Tourist Information
Places to Visit
Ueno Zoo
The first zoo in Japan, opened in 1882, has an area of 140,000 square meters and 500 sorts of animals. Seperated into East zone with wild animals, birds or “giant panda” and West zone with herbivores, you can enjoy all day seeing and experiencing animals' life.
Ameyoko
The term is a short form of “Ameya-yokocho (candy street)”. The street strectches from JR Okachimachi Station to Ueno Station along with the railroad lines overhead for a really unique ambiance. Foods, clothes, sundry goods, jewelry and cosmetics are available there, shout of barkers are always vibrating in the street.
Tokyo National Museum
The first established museum in Japan in 1872, which collects and displays art works, historical documents and archeological artifacts from Japan and Eastern countries. It has five exhibition halls in total.
Senso-ji Temple
The oldest temple in Tokyo is famous for its remaining Shitamachi (downtown) atmosphere. At the “kaminarimon” gate is hung a huge red lantern surrounded with statues of the gods of wind and thunder. Inside the temple, there is also a shopping arcade called “Nakamise” with many kinds of souvenirs shop.
Sumida River and Suijo-Bus
Enjoy a cruise on the Sumida River! From Asakusa, ships are leaving for hinode-sanbashi (near Hamamatsu-cho) once or twice every hour, or to Odaiba 4 times a day.
Kappabashi Street
The shopping district famous for the utensils, food samples, cooking clothes and also a lot of souvenir shops.
Iriya Kishibojin Temple
Established in 1659 and dedicated to the god fecundity and child rising, the temple is famous for the Asagao-ichi held in the beginning of July.
Shitamachi Museum
Here you can experience what was the everyday life of ordinary people in Edo (actual Tokyo) as you can see recreated streets, toys, household items and others related to traditional events.
Otori Shrine
It is believed that the gods has the power to bring you luck, prosperity in business, career, child rising. There is also a famous event called “bean-throwing”
Kan'ei-ji Temple
The main building of the temple is registered as Important Cultural property of Japan. It was Tokugawa family’s temple and 6 Tokugawa generals are sleeping there.
Local Events to Go
Iriya Asagao Festival
Originally due to the reputation of a gardener who cultivated morning glories in the Iriya area during the early Meiji period, it is now a really popular summer festival.
Sanja Festival
Held on the 3rd week end of May, the festival was made to thank the 3 gods related to the creation of the Senso-ji temple. On the last day of the festival, people carry portable shrines in the whole area.
Hoozuki Ichi
During this festival held on September the 9th and 10th at the Senso-ji Temple, more than 250 stands covered with Hoozuki (Chinese lantern) can be seen.T he day of the festival is called “Shiman-rokusen-nichi” (46,000 days) and it is said that if you visit the temple on that day you will be blessed by the gods’ grace during 46,000 days (120years).
Hagoita Ichi
Another festival of the Senso-ji temple held from November the 17th to the 19th. It is related to the traditional Hagoita game (a gae similar to Badminton but with plates instead rackets) and is mainly for the girls health.
Tori no Ichi
It is a festival held in November at the Otori Jinja shirne on the Day of the Cock (of the Chinese zodiac) where many shops sell Kumade (a colorful item that brings you luck)