Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Inside Ueno-kōen, this red temple is one of Tokyo's oldest original structures: es-
tablished in 1631 and in its present position since 1698, it has survived every disas-
ter come its way. It's a miniature of the famous Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto and is a
pilgrimage site for women hoping to conceive.
( 1-29 Ueno-kōen, Taitō-ku; admission free;
9am-4pm;
JR Yamanote line to Ueno, Shinobazu exit)
3
Benten-dō
BUDDHIST TEMPLE
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
Take a stroll down the causeway in Ueno-kōen leading to the island on which
Benten-dō stands. The temple is dedicated to Benzaiten, the Buddhist goddess of
the arts, wisdom, the sea and the protector of children. From here you can also get
a good look at the birds and botany that thrive around the pond.
(
3821-4638; 2-1
Ueno-kōen, Taitō-ku; admission free;
9am-5pm;
JR Yamanote line to Ueno, Shinobazu exit)
4
Ameya-yokochō
MARKET
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
The gravelly welcome of the clothing vendors and fishmongers at this open-air
market couldn't be further from Ginza or Shibuya. Ameya-yokochō started as a
black market, post WWII, when American goods were sold here. You can still find
the jeans and Hawaiian shirts that were in vogue at the time.
( Ueno, Taitō-ku;
10am-7pm;
JR Yamanote Line to Ueno, Ueno-kōen exit)
5
Shitamachi Museum
MUSEUM
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
This museum re-creates life in the plebeian quarters of Tokyo during the Meiji and
Taishō periods (1868-1926) through an exhibition of typical wooden buildings
from that era. Take off your shoes and look inside an old tenement house or sweet
shop while soaking up the atmosphere of long-gone
shitamachi
(the low-lying, less
affluent parts of Tokyo). Ask for an English-language leaflet; English speaking
guides are available, too.
(
3823-7451;
www.taitocity.net/taito/shitamachi
; 2-1 Ueno-kōen,
