Ueno Park

Ueno Park is a large public park next to Ueno Station in central Tokyo. The park grounds were originally part of Kaneiji Temple, which used to be one of the city's largest and wealthiest temples and a family temple of the ruling Tokugawa clan during the Edo Period. Kaneiji stood in the northeast of the capital to protect the city from evil, much like Enryakuji Temple in Kyoto.

During the Boshin Civil War, which followed the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Kaneiji suffered nearly complete destruction in a battle between the victorious forces of the new Meiji government and loyalists of the overthrown shogunate. After the battle, the temple grounds were converted into one of Japan's first Western-style parks and opened to the public in 1873. A statue of Saigo Takamori, one of the generals in the Battle of Ueno, stands near the park's southern entrance.

Ueno Zoo is Japan's most famous zoo. Located inside Ueno Onshi Park (or Ueno Park for short) there is no place quite like here for seeing different kinds of wildlife up close. As much as 2,500 animals of approximately 350 different species inhabit this zoo, including three of the world’s rarest animals, such as the Giant Panda, Okapi, and the Pygmy Hippo. I will now show you the best way to navigate the zoo, from the top highlights to the smallest details.

There are many train lines that lead to the Ueno Station, including JR Lines, Tokyo Metro, and the Keisei Line.The Ueno Zoo is open from 9:30AM to 5:00PM (with entry until 4:00 PM). Please note that the park is closed on Monday. Admission is 600 yen (tax included).