Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights
1
Ueno-kōen
PARK
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
Not a park in the grassy Western sense, Ueno-koen has pathways that wind past
temples and shrines, several museums and a pond, Shinobazu-ike, choked with
lily-pads. On weekends look for buskers, acrobats and food vendors. Navigating
the park is easy, thanks to large maps in Japanese and English.
(
5am-11pm;
JR
Yamanote Line to Ueno, Ueno-kōen & Shinobazu exits)
Take a Break Stop for a coffee at
Parkside Cafe
(
Click here
)
.
Understand
Ueno-kōen
Established in 1873, Ueno-kōen is known as Japan's first public park (in the Western
sense), but it's much older than that. Structures here date as far back as the 17th
century. There's a Kiyōmizu Kannon-dō (
Click here
) modelled after the landmark
temple in Kyoto and a
Tōshōgū
(Shintō shrine) similar to the shrine in Nikkō (under
reconstruction until January 2014).
Shinobazu-ike
(pond), where couples now
paddle swan-shaped boats, was likened to the country's central Lake Biwa and
Ueno-kōen was billed as a mini-Japan - a sort of prototypical Disney World. During
the Edo period, when travel was heavily restricted, Tokyoites could 'see' the country
without having to leave home. The park's reputation as the most famous
hanami
(cherry-blossom viewing) spot in the city dates to this era.
2
Kiyōmizu Kannon-dō
BUDDHIST TEMPLE
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
