If you want to get a feel for old Tokyo, Ueno (
Understand
editTourist office
edit- Tokyo Tourist Information Center Keisei Ueno Branch, in the Keisei train station outside the ticket gates, ☏ +81 3-3836-3471, fax: +81 3-3836-3472. Daily 09:30-18:30. A good source of tourist information, this office is geared for foreign visitors, so all materials are in languages other than Japanese and all staff speak English.
Get in
editUeno Station (
Tokyo Metro's Hibiya and Ginza subway lines (stations H-17 and G-16) underpin both stations, with direct connecting passages to each.
Stations around Okachimachi (
See
editUeno Park (
Tokyo National Museum
edit1 Tokyo National Museum (
A gigantic complex that houses almost 100,000 art objects covering Japanese history from the Jomon period to the 20th century. Some descriptions are in English. Admission includes access to the following buildings:
- Honkan is the main museum which is notable for the breadth of its displays. It displays works of artistic and historical value, including Buddhist statues, calligraphy, tea ceremony art, swords and armor, folding screen artwork, noh and kabuki-related items, and ukiyo-e woodblock prints.
- Heiseikan is an archaeological museum which displays excavated items, such as pottery and burial statues from early periods. Heiseikan also houses special exhibitions.
- Toyokan exhibits art from east Asia, India and Egypt.
- The Gallery of Horyuji Treasures houses art donated by Horyuji temple (near Nara) in 1878. The modern museum building, designed in 1999 by Yoshio Taniguchi, is worth a visit for its own architectural merits.
Museums
edit- 2 National Museum of Western Art (
国立 西洋 美術館 , Kokuritsu Seiyō Bijutsukan). Daily 09:30-17:00. Houses an extensive collection of Western art, including the original of Rodin's famous The Thinker. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage as part of "The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement". Entry ¥420; free admission on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month. - 3 National Museum of Nature and Science (
国立 科学 博物館 Kokuritsu kagaku hakubutsukan). It focuses on the living world, with life-sized representations of practically every life form the earth has ever seen, from 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. In a new building since 2012. There are two galleries in adjacent buildings, the Global gallery and the Japan gallery. A lot of the global stuff you can see in other countries so you might want to prioritize the Japan gallery. The English-language written descriptions of exhibits are very brief, so it's well worth hiring an English audio guide. - 4 Shitamachi Museum (
下町 風俗 資料 館 ) (near the southeast corner of Shinobazu Pond, in Ueno Park). A small museum that offers a glimpse into life in the area in the early 20th century, with re-created houses and stores, and cultural artifacts. Closed for renovation until March 2025.
Other
edit- 5 Saigō Takamori Statue (
西郷 隆盛 像 ). Near the main entrance to the park from JR station stands an unassuming statue of a pudgy man walking his dog. This is Saigō Takamori, a famous samurai general best known for leading the doomed Satsuma Rebellion against the Meiji government (and the inspiration for Hollywood blockbuster The Last Samurai). These days, it's the canonical place for meeting people at the park. - 6 Ueno Zoo (
上野動物園 ). Tu-Su 09:30-17:00 (last entry 16:00). Has over 300 animals. Most Japanese people come here to see the two pandas Lili and Shinshin. There was much excitment in 2012 after the birth of a baby panda at the zoo but he died a few days after birth. ¥600. - 7 Shinobazu Pond (
不 忍 池 Shinobazu-ike), adjacent to Ueno Park. Full of water lilies and waterfowl and has the picturesque little Bentendō Hall shrine, dedicated to the goddess Benzaiten, in the middle. - 8 Former Iwasaki Family House and garden (
旧 岩崎 邸 庭園 , Kyū-Iwasaki-tei Teien), 1-3-45, Ikenohata (on a side street between Ueno Park and Tokyo University Hospital; look for small blue directional signs). Not a major tourist attraction, but an interesting bit of history. The house was built in the Meiji era in the style of an American or British mansion. In WWII the fire raids consumed most of the houses behind the mansion, which was used by GHQ during the occupation. A few attached Japanese-style rooms remain. Sit and sip green tea. The garden--mostly lawn and trees--is of no great interest.
Do
editCity Walk
editSTART Tokyo National Museum |
END Sendagi Station |
LENGTH approx. 3 km; two hours |
The walk starts from 1 Tokyo National Museum. You can explore Yanaka's temples, galleries and old wooden buildings. Otherwise, you can follow the road north-west out of 2 Ueno-kōen until you rch Katotoi-dōri. At the corner is the 3 Shitamachi Museum Annexe, which is a preserved, century-old liquor store. Across the street is 4 Kayaba Coffee, if you need refreshment.
