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Ueno has been attracting crowds for centuries, and even today, it is one of Tokyo’s liveliest cultural hubs. It’s where grand museums meet street-level (organized) chaos, where families picnic under cherry trees during sakura season and vendors in Ameyoko hawk everything from spices to sneakers, and bonito flakes to luxury bags. The area is known for its huge variety of family-friendly activities and boasts tourist spots galore. While the whole experience can be a bit overwhelming, especially on a short vacation, we've narrowed it down to the must-see and must-do options for Ueno. Read on. 1. Take a breather in Ueno Park Ueno Park is one of Tokyo's most iconic parks. It's also one of its oldest. It was opened in 1873 on the former grounds of Kanei-ji Temple. The land itself has seen plenty: Kanei-ji was built in 1625 to guard Edo Castle’s unlucky northeast, much of it was destroyed in the Battle of Ueno in 1868, and a few relics, like the five-storey pagoda and Kiyomizu Kannondō, still stand among the trees. These days, it’s where the city goes to stretch its legs. Come spring, the park’s cherry trees explode into gentle pink, marking the start of the Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival. In summer, it’s all about open-air performances, food stalls, and weekend festivals. In winter, meanwhile, the Ueno Christmas Market draws visitors from across town. 2. See it all at Ueno's many (!) museums You didn’t come all this way to queue behind school groups or squint at wall labels, but hear us out: Ueno’s museums are some of the country’s most expertly curated. Ueno Park is packed with top-tier museums, including the Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum of Western Art (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, and the National Science Museum. Each offers something different: from Van Gogh and Gauguin at the Metropolitan to global artifacts at the National Museum, traditional masterpieces at the Western Art Museum, and interactive exhibits for kids at the Science Museum. You could easily spend a whole day museum-hopping here, so check current exhibitions, discounts, and free admission days before you go. Pro tip: Consider getting the Grutt Pass for . It's a discount booklet that gets you into 101 museums and attractions for free or at a drastically discounted price. Also, keep an eye out for evenings when some museums stay open late. 3. Peek at Shinobazu Pond Once part of the vast moat system surrounding Edo Castle, Shinobazu Pond is modeled after Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake. It became a beloved leisure spot in the Edo period. Believe it or not, it was once lined with deaichaya, discreet teahouses where lovers met in secret. Shinobazu is at its most stunning in late July and August when thousands of lotus flowers bloom. The best time to see them is early in the morning, as the petals close by the late afternoon. However, if you happen to be there a little out of season, it's still worth a visit to take in the vast carpet of broad green leaves and strangely beautiful seed pods. Leave your trypophobic friends at home for the latter, though. 4. Tick off a shrine classic at Ueno Tōshō-gū What is a day in Ueno without a visit to its eponymous shrine? Ueno Tōshō-gū was built in 1627 and dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu. He formed the foundation of rule that would later become the Edo period. The shrine itself is very beautiful and especially shiny, as it is covered in gold. Despite its age, the shrine has been taken care of and doesn’t look a day over 100. Entering the outer shrine is free, but for a more memorable experience, you may want to check out the inner shine and peony flower garden. The fee for the peony garden is , while both the garden and shrine visits costs . The pink flowers are very beautiful when in bloom from New Year's Day through mid-February and mid-April through mid-May. Plus, a stroll along the inner wall of the shrine allows you to see all of the intricate work done on its exterior, so seeing both is recommended. 5. Snag some deals at Ameya-Yokochō Ameya-Yokochō is a street so sweet it has candy in its name. The market street is named for its history of candy shops (and possibly its American connection), but now there is much more to be seen -- and bought. Fresh seafood, clothing, beauty products, military fashion and international groceries -- it's a handy spot whether you're traveling or staying in Tokyo longer term. For a true Ueno experience, you'll want to sharpen your bargaining skills in advance -- it is one of the few places in Japan where haggling is not entirely frowned upon (within reason). Matcha shops There are two tea shops in the area we recommend for matcha and more: Kiminoen and Sankō-en. Kiminoen is located right at the entrance to Ameyoko and carries a wide variety of tea and teaware, as well as a very tasty matcha ice cream. Sankō-en is a bit further in, and in addition to the usual green teas and matcha, they also have Japanese black tea, seaweed, and made-in-Japan tea strainers that swap plastic for bamboo handles. 