Source: Cristopher Gonzalez
Ueno park in Tokyo is something like central park in New York. Although it has a lot more attractions to visit – museums, temples, and a zoo. Everything listed is situated in the park. Isn’t it great? If you are going to visit Tokyo, Ueno park has to be on the top of your “must-see” list. But what actually are you going to see there? We have thought about that and prepared top 7 reasons to go to Ueno park at any season of the year.
1. National Museum of Japan, Ueno Park, Tokyo
Source: Bruno Cordioli
National Museum of Japan is the oldest and the biggest museum in Japan. If you are a “museum” type guy, this is a must-go place. It has four galleries, situated in the different buildings. The main gallery of the national museum was built in 1937 and consists of two very spacious floors with 24 exhibition galleries that include the Dawn of Japanese Art, Attire of the Military Elite, Courtly Art, Buddhist Art, Ainu and Ryukyu Art, Daily Utensils, and Modern Art
2. National Museum of Western Art, Ueno, Tokyo
Source: Guilhem Vellut
The National Museum of Western Art was established in 1959. The museum’s collection covers Western paintings from the 15th to 20th centuries with the emphasis on France and French Impressionism. If you are want to spend some romantic time with your beloved, this will be a great choice. It is an unusual, in a good sense, way to have a really great time.
Information
- Name: National Museum of Western Art, Ueno, Tokyo
- Open 9.30am – 5pm, Friday 9.30am – 8pm (Last admission 30 minutes before closing time)
- Closed: Mondays and December 28 – January 1
- Free admission to Museum Collection on the second and the fourth Saturdays of each month, and November 3.
- Address:7-7, Ueno-koen, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0007
- Tel: 03-3828-5131
3. The Ueno Royal Museum
The Ueno Royal Museum is a small building among other museums. But what is great about the place that you might be lucky to see unique and expensive exhibitions of paintings and calligraphy. It is totally worth to spend at least a half of hour to visit the place. Besides, nothing bad will happen to you and you might see the greatest art of the whole time.
Information
- Name: The Ueno Royal Museum
- Address: 1-2, Ueno-koen Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0007
- Open 10am – 5pm
- No fixed closed days. Depends on the particular exhibition.
- Tel: 03-3833-4191
4. Statue of Saigo Takamori
Source: Dick Thomas Johnson
Who isn’t familiar with this character, we will give you a hint. Saigo is a main persona in The Last Samurai movie starring Tom Cruise. The statue is really huge. Some people say that it represents Saigo’s massive physique of 180 cm (6 ft). If you want a little bit of history – here you go. Saigo Takamori, on May 5, 1868, led the imperial troops against the last of the old feudal Bakufu (i.e. Shogunate) forces and defeated them here in Ueno Park. Isn’t that an amazing story?
5. Shitamachi Museum
Source: leighklotz
Shitamachi Museum is an ideal place to visit for Japanese history lovers. Have you heard about Taisho Era? It is roughly the 1910s and 1920s. Just imagine Japan in that period of time and find some time to actually see the things from that time. The museum itself is not big, but it has enough space to fill all the things.
Information
- Name: Shitamachi Museum
- Address: 2-1, Ueno Koen, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0007
- Price: Adults: 300 yen; elementary to high school students: 100 yen.
- Open 9.30am-4.30pm (last admission 4pm). Until 5:30pm (last admission 5pm) in certain seasons.
- Closed Mondays (except when Monday is a public holiday, when it closes the next day) and December 29 – January 3.
- Tel: 03-3823-7451/7461
6. Yushima Tenjin (Tenmangu) Shrine
Source: Guilhem Vellut
Yushima Tenjin (or Yushima Tenmangu) Shrine is one of the most famous shrines in Tokyo. Moreover, if you want to make a great route of the park, you need to know that this shrine is 10 minutes away from the Shitamachi Museum. Besides, shrines are very popular in Japan, but this one is one of the most significant shrines in the whole Tokyo. So don’t miss the opportunity to take the best images with this shrine.
7. Ueno Zoo
Source: pelican
Ueno Zoo is the oldest zoo in Japan, built in 1882. As you know, Zoo is the best place to visit in a family vacation. So, don’t hesitate and take your family to this amazing place with a lot of wild animals aboard. The animals are situated in the settings, more suitable to their natural habitats. As you can see, there are plenty things to do in Ueno Park, but knowing about them and actually visiting is really a huge difference. So don’t waste your time, drag your backpack and plan the trip to Tokyo.Have a good trip and travel!
Have a good trip and travel!
