We went to the park in the evening, in the week of Christmas. The sun was setting and the lights were starting to come on. They had some stalls selling food, drinks, and souvenirs. There was also a local artist performing, so we had some entertainment while having our dinner. Overall, it was a nice experience hanging iut at the park. On the down side, since we came to the park when it was dark, we couldn't really see how big the park really is.
Ueno Park is famous for its numerous cultural sites, including the Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum of Western Art, and Ueno Zoo. It's also known for its cherry blossom trees, which draw crowds during the spring bloom. The park has been celebrated in literature, including haiku by the renowned poet Matsuo Basho.
The time it takes to explore Ueno Park can vary depending on your interests. If you plan to visit several museums and take leisurely strolls around the park, you could easily spend a full day here.
Sakura, or cherry blossoms, can be seen throughout Ueno Park in the spring. The park is a popular spot for hanami, or cherry blossom viewing parties.
Ueno is a great area to stay in Tokyo. It offers easy access to Ueno Park and its attractions, has excellent transport links, and is home to Ameya-Yokocho Market, where you can enjoy shopping and local food.
The photos were taken on 5 December 2025. The place is filled with Ginkgo trees. Its unique, double-lobed, fan-shaped leaves turn a brilliant golden yellow in autumn. And if you walk further down the park you will see a staircase leading up to Japanese maple trees that has bright red leaves. It's like a hidden place where it was quiet and not many people went upstairs. The toilets are clean for g and the best part is the park entrance is free.
We visited this place in late November and the colors were stunning. It’s located right next to Ueno Station.
The park is huge and has so much to see including beautiful shrines, ponds, and museums. Since it was late November, we also got to see the Christmas decorations and festive stalls popping up.
After exploring the park, make sure to check out the street food market nearby for some great local snacks. It's a perfect place to spend a whole afternoon.
Ueno Park is a really beautiful spot and a great break from the busy city. We visited on New Year’s Day, so it was very crowded with people out praying at the temples, but it actually added to the atmosphere and felt special rather than overwhelming.
The park itself is huge and lovely to walk around. We did the swan paddle boats on the pond, which was a fun and relaxed way to take it all in, especially with the scenery around the water. It was 1,000 yen for 30 mins and you had 3 choices of boats. The Swan boat was the most popular so go with the other 2 options if you want to get on quicker.
There are plenty of temples and shrines scattered through the park, all worth a look.
The zoo was closed when we visited, but there was still heaps to see and do just wandering around.
Overall, a great place for a walk, some fresh air, and a glimpse of local life — especially during New Year when everything feels a bit more festive.
It's huge and it's beautiful. It has plenty to do and best of all it's free. It's a short walk from Ueno station.
And if we recalled correctly, there were at least 4 museums and a zoo! Unfortunately, we didn't have time for any museum because we spent hours discovering the zoo. You'll need a full day if you want to see the museums too. There's entrance fee for the zoo (very reasonable) and the museums.
Glad we went there early because by 11AM, bus loads of people were visiting. Definitely worth at least 3-4 hours here.
