Ueno / Asakusa / Ryogoku

Top Things to do

• Ueno-onshi-koen Park

  4.5

  5173 Reviews

  Tokyo Taitou-ku Uenokouen - Ikenohata 3

  This public park in Taito City is also called Ueno Park or Ueno Forest. In the Edo period this park was the premises of Toeizan Kaneiji Temple. The park has been selected as one of the 100 best places to see Japanese cherry blossoms, and in spring a large crowd turns out for hanami parties. Inside the park is the famous statue of Saigo Takamori, as well as cultural facilities such as the Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum of Nature and Science, the National Museum of Western Art, and the Ueno Zoo.

• Ueno Zoo

  4.0

  3001 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.

• Ameyoko Shopping Street (Ameyoko)

  4.0

  2703 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.

• Tokyo National Museum

  4.5

  2162 Reviews

  Tokyo Taitou-ku Uenokouen 13-9

  This is a national museum located within Ueno-onshi-koen Park that was established in 1872. Five buildings including the main building serve as exhibit halls, although it has several other facilities such as archives. With an enormous number of collections, it has accumulated over 116,000 items of Oriental art and ancient relics, mostly from Japan. A great number of National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties are also included inside. The museum also holds special exhibitions that run three to five times a year.

• Asakusa Shrine

  4.5

  1313 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.

• National Museum of Nature and Science

  4.5

  1216 Reviews

  Tokyo Taitou-ku Uenokouen 7-20

  Established in 1877, this is Japan’s largest general science museum. The permanent exhibitions include the Global Gallery, which focuses on the history of life on earth and traces the progress of humankind as well as science and technology, the Japan Gallery, which details Japan’s nature and the history of the Japanese people, and Theater 360, which screens films that can be seen in all directions, 360 degrees around. Special exhibitions are held several times throughout the year, and it is a very popular spot with many people lining up to visit the museum even on holidays.

• Taito City Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center

  4.5

  947 Reviews

  Tokyo Taitou-ku Kaminarimon 2-18-9

  This Tourist Information Center located at Tokyo Taito City’s Kaminarimon provides helpful information and services to tourists visiting Taito City. One characteristic is the building exterior that stands out for its appearance like bungalows stacked on top of each other. In addition to an information counter with support available in Japanese, English, Korean and Chinese, a place to change foreign currencies, and a sightseeing information corner, there are also a free PC, free WiFi, and a multipurpose space available. At the free observation terrace on the eighth floor, visitors can take in a view of Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree.

• Ryogoku Kokugikan

  4.5

  804 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.

• The National Museum of Western Art

  4.5

  891 Reviews

  Tokyo Taitou-ku Uenokouen 7-7

  This art museum located within Ueno Onshi Koen (Ueno Park) in Tokyo’s Taito City is dedicated to collecting and displaying Western art. The main building itself is one attraction, having been designed by French architect Le Corbusier and registered as World Cultural Heritage site in 2016. With its core Matsukata Collection, a collection of works that belonged to businessman Kojiro Matsukata and were returned by the French government, the museum regularly displays Western paintings from pre-18th century paintings to early 20th century paintings such as Monet and Renoir, as well as French contemporary sculpture. It also holds many special exhibitions.