From here, it's a short walk to 5 SCAI the Bathhouse, an old public bathhouse that has been converted into a contemporary art gallery. Continue down to 6 Edokoro, the studio of painter Allan West, to see the ancient, thick-trunked 7 Himalayan cedar tree on the corner. Around here, there are many temples, including 8 Enju-ji, where Nichika-sama, the 'god of strong legs' in enshrined. It is popular with runners. You can visit any of the temples, but be respectful and keep your voice low.
Next, walk back towards the entrance of 9 Yanaka-reien, which is one of Tokyo's most atmospheric cemeteries, where you may find the neighbourhood's many stray cats sunning themselves. When you leave the cemetery, continue with the train tracks on your right, going up to the bridge, which overlooks the tracks. This is a favourite viewing spot for trainspotters (360° photo for this spot).
Head left and look for the sign pointing towards the 10Asakura Museum of Sculpture, Taitō, the home studio of an early-20th-century sculptor which is now a museum. Back on the main street, continue down the 11Yūyake Dandan (literally Sunset Stairs) to the classic mid-20th-century shopping street, 12Yanaka Ginza. Vendirs here sell a variety of snacks, which locals consume sitting on milk crates on the side of the road. There is also a beer stand here. To the west, you can get on the subway at Sendagi Station.
Buy
edit- 1 Ameyoko (
アメ横 ). 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. 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. Definitely a good place for souvenirs for friends back home. 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 candies (ame in Japanese) that were sold there.
Eat
editThere's plenty of cheap food to be found all around Ueno station, including a large number of food stalls near the shrine on Shinobazu Lake.
In cherry blossom season, the local favorite is grilled rice dumplings known as dango (
Budget
edit- 1 Okina An (
翁 庵 ) (two minutes from Ueno station). 11:00-20:00. One of the most authentic soba places in Tokyo. The owner keeps the place clean but has not renovated anything since the Showa era. Note the cash register from the 1960s and the museum-worth tea hearth. Try negiseiro, which is buckwheat noodles with tempura-style soup. Put the onions and some wasabi in your soup, then put a bit of soba into your soup and slurp it. When you're done, pour the sobayu into your soup and drink. ¥750. - 2 Yayoiken (やよい
軒 ), Higashi-Ueno 3-37-9 (on Asakusa-dori, 2 min from JR Ueno), ☏ +81 3-5846-6175. 07:00-23:00. Cheap and cheerful grills served on a hot teppan iron plate, with all the rice you can eat. Plastic food models plus a coupon machine with pictures make ordering easy. Morning sets from ¥350, full meals from ¥580. - 3 Juraku (じゅらく), 6-11-11, Ueno (In front of Ueno Station at Shinobazu Exit across the street), ☏ +81 3-3831-8452. 11:00-22:00. An affordable restaurant popular for families. Serves omelettes, hamburg steaks among other Western and some Japanese dishes. No credit cards accepted. around ¥1,000.
- Ueno Yabusoba (
上野 藪 そば). Another traditional soba place. Seiro for ¥740. - 4 Yoshinoya. A popular beef rice bowl chain. From ¥¥380.
Mid-range
edit- 5 Izuei (
伊豆 栄 ), 2-12-22, Ueno (2 min from Ueno Station into Ueno Park), ☏ +81 3-3831-0954. 11:00-21:30. Opened circa 1750, an authentic eel place. Lunch from ¥2,100, dinner from ¥7,300.
Splurge
edit- 6 Ueno Seiyōken (
上野 精養軒 ), in the Ueno Park grounds (1 min from Ueno Station into Ueno Park). Opened in 1877, this was one of the first Western restaurants in Japan, serving French cuisine befitting its stature. Lunch from ¥2400, dinner from ¥10,000.
Drink
editUeno is low on clubs, but heavy on traditional bars and seedier businesses.
"Without sake, what is the meaning of cherry blossoms?", proclaims a famous haiku poem. The profound truths contained within are experimentally tested every spring, when more or less all of Ueno Park disappears under a sea of blue tarps, picnicking secretaries and sozzled salarymen.
- Tōrindō (
桃 林堂 ), Ueno-sakuragi 1-5-7. 09:00-17:00. A little off the beaten track but just a short walk from the Tokyo National Museum, this traditional shop serves tea ceremony tea (¥450) without the ritualized fuss and delectable Japanese desserts (from ¥150) to go with them. - Tasuichi (plus one). Down the street from the 0101(Marui) department store is an extremely small but very friendly stand-up bar. They serve good food, have cheap drinks, speak some English, and are very friendly to foreigners. A great place to go if you are traveling by yourself, know some very basic Japanese and want to make friends with a local or two, but this is not a club. The surrounding area is filled with similar places.
