Ueno Park in Tokyo is a fairly expansive park and a must-see during your visit to Tokyo.

It is also home to the Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum of Science, the National Museum of Western Art, and the Tokyo Zoo.

Simply take the JR or metro to Ueno Station (see the Tokyo metro map) :

Be aware that signage is not always very clear, and you can easily miss temples and must-see spots...

For example, at the park entrance there is a small baseball field (a sport highly favored by Japanese people) :

Just next to the baseball field you will find an information center where you can pick up a park map :

Further towards the entrance is a small but charming temple to visit perched on a small hillock. The most interesting feature is the large Buddha face (remains of a giant statue).
A little further on, after a series of shrines, you can visit a more classical small temple that will give you a taste of the magnificent temples of Kyoto.

In the second section of the park (you must cross a road that is to the left of the park entrance after the baseball field) you will find a large lake, half of which is entirely covered with water lilies.
Note that it is possible to take a stroll on the lake with pedal boats :

It's a pleasant place to rest and enjoy a leisurely meal.

You can also take the opportunity to visit the small temple situated in its midst.
As you return to the center of the park you will see a totem gifted by the Lion's Club... it's quite unusual to see an Indian symbol in a park in Japon!
Don't forget to visit the Hiroshima memorial monument with its eternal flame.





Further to the left you will find the Tokyo Zoo and its rides (and its panda).

At the end of Ueno Park you will find the Tokyo National Museum, which is exceptional and a must-see.

The museum consists of 5 buildings :
- The first one in the center houses the finest permanent collections and requires 2 hours of visiting time (plan for 2 hours of visiting).
- The building just behind and connected to the main building houses temporary exhibitions.
- On the right, you will find another section of the museum (undergoing renovation in 2009), as well as a small restaurant that is very convenient for dining or taking a break.
- On the left you will find a first building that presents a very small thematic exhibition (10 minutes duration).
- Just behind towards the left you will find the final building with the treasure room and its magnificent Buddha statues (the visit lasts less than 30 minutes).
Just behind Ueno Park, approximately a 15-minute walk away, you will find a large cemetery with the mausoleum of Tokugawa (the Shogun hero of the film "The Last Samurai" starring Tom Cruise).

You must enter either through the main cemetery entrance and take the path on the far left, or if the gate is open, use the entrance that leads directly to the mausoleum.

Note: Unfortunately, during our visit this monument was under renovation.

Here is a map showing the main monuments to visit :