Ueno Zoological Gardens (hereafter: Ueno Zoo) is the iconic symbol of Ueno and is renowned as the place where visitors can meet the pandas. It is a fantastic spot where everyone—from families with children to couples and friends—can enjoy a relaxing stroll while taking in the rich nature of Ueno Park.

Ueno Zoo features three main entrances. In addition to the Main Gate, which is about a five-minute walk from the JR Ueno Station Park Exit, there is the Benten Gate, easily accessible from the JR Ueno Station Shinobazu Exit and Keisei Ueno Station, and the Ikenohata Gate, which is close to Nezu and Yushima. For this visit, we will start from the Main Gate and proceed through the East Garden before heading to the West Garden.

Upon passing through the Main Gate, you will immediately see the “Kyukan’ei-ji Temple Five-Story Pagoda” on your left. Originally burnt down and rebuilt in 1639, this structure is designated as an Important Cultural Property ($\ast 1$). Its height, from the ground to the crown, is approximately 36 meters. It is a striking example of historic architecture standing within Japan’s first-ever zoo.

This is the Sumatran tiger, native to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. It is characterized by its relatively small size compared to other tiger subspecies.Sadly, due to the development of its forest habitat and excessive hunting by humans for its fur, its population has plummeted, and it is now listed as an internationally protected species.

Surya, an Asian elephant, weighs over 3 tons! We were able to witness him skillfully using his long trunk and the pole of the door to eat grass.

The fan service was also excellent! When I pointed my lens at them, they looked directly into the camera.

Meanwhile, the West Garden is a scenic area situated on the north side of Shinobazu Pond. In addition to the Panda Forest where the giant pandas reside, it also houses African animals such as giraffes, hippos, rhinoceroses, and aye-ayes.

Here is the ever-popular, famously motionless shoebill. On the day of our visit, it looked thoughtful and didn’t move a single muscle.

Its characteristic stillness comes from its hunting strategy: patiently waiting for the moment when large fish, such as catfish and lungfish, rise to the surface so it can prey on them.

The red pandas were full of energy, running around in circles in their enclosure! They are typically most active in the early morning and evening, often spending the daytime sleeping in trees or holes. Their devoted expressions are truly heart-warming!

Finally, we headed to the Panda Forest. We were lucky enough to see the adorable female panda, Lei Lei! Unfortunately, her twin, the male panda Xiao Xiao, was in a different outdoor enclosure, so we weren’t able to meet him on this visit.The typical wait time to see the pandas is about 20–40 minutes on weekdays and about 60–90 minutes on weekends and holidays ($\ast$).On this day, Lei Lei was munching on bamboo with great gusto. Every year around April and May, Ueno Zoo feeds the pandas bamboo shoots harvested from the neighboring Ueno Toshogu Shrine. It’s wonderful to see how the animals in Ueno Park benefit directly from the natural beauty of the surrounding area.

Perhaps due to its connection to pandas, the “Panda Bun” sold at Cafe Chameleon near Panda Forest is a steamed bun filled with plenty of bamboo shoots.It looks so cute, it took me a while to eat it! It’s palm-sized and perfect for when you’re feeling a little hungry.

Clockwise from the right: “Exhausted Panda Cub” 1,980 yen (tax included), “Pony Panda” 693 yen (tax included), “Sticky Note Set Xiao Xiao & Leilei” 418 yen (tax included), “Fair Trade Cotton Towel Xiao Xiao & Leilei Green” 825 yen (tax included) (*).Be sure to check out Xiao Xiao and Leilei goods.*Information current as of April 2025. Items may be sold out.

Speaking of power spots in Ueno Park, there’s Ueno Toshogu Shrine, which was founded in 1627 (*).”Toshogu Shrine” is a shrine dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu (Tosho Daigongen), and there are said to be many of them across the country, such as in Nikko and Kunozan (*).Ueno Toshogu Shrine is said to grant blessings for career advancement, victory, and good health and longevity (*). Just looking at the Karamon gate from the main approach to Ueno Toshogu Shrine gives you a sense of its majesty. When you quietly put your hands together, you even feel as if you’re being filled with power.

