Ueno Zoo (恩賜上野動物園, Onshi Ueno Dōbutsuen) is a popular zoological park located within Ueno Park and is one of the many attractions in the Ueno Area. Established in 1882, it is Japan’s oldest and one of the largest zoos and a short walk from Ueno Station. The zoo is home to over 3,000 animals representing more than 400 species, making it an important center for wildlife conservation, research, and education.
The zoo keeps and exhibits as many as 500 species of animals, including giant pandas, gorillas, tigers, bears, Asian elephants, lesser pandas, myeme giraffes, and kangaroos.
Some key features and attractions at Ueno Zoo include:
- Giant pandas: Ueno Zoo is famous for its giant pandas, which were first introduced to the zoo in 1972 as a gift from China. The pandas have been a major attraction ever since and are an iconic symbol of the zoo.
- Gorilla Woods and Tiger Forest: These large, naturalistic enclosures house gorillas and tigers, providing them with ample space to roam and interact with their environment.
- Japanese animals: The zoo also features animals native to Japan, such as Japanese macaques, red-crowned cranes, and Amami rabbits, giving visitors a chance to learn about the country’s wildlife.
- Children’s Zoo: This area of the zoo allows children to interact with smaller animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, and goats, offering a fun, hands-on learning experience.
- Monorail and pedestrian bridge: The zoo is divided into two sections, the East Garden and the West Garden, which are connected by a pedestrian bridge and a monorail, providing an enjoyable and convenient way to explore the park.
The zoo is typically open from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM (last admission at 4:00 PM) and is closed on Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday) and during the New Year holidays.
Ueno Zoo is easily accessible by public transportation, with Ueno Station on the JR Yamanote Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, and several subway lines being the nearest station. The zoo is just a short walk from the station.
Information for Ueno Zoo:
| Key Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Ueno Zoo (恩賜上野動物園, Onshi Ueno Dōbutsuen) |
| Address | 9-83 Uenokoen, Taito City, Tokyo 110-8711, Japan |
| Nearest Station | Ueno Station (JR Yamanote Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, |
| various subway lines) | |
| Opening Hours | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (last admission at 4:00 PM) |
| Closed Days | Mondays (or following day if Monday is a holiday), |
| New Year holidays | |
| Admission Fees | Adults (16-64 years): 600 JPY |
| Seniors (65+ years): 300 JPY | |
| Students (13-15 years): 200 JPY | |
| Children (0-12 years): Free | |
| Persons with disabilities and one accompanying person: Free | |
| Official Website | https://www.tokyo-zoo.net/english/ueno/index.html |
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| Monkey Mountain | View of the park | Scenery of the park |
| Tiger | Gorilla objet d’art | Objet d’art of tiger |
Image Credit: Tokyo Navi via tokyo-park.net archive