6. Browse handmade crafts from across Japan at 2k540 Aki-Oka Artisan You can hardly go wrong when souvenir shopping in Japan, but 2k540 Aki-Oka Artisan takes things up a notch. Tucked beneath the JR tracks between Akihabara and Okachimachi -- hence the slightly cryptic name -- this understated craft hub is the perfect antidote to the "I love Tokyo" T-shirts and mass-produced trinkets you’ll see elsewhere. A carefully curated selection of boutiques showcase the work of artisans from across the country. A few of our favorite buys here include hand-dyed tenugui, Tokyo-made umbrellas (including higasa designed for sunny days), and silk and cotton scarves utilizing techniques ranging from Aizome natural indigo-dyeing to Nishijin weaving. Many shops double as studios, so you can watch makers at work, chat with them about their craft, or even join a workshop. Some stores can help out with repairs, too. For instance, we took our old leather bag to Nakazawa Kaban, one of a handful of leather good stores at at 2k540 Aki-Oka Artisan, and they were happy to give it some much-needed TLC even though it wasn't purchased from them originally. We love to see it. 7. Pick up 350-year-old pickles Fancy some many centuries-old pickles? Shuetsu is a famous tsukemono shop that's been operating in the area for 350 years. This shop is apparently the birthplace of the vibrant reddish orange pickles you'll often see served with Japanese curry and rice -- lending a bit of crunch and acidity -- known as fukujinzuke. But even if you're not into the coral-hued pickles, Shuetsu has a variety of fine foods on offer. On our visit, we snagged some yuzu-flavored daikon batons and pickled Japanese scallions. They're sealed airtight and already fermented with plenty of probiotic bacteria, so you generally don't have to worry about spoilage on the flight back home. (Just make sure to check the customs rules wherever you're heading!) 8. Dine out in Ueno's Koreatown Although Shin-Ōkubo wears the crown as Tokyo’s most popular Koreatown in recent years, Ueno's Koreatown is older and more hidden away. Just a three-minute walk east of Ueno Station, a cluster of Korean restaurants and shops has been part of the neighborhood fabric for decades. Many of these businesses trace their roots back to the mid-20th century, when waves of Korean migrants settled in Ueno after the Second World War, drawn by the area’s affordable housing and proximity to major markets. So if you've got a hankering for sizzling samgyeopsal or genuinely spicy kimchi-- none of that amakara nonsense from the supermarket -- head here. 9. Explore all nine floors of the Marui Department Store The Marui Department Store is located conveniently across the street from JR Ueno Station. With air-conditioned, well-lit floors, this is the perfect place to go to escape the heat in summer or the cold in winter. There are gems to be unearthed in this nine-story building. The first floor has cosmetics and features a Lush and Skin Food, two popular brands in Tokyo. There are also two different home goods stores, Nitori on the top floor and Muji on the bottom. For all furnishing and decorating needs, these powerhouses have got your back. With several different restaurants and a specialty-goods grocery store, this place is shoppers' paradise. On the basement floor there is a Baskin Robins where folks can be found taking a break with a scoop. Pro tip: Check out our guide to the underground food halls known as depachika to be tempted in. 10. Wander through winding Yanaka A cat haven with picture-perfect streets, ancient trees and cemetery paths lines with cherry blossom, Yanaka is not far from Ueno, but somehow remains relatively off-the-beaten-path. Located just north of Ueno Park, it's a small pocket of old-town Tokyo and forms one third of an area known as "Yanesen" along with Nezu and Sendagi. It's held onto its wooden houses, temples and narrow streets but also evolved with the times. You'll now find Instagram-friendly coffee shops and trendy standing bars pouring craft beers from Japan and around the world. 11. Stroll Yanaka Ginza Stroll down Yanaka Ginza, a nostalgic shotengai. Here, you can browse a mix of shops selling traditional snacks, wooden cutlery, Japanese tea and more. One local specialty is the adorable paw-shaped cake for a few hundred yen available at Yanaka Shippoya. As you wander, look out for the stone steps at the western end of the street, a backdrop you might recognise from countless TV dramas and manga. 12. Discover Ueno Sakuragi Atari Walk around 15 minutes from Yanaka Ginza and you'll stumble upon Ueno Sakuragi Atari, a trio of restored wooden buildings dating back to the Shōwa era. This isn't a hidden gem in the strict sense, but, like 2k540 Aki-Oka Artisan, you can shelter from the crowds here and take a moment to breathe. Sip a pint at Yanaka Beer Hall, or pick up freshly baked anpan and other classic breads at Kayaba Bakery, best enjoyed at one of the courtyard tables beneath the eaves. Next door, OshiOlive stocks olive oils, salts, and vinegars from around the world, with tasting flights and intriguing drinks. 13. Café-hop around Kuramae Don't ask us why most cafés don’t bother rolling up the shutters before noon. Nevertheless, Tokyo takes its coffee seriously. And that devotion is evident in Kuramae, a onetime industrial backwater that's now more readily associated with coffee beans and advanced brewing equipment than heavy machinery. And when you’ve had your fill of caffeine, wander towards the Tokyo Riverside Distillery. This spot makes small-batch gins using upcycled ingredients. They even have an unusual way to help you choose: staff spray each gin onto a small aroma stone, so you can inhale the character of each blend before you decide. Frequently asked questions Is it worth going to Ueno? Yes, of course. Although you may be put off by the crowds, Ueno is home to museums, cafés, shrines, and shops that have lasted centuries -- and you won't regret wading through its busy streets. You could easily spend several days just exploring Ueno and the surrounding areas, and getting lost in the alleyways and side streets. And if you have time to do so, it's worth it. Is there anything to do in Ueno? There's plenty. In fact, you could spend days on end in Ueno and still not run out of activities. Some of our top picks include checking out a museum, strolling thorugh the park (in the right season), and having a leisurely time at Yanaka Ginza. Ueno is a good place to experience a retro vibe, without any of the inconvenience. While we do our best to ensure it's correct, information is subject to change. This post was first published in July 2017 by Samantha Cubbison. Last updated in October 2025 by Aarohi Narain.

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