Ueno Park

Ueno Park

The Tokyo audio-guided tour has you discover Ueno Park, a veritable haven of peace laden with history in the heart of the city, which combines nature, temples, statues and museums.

From a religious complex to a public park

If the park is so rich in statues, temples and pagodas, it is because it occupies the former site of Kan'ei-ji, the largest Buddhist temple of the city in the Edo period. The major part of the buildings was destroyed at the end of this period, but a few vestiges remain. Laid out over the years, the park was given to the city by the emperor in 1924. One admires there the cherry trees in spring, the lotuses of the Shinobazu Pond in summer and numerous species of birds.

What there is to see

Frequented by more than ten million walkers each year, Ueno Park combines nature and culture: zoo, lotus pond, temples and sanctuaries, and numerous museums devoted to art, history or science. It is the ideal place to escape the bustle of Tokyo and to explore, in a few hours, centuries of history and traditions.

Practical information

Ueno Park is in the heart of Tokyo. It is a public space freely accessible at all hours and on the level. Museums, zoo and temples that punctuate it follow their own hours and conditions; the cherry trees bloom in spring, the lotuses in summer.

What was there before Ueno Park?

Kan'ei-ji, the largest Buddhist temple of the city in the Edo period, of which a few vestiges remain in the park.

What can you do at Ueno Park?

Stroll between temples and statues, admire the cherry trees and the lotuses, visit the zoo and numerous museums of art, history and science.