life are on display, and you can play with the toys in the toy section. Even if you weren't born in the Taisho or Showa eras, you're sure to feel nostalgic for the retro worldview.

Shitamachi Museum of Customs and Customs

The beautiful Western-style building at the "Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Garden" is impressive

The Kyu-Iwasaki Residence Garden was developed as a garden on the site of the main residence of Hisaya, the eldest son of Iwasaki Yataro, the founder of the Mitsubishi zaibatsu, and the third president of Mitsubishi. At the time, there were 50 buildings on a site of about 15,000 tsubo (approx. 49,000 m2), but now the site is one-third of that size, and there are only three buildings: a Western-style building, a billiards room, and a large Japanese-style hall.

The particularly eye-catching Western-style building was designed by Josiah Conder, who also designed the Rokumeikan, and is decorated in Jacobean style throughout. The billiard room is built in the style of a Swiss mountain hut, which is rare in Japan. It is usually closed to the public, but guided tours are available on the second Thursday of every month (except August).

Please note that photography inside the building is only permitted on weekdays. Please note that flash photography and photography focusing on people are prohibited.

Former Iwasaki Residence Garden

Take a break in an important cultural property at the "Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Garden Tea Ceremony"

The Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Garden, which conveys the power of the zaibatsu to this day, has been designated as an Important Cultural Property by the government, including the buildings and the entire grounds. The Japanese-style building to the south of the luxurious Western-style building is also an Important Cultural Property, and you can actually have tea inside the building.

At the tea ceremony in the Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Garden, they offer a matcha set (740 yen) with seasonal top-quality sweets, and an affogato (680 yen). The ice cream and cheesecake are made by Koiwai Farm, which has a deep connection with the Iwasaki family, so they are sure to taste great. They also sell original goods to commemorate your visit.

Tea ceremony at the former Iwasaki residence garden

Visit Yushima Tenjin Shrine and improve your academic performance

Yushima Tenmangu Shrine, affectionately known as "Yushima Tenjin," enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, known as the god of learning. The shrine was founded in 458 (the second year of Emperor Yuryaku) as the shrine for the god of strength, Ame-no-Tajikarao-no-Mikoto, and in 1355 (the 10th year of Shohei), at the request of local residents, Sugawara no Michizane was also enshrined there.

There is much to see within the temple grounds, including the Omote Torii gate, the oldest remaining cast torii gate in Tokyo. The Treasure Hall also holds special exhibitions from time to time. There are also about 300 plum trees planted within the grounds, making the temple famous as a famous plum viewing spot. The Plum Festival is held every year from mid-February to early March, attracting many worshippers.

Yushima Tenmangu Shrine

[Ueno Park Area 2] Enjoy masterpieces at art galleries and museums

Ueno Park, which opened in the early Meiji period, saw museums, art schools, libraries, and other facilities built within the park, and by the late Meiji period it had already become known as a cultural hub.

There are still many facilities scattered around the area today, but we will introduce five art museums with their own unique personalities, including the National Museum of Western Art, which is registered as a World Heritage Site, and Tokyo National Museum, which boasts one of Japan's finest collections.

The Tokyo National Museum has a huge collection

Tokyo National Museum is the museum with the longest history in Japan. Its vast grounds, covering an area roughly the size of 2.2 Tokyo Domes, house six exhibition halls and a museum, housing more than 117,000 pieces of art. It boasts an overwhelming collection that would take more than a day to see.

To enjoy the vast Tokyo National Museum to the fullest, it's recommended that you check out the places that interest you in advance.

If you are interested in archaeology or ancient history, you should visit the Heiseikan. You can trace the history of Japan from the Stone Age to modern times while viewing archaeological artifacts such as clay figurines and haniwa clay figures that are also featured in textbooks. For sword-related items that have been gaining attention recently, head to the main building. In the Japan Gallery on the second floor, artworks are exhibited following the flow of history from the Jomon period to the Edo period.

