Ueno Park in the heart of Tokyo offers many activities and attractions for locals and tourists. It is home to a number of museums, temples, and even a zoo. Here are a few reasons to visit Ueno Park during your next stay to Tokyo. Cherry Blossom Viewing One of the best places to view cherry blossoms in full bloom is in Ueno Park. It is very common for people to have picnics and gatherings under the beautiful trees. It can also get quite crowded during this time of the year. The cherry blossoms are a great excuse to visit the park along with its other offerings. Ueno Zoo The oldest zoo in Japan, Ueno Zoo is a great destination for families and tourists. One of the zoo's biggest attractions is seeing the giant panda bears. The admission rate is very affordable and free for children. Families traveling to Tokyo should definitely mark Ueno Zoo as a possible activity in Tokyo. Tokyo National Museum
As the largest art museum in Japan, Tokyo National Museum is a prime opportunity to peek inside Japan's rich history. One of the interesting parts of the museum is its outdoor garden that has multiple buildings representing different periods of history. They have been moved to the museum to show the various architecture and cultural significance of the past. In addition, the museum houses many National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties. If you have played any of the Final Fantasy games and recognize the name Masamune or Yoshimitsu, then you should definitely visit the sword and weapons exhibit. Tokyo is a huge city. When factoring in population density and land area, it is one of the largest cities in the world. Seeing all of Tokyo in one trip to Japan is an unreasonable expectation. It is important to narrow down activity options and think about what are the highest priorities for you. Making a short list will help guide you as to what area of Tokyo is the best fit for you. Follow the Narita Express One of the easiest ways to decide where to stay in Tokyo is to pick a stop along the Narita Express (NEX). The express train from Narita Airport drops passengers off at major areas of Tokyo including Shibuya, Shinjuku, Tokyo Station, Ikebukuro, and Yokohama. There are plenty of lodging options around these stations. Getting back on the NEX to take a flight out of Tokyo is also convenient when staying near a station on the NEX route. Stay Along the Yamanote Line One of the best JR Rail transportation options is the Yamanote Line that runs in a full circle around Tokyo. This line stops at over 20 different destinations including some of the biggest tourism areas. Staying near the line simplifies navigating the complex transportation network of Tokyo. You can easily access the Yamanote Line by stopping at Tokyo Station after riding the NEX from Narita Airport. Pick a Neighborhood to Explore There are a few neighborhoods that cater to nightlife, shopping, and other interests for tourists. Do you want to experience a bar scene and some night life? Shinjuku or Roppongi may be of interest to you. If shopping is a high priority, then you may be interested in the Ginza area. There are certainly benefits to staying in a particular place such as saving travel time and close proximity for carrying shopping bags. Other things to consider when choosing a location to stay is price, amenities, and even how many people are traveling with you. Also note that public transportation does not run all night long and taxis are expensive. Picking an area to make your home base can enhance your experience and allow time for more of your favorite activities. Typically, during the last week of March is when you can view the cherry blossoms in full bloom around Tokyo, Japan. This cherry blossom tracker is a great resource each spring to see the expected blossoming time by region. The blooming times vary each year which makes it hard to plan correctly ahead. If you are fortunate enough to be in Tokyo during the blooming time-frame, then definitely take advantage of it. Here are a few suggestions for viewing spots based on personal experience. Shinjuku Gyoen Park This park is located in the heart of Shinjuku and features a large amount of cherry blossom trees. There is a small admission fee to enjoy the large park and its multiple gardens. You should definitely take your time and enjoy the beautiful landscapes in Shinjuku Gyoen Park. Ueno Park Another great park with wonderful cherry blossom trees is Ueno Park. This park is very popular for picnics during cherry blossom season. You will find a large crowd of people in the park spending time with friends and enjoying the blossoms. The park also contains multiple national museums and a zoo. They are all worth visiting if you have the spare time. Sumida Park A park located along the Sumida river covered with cherry blossom trees. It is a great place to stroll through. The trees are also illuminated in the evenings during Cherry Blossom season. Also, Sumida park is a less than ten minute walk from Asakusa Shrine. Tokyo, Japan is a massive city to explore. Most tourists only have a few days to work in a limited amount of activities. Tourism increases in the spring as temperatures rise and flowers bloom. Here are a few suggested activities to add to any short list for exploring Tokyo. Rappongi Well known for its nightlife, Rappongi offers many activities and attractions to tourists. Outside of bars and restaurants, there is much to see and do. Rappongi Hills is a complex containing many shops, a museum, and an observatory deck. If you are looking for deep discounts on high end fashion accessories, there are a number of 2nd-hand stores carrying brands such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Yves Saint Laurent. The National Art Center is a brief walk from Rappongi Hills and contains many art galleries and exhibits. If you are a fan of the movie Your Name, then stopping by museum's elevated cafe is a must. Fans of the Dragon Quest/Dragon Warrior video game franchise will enjoy visiting Luida's Bar. You may even stumble upon the Rosso Scuderia Ferrari dealership while exploring this great area of Tokyo. Virtual Reality Experience One of the relatively new attractions in Tokyo are the video game arcades offering virtual reality experiences. There are a number of options in Tokyo including VR Park Tokyo in Shibuya and VR Zone Shinjuku. You can read more about VR Zone Shinjuku in this article. It costs around ¥1,200 per VR experience for each person. You should definitely check out one of the VR arcades for a high tech and unique experience. Attend a Baseball Game Baseball is the national sport of Japan. The Nippon Professional Baseball season starts in March and runs through October. The Yomiuri Giants play in the Tokyo Dome. Tickets are available for purchase online here. It is highly recommended to buy tickets well in advance and bring a print out with you. Ticket prices vary depending on the seat location. While the rules of baseball may be the same, the experience in Japan is quite different. For example, fans do not cheer while their team is batting because it can distract the players. If you do want to cheer and make a lot of noise, purchase a ticket in the outfield cheering section. Harajuku
The district of Harajuku, located in the Shibuya area, is well known as the origin of many street fashion styles. It is a unique experience for the fashion connoisseur. Takeshida Dori is full of trendy boutiques, vintage clothing stores, cafes, and a plethora of other interesting shops. This is the street you will want to explore first. If you are interested in more of the European high-end fashion such as Louis Vuitton, Boucheron, and Missoni; take a stroll down Omotesando Avenue. A few interesting shops in Harajuku are B-Side Label (sticker store), Kiddy Land (huge toy shop), and DOG (vibrant and eclectic clothing store). If you are not interested in shopping, there are a few other activities worth exploring. Yoyogi Park has an entrance next to Harajuku Station. You can enjoy a nice, relaxing stroll through the park and visit Meiji Shrine nestled inside. There are also a couple of cat cafes around Harajuku such as Cat Cafe MoCHA. Cat and other animal cafes are unique experiences found across Japan. |
Follow Me
on Instagram @card_knock_life Categories
All
Archives
February 2024
This website contains affiliate links to TCGPlayer
|