Ueno
Overview
Highlights around Ueno
Ameya-Yokocho Shopping Streets
A busy shopping street area stretching between Okachimachi and Ueno Stations, including under the train tracks. The two streets - Ameyoko and Uechun - have distinct atmospheres, and offer hundreds of various stores to explore.
Kaneiji Temple
Dating back to 1625, Keneiji was once a large temple, and one of the most powerful in Japan due to strong ties to the family of the Tokugawa shogunate. However, a key event towards the end of the shogunate meant its lands were seized by the new government, leaving Kaneiji a shadow of its former self.
The National Museum of Western Art
The premier public art gallery in Japan, NMWA holds a variety of works from the Western tradition, along special exhibitions that change throughout the year.
The Ueno Royal Museum
The Ueno Royal Museum - also known as the Ueno Mori Museum - is a private art museum exclusively showcasing special exhibitions.
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
Specialising in both local and international modern and contemporary art, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum spans 6 galleries. The museum often features special exhibitions which vary every few months.
Tokyo National Museum
The main building (Honkan) houses the Japanese Gallery at the TNM. 24 exhibition rooms house sculpture, lacquerware, metalwork, swords, modern art and traditional Ainu and Okinawan culture, spanning from the prehistoric to the Edo era.
Ueno Park
One of Tokyo’s largest public parks, built on the land once occupied by one of Tokyo’s largest and wealthiest temples. A busy public space with many museums, art galleries, shrines and temples, plus the Ueno Zoo. One of the most popular spots in Tokyo for cherry-blossom viewing.
Ueno Shitamachi Museum
A museum dedicated to the 19th century history of the working-class Shitamachi (“low city”) district. Has a number of displays recreating different homes from between around 1860 to 1920.
Ueno Toshogu Shrine
Established in around 1627, Ueno’s Toshogu Shrine is dedicated to three of the Tokugawa shoguns, and is a great example of Shinto architecture from the Edo Period. The stunning Chinese-style karamon gate features many ornate carvings and gold foil covering.