Other interesting museums include the Toyokan, where you can appreciate Oriental art and crafts from outside Japan, the Kuroda Memorial Museum, which houses works by Kuroda Seiki, known as the father of modern Western-style painting, and the Horyuji Treasure House, which houses a collection of ancient art donated to the Imperial Family by Horyuji Temple.

Tokyo National Museum

Admire the masterpieces and architecture at the National Museum of Western Art

The National Museum of Western Art, which also draws attention for its building designed by Le Corbusier, was established in 1959 (Showa 34) to convey the splendor of Western art, centering on the Matsukata Collection, which consists of 375 pieces. The Matsukata Collection is an art collection assembled by Kobe businessman Matsukata Kojiro, which was donated and returned by the French government after the war and is now available to see in Japan.

The National Museum of Western Art has a collection of over 6,000 works. The permanent exhibition displays Western art from the late Middle Ages to the early 20th century in chronological order, allowing you to follow the history of art with your eyes. There are many fascinating works worth seeing, including Monet's "Water Lilies," Van Gogh's "Roses," characterized by undulating brushstrokes, and Rubens' "Two Sleeping Children," which is touching for its innocent sleeping pose.

In addition to the paintings, you should also see the modern French sculptures, especially those by Rodin. An enlargement of the famous "The Thinker" is on display in the front garden.

National Museum of Western Art

Be captivated by fascinating exhibitions at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum is Japan's first public art museum, which opened in 1926 (Taisho 15). The current building was designed by Kunio Maekawa, a master of modern Japanese architecture, and is covered in red brick tiles that blend in with the surrounding greenery, creating a tranquil appearance.

There are 12 sculptures and reliefs inside and outside the building, including a spherical piece near the main gate, so you can experience art just by strolling around the area.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum is known for hosting excellent special and planned exhibitions, such as the "Jakuchu 300th Anniversary Exhibition" held in 2016, which sparked a nationwide boom in Jakuchu art. The museum also regularly hosts tours that allow you to learn more about the museum's charms.

Be sure to check out the "Architecture Tour," where art communicators called "Tobira" will take participants on a tour of the architectural highlights from their own perspective, and the "Tobikan Yakan Kaikan Tour," where you can enjoy the illuminated museum at night, both of which are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the day.

Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

Experience the mysteries of the Earth at the National Museum of Nature and Science

If you're looking to satisfy your intellectual curiosity, the National Museum of Nature and Science is the place to go. It has two exhibition halls, the Japan Gallery and the Global Gallery, both of which are packed with must-see attractions.

The Japan Pavilion, with its magnificent neo-Renaissance style building, explains the origins of the Japanese archipelago and the origins of the creatures that lived there. In the "Japanese People and Nature" corner on the second floor, models of the ancestors of the Japanese people, such as the Jomon and Yayoi people, are lined up. In the modern people corner, there is an empty case, so you can enter it and become part of the exhibit and take a commemorative photo. There is also a stuffed specimen of the faithful dog Hachiko, so be sure to look for it.

At the Global Gallery, you can learn about the history of the Earth itself, the evolution of living things, and the evolution of science and technology. The popular dinosaur skeletons are on the first basement floor. You'll be overwhelmed by the dynamic appearance of dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops.

In the "Life Running Across the Earth" corner on the third floor, stuffed specimens of various mammals and birds are on display, allowing you to experience the diversity of life on display.

National Museum of Nature and Science

Discover new talent at the Ueno Royal Museum

Instead of a permanent exhibition, the Ueno Royal Museum is popular for its unique open exhibitions and special exhibitions. The "Scary Paintings Exhibition," which featured horror-themed works such as the famous painting "The Execution of Lady Jane Grey," and the "Vermeer Exhibition," which displayed the largest number of Vermeer's works to date, attracted a lot of attention.

If you want to encounter new talent, we recommend the "VOCA Exhibition" held every spring. New two-dimensional works by young artists under the age of 40 recommended by art museum curators, journalists, researchers, etc. from around the country are exhibited. Although they are all called two-dimensional works, the expressive techniques are diverse, and you can get a glimpse of the depth and appeal of contemporary art.

