Ueno Park Audio Guide

Welcome to Ueno Park

Welcome to Ueno Park. Step out of the Park Exit at JR Ueno Station, and a broad tree-lined avenue stretches straight ahead. On weekends, circles of onlookers gather around street performers, while people hurry toward the museums and families make their way to the zoo — this is one of the liveliest parks in Tokyo. Famous for its cherry blossoms, it fills each spring with people enjoying flower-viewing beneath the trees. Ueno Park is a treasure box of Tokyo's culture, where art museums, a history museum, and a zoo are gathered close together. For locals, it is a place to feel the turning seasons, touch art, and spend a whole day with family. For travelers, it is a rare gateway where the history and culture of Japan can be savored all in one place. But you may be surprised to learn that this place was not originally a park at all. Over the next hour or so, let's trace the stories carved into this hill together. Stop wherever catches your eye, and listen at your own pace. Let's begin with the history of Ueno — how a hill of prayer became Japan's very first public park.