Ueno is home to a museum-studded park, a zoo with pandas, and the most entertaining toy store in town. It’s worth checking out the blockbuster shows at the National Museum in Ueno Park, and if you want to see cherry blossom season at its most ridiculous, Ueno Park is the place to go.
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There’s a charming summer festival in July that includes a nighttime parade and floating lanterns on the Shinobazu pond. For this year’s dates, check the Tokyo Cheapo website July events page.
Open: Six days a week, closed Mondays, on the day after national holidays, and from December 29 – January 1. Open other holidays.
Hours: 9:00 – 17:00 (Last entry 16:00)
Admission: Adults: ¥600, Seniors (65 & older): ¥300, Students (13-15): ¥20, Children (0-12): Free.
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The one thing I do make a special trip all the way to Ueno for is this toy store. Now that the renovated Kiddyland in Harajuku has gone so mainstream, Yamashiro-ya is my go-to emporium for only-in-Japan toystuffs. They still sell a magnificent variety of super-realistic air guns, have a fine model selection (Gundam, anime/manga characters, etc.) and still have quirky only-in-Japan character merchandise and weird toys.
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Nearby destinations: Akihabara, Asakusa, Asakusa-bashi, Edo-Tokyo Museum, Inari-cho, Kappabashi, Mitsukoshi-mae, Nezu Shrine, Ningyo-cho
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