- Location: Tokyo, Taito
- Foundation date: 1873 year
- Area: 53.8 thousand hectares
One of the most popular places in Tokyo and the most visited tourist object of Japan is Ueno Park. This piece of nature in the middle of a huge metropolis carefully preserves the best traditions of the Land of the Rising Sun.
general information
Ueno Park was founded in 1873, now occupies an area of more than 50 thousand hectares. The literal translation of the name sounds like an "upper field" or "elevation", since most of it is located on a hill. At the time of the founding of the ruler of Japan, Ieyasu Tokugawa appreciated the hill that covered his palace from the north-eastern side. It was from there, according to Buddhists, evil spirits appeared, and the hill served as a kind of obstacle in their way.
In 1890, the imperial family declared Ueno Park its own property, but already in 1924 it again became a city facility open to general attendance.
Park structure
On the vast territory of Ueno Park is the oldest zoo in Tokyo - The Ueno Zoo, founded in 1882. The zoo has more than 400 species of animals, the total number of which is over 2,5 thousand. Among the animals you can find gorillas, foxes, lions, tigers, giraffes, etc. But the Japanese have a special love for the family of pandas, whose lives are regularly covered in local media. The territory of the zoo is divided into 2 parts by a monorail, on which, if desired, you can make an excursion between the enclosures. The zoo works on all days except Monday and national holidays in Japan .
The Ueno park includes many museums, the most interesting of which are:
- The National Museum of Tokyo is the first museum of the city, founded in 1871. There are a lot of exhibits from Japan and other countries, among which special attention deserves scrolls with hieroglyphics, swords of famous masters, ancient treasures of the temple of Horyu-ji ;
- Tokyo City Art Museum - paintings of such artists as Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh and, of course, works of local masters are collected here;
- The National Museum of Science - its exhibits will help to trace the history of the development of astronomy and oceanography;
- The Museum of Sitamati - will acquaint you with the life of merchants and artisans of the old Tokyo.
Ueno Park is a kind of a corner of religion, as many churches are built on its territory, the number of pilgrims in it is increasing every year:
- Kaneyji is the first temple built by order of the shogun in 1625. Later, he became a burial vault for six shoguns of Japan;
- Kaneiji Kiyomizudo - a temple dedicated to the goddess Kannon. It is believed that it helps childless couples praying for addition in the family. If a couple is born a child, then a doll is brought to the altar. Every year on September 25, all donated dolls are burnt as a sacrifice to the goddess during a special ceremony;
- Bentando jinja is an exact copy of the temple on Lake Biwa . The bentando jinja is located on the small island of the Sinobadzu pond, famous for its hanging bridges, lotuses and a huge number of birds coming here;
- Ueno Toshyogu is a temple that is the national treasure of Japan. It was built in 1627 in memory of Ieyas Tokugawa, the military ruler of the country. At its entrance is an alley decorated with 250 stone lamps, which were donated to the temple by the followers of Ieyasu after his death.
How to get there?
There are several ways to get to Ueno Park. The fastest of these are the railway and the metro . In either case, you need to get to Ueno Station, then walk a little (about 5 minutes).