- The Warrior Celt (550 m south of Ueno station, past Marui dept.store), 3rd floor, Ito Bld, 6-9-22 Ueno, ☏ +81 3-3836-8588. Known locally as the hangout for a few good beers in a typical Irish pub atmosphere. Expat crowd as well as Japanese drinkers. Say you found the place off Wikivoyage for a little something special. ¥600-1000.
Sleep
editOnly hotels within walking distance of Ueno Station are listed here. See Taito for a listing of hotels elsewhere in the district.
- 1 Sutton Place Hotel (サットンプレイスホテル), 7-8-23, Ueno, Taito-ku (from JR Ueno station, Iriya exit, cross the street to Iwakura High School; continue to the end of that block; turn left at the next traffic light; hotel is on the left; 2 min walk total), ☏ +81 3 3842-2411, fax: +81 3 3842-2414. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Mid-range hotel, in the R-Hotels Group. Rooms have en-suite toilet. Staff speaks English. Breakfast included. Free internet access in the lobby. The hotel is in a quiet street in Ueno, 2 minutes walking from JR Ueno Station and 5 minutes walking from subway Ueno Station. From Keisei Ueno, terminating station of the Skyliner from Narita Airport, the walk is about 10 minutes. ¥7000.
- 2 Kinuya Hotel (きぬやホテル), 2-14-28 Ueno, Taito-ku (3 minutes walk from JR Ueno Shinobazu exit). A great hotel for backpackers, staff can speak English. Two PCs with internet access are available at the lobby. Singles for ¥7400.
- 3 Mitsui Garden Hotel Ueno (
三井 ガーデンホテル上野 ), 3-19-7 HigashiUeno (2 minutes walk from the Asakusa Exit of JR Ueno Station), ☏ +81 3-3839-1131. ¥16,800 twin room per night. - 4 Hotel Coco Grand Ueno Shinobazu (ホテル ココ・グラン
上野 不 忍 ), 2-12-14 Ueno Taito, ☏ +81 3-5812-1155. - 5 Ueno Hotel, ☏ +81 3-6231-7610. 8-minute walk from Ueno Station.
Connect
editFree Wifi
edit- Taito Free Wi-Fi, ☏ +81 570-015-152. The Wifi Serviced Taitō ward.
Stay safe
editUeno is home to one of Tokyo's major red light areas and thus has a somewhat more sketchy atmosphere than most of the city. Compared to similar areas in most countries, however, it is very safe and you are unlikely to run into trouble. Do be careful of hawkers trying to pull you into a bar, though, as this is likely to be a snack which will charge an extortionate seating fee.
African scammers are known to operate in market areas and try to push their merchandise (usually overpriced, low quality, stolen or counterfeit) on foreigners. While usually not violent, these African scammers usually have connections with organized crime and best to be avoided and ignored. Ueno is also known for being frequented by fake Buddhist monks. They will give you a trinket and then a piece of paper saying it is the treasure of their temple and they would like a donation to rebuild said temple. This is a lie, they are known to be an organized begging gang with no religious affiliation who specifically target obvious foreigners.
Go next
edit- Akihabara — the hub for geek culture is two stops away by JR Yamanote Line
- Asakusa — Tokyo's top temples are two stops away by Metro Ginza Line
- Bunkyo — University of Tokyo and a slice of Old Tokyo are within strolling distance of Ueno Park
Routes through Ueno |
Sendai ← Utsunomiya ← Ōmiya ← | N S | → Tokyo |
Mito ← Tsuchiura ← Kashiwa ← | N S | → END |
Ikebukuro ← Sugamo ← Tabata ← | N S | → Akihabara → Tokyo → Shinbashi |
Urawa ← Kawaguchi ← Akabane ← | N S | → Shinagawa → Oimachi → Kamata → Tsurumi |
END ← | W E | → Aoto → Keisei Funabashi → Narita |
Akasaka Mitsuke ← Ginza ← Nihonbashi ← | S E | → Asakusa |
Kasukabe ← into ← Kitasenjyu ← | N S | → Akihabara → Tsukiji → Roppongi |
Shinjuku ← Kasuga ← | W E | → Ryogoku → Kiyosumi Shirakawa |
END ← | N S | → Honcho → into → Ginza |