Ueno is the largest amusement park in the capital of Japan. It was created by emperors in the second half of the 19th century. The park is known for its attractions: sacred temples, a zoo and numerous museums. But Ueno is especially popular during the cherry blossom season.
Tourists from all over the world come to see the blooming sakura flowers. On such days, department heads send their junior employees to the park in order to take a place on the lawn. They sit all day until colleagues arrive. Tokyo residents gather in the park with families and friends to capture this beauty.
Menagerie
The zoo located in this place is the oldest and most visited in Japan. It is one of the best menageries in the world. Admission for children under 12 is free, while adults go inside for 600 yen. Tickets are purchased in the subway and in vending machines near the entrance. In the zoo you can see up to 500 species of animals, including endangered species. The main attractions are two pandas brought from China. The most interesting thing is that they officially belong to China, and the Japanese annuallypay the host country about 900 thousand dollars. In addition to giant pandas, the zoo should be visited for the Ussuri tiger, polar bear, elephants, zebras, leopards, gorillas, rare species of fish, snakes, turtles and many other animals and birds.
Museums in Ueno Park
The National Museum of Western Art is located near the entrance to the park. It houses drawings and paintings by the French Impressionists. Its library contains three thousand monographs and artist's notes. Next to the Museum of Western Art is a steam locomotive belonging to the Museum of Nature and Science. On the other side of the building stands a tall sculpture of a whale. Across the street from the above location is the National Museum of Tokyo. It houses the largest collection of Japanese art: swords, paintings, sculptures, calligraphic drawings, Buddhist treasures.
The Royal Museum is popular because it often hosts various creative exhibitions. In front of the building is a huge statue of the hero of Japan - Seigo Takumori. Shitamachi Museum is located on the shore of Lake Shinobazu, in the center of the park. Entrance fee - 300 yen. A small two-story house stores items, tools, inventory, drawings, posters - everything related to the atmosphere of the 1920s of the Taisho period. Yushima Tenmanju Shrine is a shrine for students and students in Japan. Before entering, you can pay attention to the signs with inscriptions. These are requests for success in an exam or for admission to a university.
Cherry blossom
There are more than a thousand cherry trees in the park, which are located alongalleys leading to the Tokyo Museum, and next to Lake Shinobazu. Cherry blossom begins in January in the northern part of the country, gradually moving to the south. At the end of May, flowering ends on the island of Hokkaido. Sakura has long been considered a symbol of fragility and tenderness, because its flowering period is very short.
Tourists from all over the world come to see the blossoming sakura, because this is an incredibly beautiful process. Unlike other parks in Tokyo, cherry blossoms in Ueno start two weeks earlier, in early April. Unfortunately, this delightful action does not last long - only three days.
What else to see in the park?
The children's literature library is one of the largest in the country. It is a magnificent architectural structure that combines three styles from different eras. The Kaneiji Shrine, which started the construction of Ueno Park in Tokyo, is located at the exit of the National Museum. We also recommend visiting the Yoko Flea Market, where you can buy original items, expensive jewelry, green tea, roasted chestnuts, and seafood.
Ways to get to Ueno Park
First, you must fly/arrive in Japan. An air ticket from Moscow to Tokyo will cost about 30 thousand rubles, and this is only one way. If you are a resident of eastern Russia, then you should pay attention to flights from Vladivostok, which will cost ten thousand rubles there and back. If you are afraid of planes, you can take a ferry from Vladivostok. Arrive at Tokyo airport called Narida, itaccepts international flights. The flight from Moscow lasts about 9 hours, the stay varies: in summer it is 10 am, in winter it is 50 minutes later.
Narida is a huge convenient airport where you can find absolutely everything: pharmacies, post office, souvenirs, Japanese food, books and electronics stores. But perhaps the main feature that distinguishes this airport from others is the fact that Narida closes at night. There are no night flights to the airport, and there are also no night flights. In addition, there is no opportunity to spend the night at the airport, and if you have a connecting flight, then in order to get to a hotel in the city, you need to obtain a visa. Souvenirs are priced in foreign currencies before taxes, so at the listed price of $50, be prepared to shell out $55.
Methods of transfer from the airport to the city
To the necessary points of Tokyo, you can use the bus that runs daily from seven in the morning to ten in the evening once an hour. Bus tickets can be purchased at the airport ticket office, the travel time, taking into account traffic jams, is no more than two hours. All routes from the airport go to the "doors" of the hotels, so the probability of getting lost is very low. The cost of the trip is about 3,000 yen. The train station is located directly below the airport, you need to go down the escalator and you will find yourself right in front of the ticket office. Right now you need to make the right choice: which train is best to get on?
- The most expensive and fastestway - express, which will take you to Tokyo in 50 minutes. Departure is carried out at intervals of thirty minutes. For foreigners, there is a 50% discount upon presentation of a foreign visa and passport, in which case the price will be 1,500 yen. How to get to Ueno Park from Tokyo? With the help of the subway. It only takes 4 stops. Prices start at 120 yen. Price changes throughout the day.
- The Skyliner train is almost the same in terms of comfort as described above, but the travel time is 90 minutes. He'll take you straight to Ueno Station. The price will be around 2,000 yen plus one free subway ride.
- Taxi in Japan is one of the most expensive. Cost: 20,000 yen to Ueno Park.
The photo above shows the Tokyo Skyliner train, which will take you to your destination without any problems.