If you want to take a break after viewing the art, head to Cafe MORI, a cafe space that is only available to those who have purchased an exhibition ticket. You can enjoy a relaxing moment while basking in the sunlight streaming in through the large glass windows.

Ueno Royal Museum

[Ameyoko area] Recommended spots to feel the energy

We also recommend walking through the bustling downtown area from JR Ueno Station to Okachimachi Station. After checking out the lively Ameyoko shopping street, where lively voices echo, go into an alley and enjoy Ueno's specialty, tonkatsu, for lunch. Laugh at a historic comedy hall, eat popular dorayaki, and feel the eclectic energy of the downtown area.

"Ameyoko" is full of international charm

The Ameyoko Shopping District Association, commonly known as Ameyoko or Ameya Yokocho, developed from a black market after the war into a shopping street. Under the elevated railway tracks between JR Ueno Station and Okachimachi Station, there are 400 shops crowded together, and the chaotic atmosphere gives off a unique charm. In recent years, the area has become increasingly international, and you can feel the essence of various countries.

The first of these is the Ameyoko Center Building Underground Food Street. You can get Asian ingredients such as seasonings, spices, meat, and fresh fish at reasonable prices. Fruit skewers made with seasonal fruits and tapioca drinks are also popular to eat while walking around.

Ameyoko Shopping District Association

Enjoy a super thick pork cutlet lunch at "Tonpachitei"

Tonhachitei is a restaurant that has a particularly good reputation for serving the finest thick pork loin cutlets in the Ueno area, a hotbed of pork cutlets. The third generation owner, who has inherited and evolved the taste of this famous restaurant that was founded over 70 years ago, has an unusual background, including extensive experience cooking in French cuisine and abroad.

The signature dish, the pork loin cutlet set meal (1,900 yen), is made by deep-frying about 170g of pork loin that has been cut with a hidden knife in 100% lard oil. The batter is elegant in color and contains air, giving it a crispy texture. The delicious flavor of the soft pink meat is combined with the sweetness of the melting fat for an exceptional taste.

The set meal, which comes with miso soup, rice, and pickles, will be sold out once it is gone, so we recommend arriving early.

Tonpachitei

Enjoy Rakugo at the Suzumoto Engeijo Theater

Suzumoto Engeijo was established in 1857 (Ansei 4) and is the oldest surviving comedy hall in Tokyo. Its predecessor was the Gundanseki Honmokutei. When you think of a comedy hall, you may imagine rakugo, but in addition to rakugo, a wide variety of other performances are also held here, including manzai, acrobatics, paper cutting, magic, and impersonations.

The great appeal of yose, which has been popular as entertainment for the masses, is that it can be enjoyed in a relaxed and casual manner. Tickets are sold on the day and seats are unreserved, so you can come whenever you like and sit wherever you like. Eating and drinking are free inside the theater, and each seat has a small table, so you can spread out your lunch box and snacks. You can immerse yourself in a world of laughter in a relaxed atmosphere.

#~/ Suzumoto Engeijo

Enjoy the delicious dorayaki at "Usagiya"

Ueno's Usagiya is a name that is almost always mentioned as a famous dorayaki shop. Founded in 1913 (Taisho 2), this long-established shop sells dorayaki, monaka, seasonal Japanese sweets, and more. The dorayaki (240 yen each) are baked many times a day, and the combination of the moist, fluffy skin made with lotus honey and the moderately sweet Tokachi red bean paste is exquisite.

Rabbit and

Usagiya CAFÉ

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12 recommended places to eat while walking around Ueno and Ameyoko! You'll be completely satisfied with beloved classics and international cuisine

Ueno is a city in eastern Tokyo that is full of deep history and culture. In addition to Ueno Zoo, Japan's first zoo, famous for its giant pandas, there are many cultural facilities such as the National Museum of Nature and Science, the National Museum of Western Art, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. Ueno Station, a major terminal that has long developed as Tokyo's "northern gateway," is easily accessible and attracts tourists from all over the world.

ontrip.jal.co.jp

[Yanaka area] Recommended spots for a laid-back downtown experience

We also recommend a walk through the retro Yanaka area that spreads out to the northwest of the park. Enjoy lunch at a long-established coffee shop in this tranquil town packed with temples and houses. As it is located near the Tokyo University of the Arts, it is also home to many charming small art spots, including galleries and mansion museums. Be sure to also stroll through the nostalgic shopping street near Nippori Station.

