Ueno Park

Ueno Park was designated as Japan’s first park in 1873, and is one of the largest urban parks in Japan. Its official name is “Ueno Onshi Koen.
Within the park, there are many cultural facilities such as museums and zoos.

Cultural facilities such as Ueno Zoo, Tokyo National Museum, National Museum of Western Art, National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Ueno Royal Museum, National Museum of Nature and Science, International Library of Children’s Literature, and Tokyo Bunka Kaikan are concentrated in the park.

The area is dotted with historical buildings such as the Kiyomizu Kannon Hall of Kan’eiji Temple, the five-story pagoda, the Tokugawa family mausoleum, and the Golden Hall of Ueno Toshogu Shrine.

The statue of Saigo Takamori (1827-1877) standing at the entrance of Ueno Park was erected in 1898, and was designed by Takamura Koun (1852-1934). The dog accompanying him is by Goto Sadayuki (1849 or 1850 - 1903).

Oshigaoka, which is located on a hill, has been famous since modern times for its Someiyoshino cherry trees, and has been selected as one of the 100 best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan. It is famous for the large number of visitors who come to view the cherry blossoms when they are in bloom.

Shinobazunoike Pond, located to the south of Oshigaoka, is covered with lotus flowers that cover part of the pond in summer, creating a beautiful scene of green leaves and peach-colored lotus flowers all over the pond. In winter, the pond becomes very lively with many kinds of water birds, including ducks.