Ueno Park, Tokyo

Ueno Park is one of the most popular attractions in the city of Tokyo. It is criss-crossed by gravel paths. On the reed-fringed Shinobazu Pond Boats can be hired for trips around a little island with its Bentendo Temple. Hot-dog sellers advertise their wares with loudspeakers, and there are many cinemas and amusement centers in the vicinity.

It is the largest park in Tokyo (212ac; 85ha). With its zoo and aquarium it is a real park for the people, but it is also a cultural center with a number of museums, many temples, shrines and pagodas and some important public buildings.

Picture - Gulls at the pond in in Ueno park, Tokyo.

Picture - Warrior statue in Ueno, Tokyo.

View a slideshow of Ueno Park Pictures

Once part of a Daimyo's residence, the park came into the possession of the Tokugawa in the early 17th C. In 1924 it was handed over to public ownership.

In 1868 Kannei-ji, which had been built by the Tokugawa as a domestic temple, was the last stronghold of the troops remaining loyal to the Shogun. In the course of the fighting everything was destroyed except for a five-story pagoda. There is a memorial to the fallen who fought for the Emperor and a bronze statue of Saigo Takamori (1827-77), one of the leaders of the Meiji Restoration. As a general of Emperor Maiji's troops he conducted the war against Korea, but came into conflict with the central government. Consequently he became a leader of the Kagoshima Rebellion. When it was put down he committed "Seppuku"(ritual suicide) in accord with the Samurai code of honor. Nowadays he is, however, revered as a national hero. A flight of stone steps with many cherry trees on either side leads up to the memorial and inscriptions. (The cherry trees are in blossom in early April.)

On the left-hand side lies the Kiyomizu Temple, modeled on the temple of the same name in Kyoto.

Related Attractions

Tokyo National Museum

The Tokyo National Museum, located in Ueno Park, contains an impressive collection of Japanese, Chinese and Indian art.

National Museum of Western Art

The National Museum of Western Art is found in Ueno Park just three minutes' walk from Ueno Station. It was built in 1959, to plans by the famous Swiss architect Le Corbusier. The exhibits - works of French artists for the most part - come mainly from the collection made by Kojiro Matsukata during his visit to Europe early in the present C.

In the courtyard works by the French sculptor Auguste Rodin are on show, together with canvases by the Impressionists Paul Cézanne, Claude Monet, Edouard Manet and Edgar Degas. Visitors who have already visited the great art collections in either the capital cities of Europe or in the United States will not need to visit this exhibition of Western art in Tokyo, they will be disappointed, for masterpieces are not represented here.

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Ueno Park Zoo

Near the Shinobazu Pond lie the extensive grounds of the zoo; another section of it is to be found between the Toshugo Shrine and the Tokyo Arts University, and the two parts are linked by a monorail. The zoo was opened in 1882, which makes it Japan's oldest zoo. It cannot perhaps be said to come up to the highest international standards, but it has two famous pandas. These are the gift of the People's Republic of China. When from time to time one of them dies, a replacement is sent over from China as a gesture of friendship. The death of a panda is always a matter for great sadness among school children, but then there is great rejoicing when the new mascot arrives.

The Aqua-Zoo on the north shore is one of the largest aquaria in the Far East.

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Toshogu Shrine

The Toshogu Shrine is situated in the southwest portion of the Park. A pathway with 256 bronze and stone lanterns on either side leads up to it. These were the gifts of various Daimyos. The Shrine was founded in 1627 in memory of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The present buildings date back to 1651.

The most important things to see here are the richly decorated Main Shrine and the five-story pagoda of the Kannei-ji Temple. The latter was transferred here as the only building to survive the fighting which has been mentioned above. The Kara-mon Gate in front of the Main Shrine is said to have carvings by the famous sculptor Hidari Jingoro (17th C.)

Public Buildings

Of the public buildings in the Park the following are worthy of mention: Tokyo Metropolitan Festival Hall. This modern building dates from 1961; it has a large and a small auditorium (holding 2,327 and 611 spectators respectively). There are performances of operas here, as well as concerts.

The Ueno Library. This is the constituent part of the Library of Parliament and one of the longest libraries in Japan.

Kannei-ji Temple

In the north part of the Park and east of the Tokyo Arts University may be found the new Kannei-ji. As the Choraku-ji Temple it used to stand in Serada, in the Perfecture of Gumma. After the destruction of the original Kannei-ji it was transferred here in 1875 as a replacement.

Metropolitan Fine Art Gallery of Tokyo

The Metropolitan Fine Art Gallery of Tokyo has on show works by modern Japanese painters. Throughout the year there are also temporary exhibitions.

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National Science Museum

Just a few minutes' walk from Ueno Station in the east part of Ueno Park can be found the National Science Museum. There are departments for space research, atomic research, applied chemistry, architecture, electricity and transport, etc. as well as a laboratory and a work room.

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