The first thing that catches your eye when you enter the shrine grounds is the sacred tree “Okusu” (*), which has a trunk over 8 meters thick and is said to be the ancestor tree of the shrine, about 600 years old.In front of it is the “Silence Hall,” a building created for visitors to face the sacred tree and calm their minds before worshiping at the shrine. I took off my shoes, sat upright, and spent a quiet moment there.

Finally, we entered the Karamon Gate. The “See-through Wall” that surrounds the shrine, built in 1651, is a nationally designated important cultural property (*).The upper level features lively carvings of animals and plants from the mountains and fields, while the lower level features creatures from the sea and rivers, and I found myself fascinated for a while. When I saw the monkey carving, I was reminded for a moment of the “Three Wise Monkeys” at Nikko Toshogu Shrine.

The shrine building, also known as the “Golden Hall,” is covered in gold leaf and is truly magnificent. It was built in the same year as the see-through fence (*1) and is a Gongen-style building consisting of three rooms: the worship hall, offering hall, and main hall (*2).The Golden Hall is not only known for its beauty, but also as a fortunate building that has overcome many hardships, such as the Great Kanto Earthquake and the Tokyo air raids (*1). It is truly miraculous that it has survived in the same form as it did in the Edo period!

The mobile phone stand set up in front of the Golden Hall was very convenient for taking photos and was very appreciated!

Outside the gate, near the main approach, there are many things to see, such as copper and stone lanterns, a Kagura hall, and more. There is also a unique corner where you can measure your height using shaku (Japanese scale).

The “Peony Garden” within the shrine grounds hosts the “Ueno Toshogu Shrine Winter Peony” (*1) every year from January 1st to late February, and the “Spring Peony Festival” from early April to early May (*2).*1: In 2025, it was held from January 1st (Wed) to February 24th (Mon), 2025.

These are winter peonies. On a chilly day, just one glance at their lovely appearance instantly brightened my heart.

Tokyo Bunka Kaikan (*) is a masterpiece by Kunio Maekawa, a pioneer of modern architecture. On the second floor of the concert hall, which can be said to be the face of Ueno, there is a spacious Western-style restaurant.

Forestille Seiyoken” is a sister store of “Ueno Seiyoken Main Store” located in Ueno Park (*). The spacious space is completely made of glass, and you can see the interior from the 1st floor entrance lobby and foyer, which is a testament to the fine architecture.

First, I ordered the “Fluffy Omelette Rice with Hayashi Sauce” for 1,950 yen (tax included) (*).*Information as of April 2025*For details on the menu, please check

The beef in the hayashi sauce is surprisingly tender! It’s so soft that you can easily put a spoonin it. The fluffy egg and the buttery ketchup rice create a wonderful harmony.

This is the American-born Chinese dish “Chop Suey” for 1,780 yen (tax included). Forestille Seiyoken has been serving it as a “bouillon-based Western dish” since the opening of Tokyo Bunka Kaikan in 1961 (*).There are various theories about the origin of chop suey, but it is said to have become popular when Cantonese cuisine was brought to America and adapted to local tastes (*), and it has a light and familiar taste. It is filled with plenty of ingredients such as shrimp and vegetables, so it is very filling.

After the meal, I chose the “Apple Cake” for 750 yen (tax included). The crisp texture of the apples contrasted with the sweet and sour taste of the fluffy custard cream, leaving a refreshing aftertaste.

The “Chocolate Cake” (750 yen, tax included) made with couverture chocolate is smooth and delicious. The cake is made up of many layers, and is impressive for its complex flavor and richness.

French architect Le Corbusier, the mentor of Maekawa Kunio (*). Completed in 1959, it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016 (*).Le Corbusier summarized the five key elements that make up modern architecture. These elements are “pilotis,” “rooftop gardens,” “free floor plans (floor plans),” “horizontal windows (horizontally continuous windows),” and “free elevations (facades).

This is the pilotis. The structure of the first floor, which has no walls and is held up by pillars alone, is connected to the outside while providing a spacious space.Other attractions include the National Museum of Nature and Science, with its impressive modern tiled floors, the Tokyo National Museum with its beautiful gardens, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, designed by Kunio Maekawa (*). Ona nice day, enjoy exploring the architecture that can only be found in Ueno Park.