Ueno Park (Ueno Koen)

The Basics

Ueno Park, in Taito district, has been a Tokyo fixture since 1873, when it was established on land previously owned by Kan'ei-Ji temple. Locals and tourists love its beautiful landscaping and wealth of museums, including the National Museum of Nature and Science, the National Museum of Western Art, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, the Shitamachi Museum, and Tokyo National Museum, the largest art museum in Japan. You’ll also find Ueno, the city’s oldest zoo, the popular Toshogu Shrine, and several concert halls here. It’s also one of the premier sites in the city to enjoy cherry-blossom-viewing season (hanami), when parties of people bring picnics to the park to see the pale pink flowers in bloom.

The park is close to many of Tokyo’s other popular attractions and can be visited as part of a guided tour of the city.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Visit the Kan'ei-Ji pagoda, which has been standing in the same spot for almost 400 years.

• The statue of samurai warrior Saigo Takamori (found outside the Tokyo National Museum) is a popular photo stop in the park.

• The Shitamachi Museum is dedicated to exploring the legacy of the city’s Shitamachi district and its residents, which historically were craftsmen, fishermen, and merchants.

How to Get There

Ueno Park is in Ueno, part of the central district of Taito. The Ueno metro station is found along the southeastern edge of the park, with connections to six different metro lines. It’s also possible to visit the park as part of a guided city tour with transport provided.

When to Get There

A public park, Ueno Park is open from 5am–11pm. The various museums and attractions have varying opening times, so check before you visit. The park is especially busy during cherry-blossom-viewing season in late March to early April.

Tokyo National Museum

One of the largest art galleries in the world, the Tokyo National Museum is home to more than 110,000 artifacts, including paintings, sculpture, and archeological finds. It is made up of six different buildings, each focused on a particular aspect of Japanese art, life, and culture. You can see many different exhibits here, from samurai armor to delicate decorative scrolls and handmade ceramics.

Ways to explore

Thanks to its high concentration of cultural attractions, Ueno Park is a fixture of Tokyo sightseeing tours. Private e-bike tours let you weave your way between the park's major attractions, while private custom itineraries allow you to explore the National Museum of Western Art and the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum at your own pace. Some food tours stop by the park to visit the street food stalls and restaurants dotted around the grounds.

Accessibility

Wide, paved paths make exploring the park itself easy in a wheelchair, although each attraction has different accessibility accommodations.

Age limits

None; the park is a great place for families to explore.

What to pack

There are water refill stations in Ueno Park, so pack a refillable bottle.

What to wear

Wear layers depending on the weather and comfortable shoes, as the park’s attractions are quite spread out.

Not allowed

Ball games, picnics in some areas during cherry blossom season

Amenities

Shops, museums, temples, restrooms, cafés

Address

Ueno Park is in Ueno, part of the central district of Taitō. It’s easy to reach by public transportation, as it’s only four stops away from the transportation hub of Tokyo Station.

Driving

From Shinjuku, enter the Shuto Expressway network, likely via the Shinjuku Route. Drive northeast toward Ueno, exiting near Taitō ward. Follow signs to Ueno Park, located next to JR Ueno. There are two parking lots for the park.

Public transportation

Ueno Park has a dedicated exit from JR Ueno station, which is served by the Yamanote, Keihin-Tohoku, Utsunomiya, Takasaki, and Joban lines. It’s also on the Ginza and Hibiya lines of the Tokyo Metro.

Best times to visit

Early morning is the ideal time for a peaceful stroll around the park. The park’s museums tend to open around 9:30am, but check opening hours before visiting.

Best days to visit

Most Tokyo museums, including the Tokyo National Museum, close on Mondays, so come on another weekday for your culture fix.

Best months to visit

Ueno Park is one of Tokyo’s best places for the cherry blossom-viewing season from late March through May.

Special events

Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival is from mid-March to early April and celebrates the powder-pink spring blooms.