Immerse yourself in the Showa era atmosphere and aroma of coffee at "Kayaba Coffee"

Kayaba Coffee is a traditional Yanaka cafe that retains the atmosphere of the good old days. It is a long-established coffee shop that was founded in 1938 (Showa 13) and was loved by locals, but after nearly 70 years of business, it closed down due to the death of the owner.

However, thanks to the support of people who missed the restaurant, it reopened in 2009. It retains the same furniture, such as the counter and leather chairs, as well as the same menu, and even today it welcomes people as a place of relaxation in Yanaka.

The shop's most popular menu item is the egg sandwich (550 yen), which has been popular since before its revival. The sweet, thick omelet sandwiched between fluffy bread and mustard mayonnaise go perfectly together.

Kayaba Coffee

The Himalayan cedar is the symbol of Yanaka

The Himalayan cedar, standing at a three-way intersection in an area packed with temples, is a symbol of Yanaka. It stands majestically at about 20m tall, but what's surprising is that it was originally a potted plant. A small sapling planted by the Mikado Bakery next door has grown to this size over the years. Part of the trunk fell in a typhoon in 2019 and the tree was cut down, but it is still a beloved landmark (the photo was taken before it was cut down).

Himalayan Cedar

"SKY the Bathhouse" - a public bathhouse transformed into a gallery

With its imposing, traditional tiled roof, the building looks just like a public bath, but in fact, SCAI THE BATHHOUSE is a gallery space. It was renovated from the 200-year-old public bathhouse, Kashiwa-yu, and opened in 1993 as a gallery specializing in contemporary art.

In stark contrast to the retro exterior, the interior of the space is a neutral space with mortar floors and white walls. Natural light pours in from the high ceilings, gently enveloping the artworks. The gallery is dedicated to introducing cutting-edge Japanese art and excellent overseas works that are not yet known in Japan, and hosts many interesting special exhibitions.

SCAI THE BATHHOUSE

Be amazed by the realistic artworks at the Asakura Museum of Sculpture

The Yanaka area itself has been awarded two stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan, and the Asakura Museum of Sculpture has also been awarded two stars.

The building that was the home and studio of Asakura Fumio, one of Japan's leading modern sculptors, has been opened to the public as a museum. His works are on display, including his signature piece "Gravekeeper." Asakura was a cat lover and left behind many works depicting cats, so it is a must-see for cat lovers.

Besides his artwork, there is plenty to see here, including buildings designed by Asakura himself, a cloister-style courtyard, and a rooftop garden planted with olive trees. The entire site, known as the "Former Asakura Fumio Garden," has been designated a national place of scenic beauty.

Asakura Museum of Sculpture

Stroll along the Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street and admire the cats

Yanaka is known as a "cat mecca" because cats can be seen all over town. When you walk through the shopping streets full of old-fashioned charm, you can feel the love of cats in the town, as you can see cat figurines on the roofs and items with cat motifs for sale.

There are also cat-themed gourmet foods, such as donuts shaped like cat tails and "Fukunyan-yaki," a type of taiyaki, which are popular snacks to eat on the go.

At the eastern entrance of the shopping street that runs from east to west, there is a gentle slope named "Yuyake Dandan." It was named after the beautiful view of the shopping street from the top of the stairs at dusk.

Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street

Ueno offers a wide variety of ways to enjoy yourself, from cultural spots to entertainment spots, making it a great place for tourists in Tokyo, as well as a great place for people living nearby to spend their holidays. In addition to the ones introduced here, there are many more wonderful sightseeing spots and gourmet spots. We encourage you to explore them for yourself.

*Some content was updated on May 1, 2020 and January 10, 2023.