Ueno / Asakusa / Ryogoku

Top Things to do

• Ameyoko Shopping Street (Ameyoko)

  4.0

  2734 Reviews

  Tokyo Taitou-ku Ueno 6-10-7

  Located in Tokyo’s Taito City, this is an approximately 500 meter-long market street along the Yamanote Line tracks between Okachimachi and Ueno Stations. The street is lined with all types of shops including grocery stores, clothing stores and miscellaneous good stores, and is well-known for being crammed with people buying goods for the New Year’s holidays during the year-end season.

• Ueno Zoo

  4.0

  3034 Reviews

  Tokyo Taitou-ku Uenokouen 9-83

  This urban zoo located in Taito City’s Ueno-onshi-koen Park is Japan’s oldest zoo, having opened in 1882. Inside are more than 500 types of animals, and it is most famous for giant panda in particular. The zoo is breeding and displaying the world’s three rarest animals that include the pygmy hippopotamus and okapi as well as the panda. From the 1990s the animal enclosures were refurbished to provide a space for patrons to see animals in more natural surroundings.

• Asakusa Shrine

  4.5

  1215 Reviews

  Tokyo Taitou-ku Asakusa 2-3-1

  This shrine is located next to the main hall of Senso-ji. Since it primarily enshrines the three deities Hinokuma-hamanari-no-mikoto, Hinokuma-takenari-no-mikoto, and Hajin-matsuchi-no-mikoto, it is referred to as “Sanja Gongen Shrine” and “Sanja Sama.” The hall of worship, the hall of offerings and the inner sanctuary of the current shrine, completed in 1649, have all been designated by the Japanese government as Important Cultural Properties. The Sanja Matsuri held regularly every year on the third Friday, Saturday and Sunday in May is famous for its dynamic mikoshi (portable shrine) and long procession of people.

• Tokyo Skytree (R)

  Tokyo Sumida-ku Oshiage 1-1-2

  Located in Oshiage, Sumida City, this is a 634-meter tall broadcasting tower with an observatory that became Tokyo's new symbol when it opened in 2012. There are actually two observatories, the Tembo Deck at 350 meters above ground and the Tembo Galleria that is 450 meters high. The Tembo Galleria has tube-shaped glass walls, giving you the sensation that you are strolling through the sky as you gaze out at Tokyo's daytime and night-time scenery. At the base of the tower is Tokyo Skytree Town, a facility that is more like a shopping mall with stores and restaurants.

• Ryogoku Kokugikan

  4.5

  870 Reviews

  Tokyo Sumida-ku Yokoami 1-3-28

  Called the Ryogoku Kokugikan, this is widely known as a venue for sumo competitions. It can accommodate more than 10,000 spectators and hosts various events besides sumo including pro-wrestling, boxing and concerts. Inside the venue’s shop visitors can purchase sweets and original merchandise featuring sumo motifs even when an official sumo tournament is not being held. The facility also houses the Sumo Museum where visitors can see color prints and ornamental aprons, as well as photos of past yokozuna champions.

• Kameido Tenjin Shrine

  4.0

  461 Reviews

  Tokyo Koutou-ku Kameido 3-6-1

  This shrine located in the Kameido district of Tokyo’s Koto City venerates the spirit of Sugawara no Michizane. It is also called Tozaifu Tenmangu in respect to Kyushu’s Dazaifu Tenmangu. As Michizane is a god of scholarship, the shrine is popular with students preparing for examinations in the winter. On the premises are many spots related to Michizane and Dazaifu Tenmangu such as fude-zuka (mounds built to hold a service for worn-out writing brushes) and shingyu (divine oxen). Famous for its flowers that bloom in different seasons, it has a wisteria festival from the end of April and is the best place to see wisteria in Tokyo where visitors can view the flowers all over the grounds. Along the path to the shrine from Kameido Station, the town streets overflow with the atmosphere of Tokyo’s shitamachi (working class towns).

• Daikyoji Temple (Shibamata Taishakuten)

  4.0

  482 Reviews

  Tokyo Katsushika-ku Shibamata 7-10-3

  A temple of the school of Nichiren Buddhism in Shibamata, Katsushika City, Tokyo which was founded in 1629 during the Kan-ei period. As the Taishakuten faith increased during the Edo period, it became familiarly known as “Shibamata Taishakuten” and the number of visitors to the shrine increased together with faith in Koshin, “Koshin Shinko”. It is said that Saint Nichiren carved the principal object of worship at the temple, the deity, Taishakuten. In addition to the magnificent Nitenmon Gates at the Teishakuten entrance, Tamonten (Vaisravana) (Bishamonten), Jikokuten (Dhrtarastra), Komokuten (Virupaksa) and Zochoten (Virudhaka) are also present. There are many highlights such as the gardens and the large temple reception hall which is 495 meters squared (150 tsubo -Japanese unit of land measurement). It is famous also as the temple connected with Tora san’s movie “Otoko wa Tsurai yo”.

• Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

  4.0

  540 Reviews

  Tokyo Taitou-ku Uenokouen 8-36

  Located within Ueno Onshi Koen (Ueno Park) in Tokyo’s Taito City, this is Japan’s first national art museum and opened in 1926. With a goal of serving as an entrance to art for Tokyo’s citizens, it hosts numerous exhibitions throughout the year such as special exhibitions jointly sponsored with media outlets, competitions arranged through art organizations, and collection exhibits that primarily include works of calligraphy. The facility also includes a café where guests can enjoy beverages and light meals, a restaurant that takes pride in its authentic roast beef, and a museum shop.

• Ueno Toshogu

  4.0

  517 Reviews

  Tokyo Taitou-ku Uenokouen 9-88

  This was established in 1627 to enshrine Tokugawa Ieyasu, and it also enshrines Tokugawa Yoshimune and Tokugawa Yoshinobu. The shrine is located within Ueno-onshi-koen Park and after undergoing major renovations in 1651, it escaped calamities such as wars and earthquakes that followed, and is an important spot to see authentic architecture from the Edo period. The heavily gilded and splendid main building is also known as the shrine of gold. There is a peony garden on the premises and the shrine’s “peony festival” that takes place in spring is well-known.