Visit Tokyo

You’ve probably already noticed that this park is full of treasures, as it retraces the city’s historic events and traditions. Yet, did you know about its history? Let’s take a step back into Tokyo’s past to understand why it inspires millions of visitors Read more

Here stands a monument honoring Doctor Wani, a scholar said to have come from Korea to introduce Confucianism in Japan. Whether that’s the truth or not, it’s up to you to decide because this story is only one version of history, and to this Read more

If there’s one statue in Ueno Park you simply cannot miss, it’s this one. Sitting proudly atop his noble steed, this man has played such a crucial role in Japan’s history that he now overlooks one of Tokyo’s most iconic parks. Elevated high above Read more

In front of you stands a Shinto shrine, known as Ueno Tōshō-gū. Know that Tōshō was the posthumous name given to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the very first shogun of Tokugawa shogunate—the ruling dynasty that governed Japan from 1603 to 1868. Read more

Welcome to the oldest zoo in Japan, home to hundreds of animal species from across the globe. Let’s be honest—the real stars here are Ri Ri and Shin Shin, the two pandas who have lived here since 2011, along with their adorable cub born in Read more

To your left stands an elegant Western building—the Sogakudo Concert Hall, the oldest of this type in Japan. When it first opened in 1890, it belonged to the Tokyo School of Music, then later served for the city's University of the Arts until the Read more

Far more modern than the other landmarks in Ueno Park, this building is none other than the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum—the first public art museum ever established in Japan. Opened in 1926, its mission was to make art accessible to Read more

Welcome to the Tokyo University of the Arts—the most prestigious art school in the country, as well as being the oldest. As we walk in the heart of this vast campus, let me tell you about this school’s history. The university was officially founded Read more

This one is quite different from the rest, as we are visiting one of Tokyo’s most remarkable cemeteries—not only for its beauty, but also for its historical significance. Many key figures from the Meiji era lie here—painters, sculptors, and statesmen Read more

As we've already mentioned, Ueno Park was once a major Buddhist complex. Most buildings were destroyed in the 1870s when the Tokugawa shogunate fell and the Meiji era began. However, those which remain echo its historic past, which Read more

Welcome to the building that’s home to Japan’s largest collection of art and archaeological treasures! Founded in 1872, this is also the oldest museum in the country. A vast collection of over 3 000 works spread across five different wings, this Read more

While Ueno Park offers a breath of fresh air in the heart of one of the most densely populated cities on Earth, it’s also a cultural treasure trove as it’s home to some of Tokyo’s finest museums. Here, rising proudly before you, is the National Read more

For those who may not have connected with Japanese art just yet, here’s a museum for those who love France! Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, and Picasso adorn the walls of this remarkable building designed by none other than Le Corbusier. Read more

This is the most recent museum in Ueno Park as it opened its doors in 1972, yet it’s also the only private museum in the park, managed by the Japan Art Association, which is the oldest art institution in the country. Instead of exhibiting a Read more

In front of you stands the Shitamachi Museum, devoted to the arts and traditions of Tokyo. Visiting this museum is like stepping into another era—particularly the Edo period, a defining chapter of the city’s development from 1603 to 1868. Read more

You are now standing before Shinobazu Pond, and more precisely, in one of its most enchanting spots—the lotus garden. Each summer, lotus leaves and blossoms come to life to occupy this vast surface, forming one of the largest lotus collections Read more