Ueno Park is a delightful place covering vast area in Tokyo. Although I usually don’t like places where animals are captured in cages, I decided to visit Ueno Zoo. And I have to admit, I was positively suprised!
Ueno Park in Tokyo
Generally the animals have a lot of space, as the whole area of the Zoo is extremely large. The environment is very similar to a natural one where the animals live. Although the elephants looked very sad. Ueno Zoo is the oldest Japanese zoo. It is open since 1882! Tokyo Zoo is home to 2600 animals of around 500 different species. Some of them are really amazing and rare to meet in natural environment like giant pandas, tigers, gorillas or even mysterious okapis. If you plan to visit Ueno zoo remember it’s very big and you will need a lot of time to walk it all. The zoo has also other attractions like historical spots. There is the five-storied pagoda of the old Kan’ei-ji Temple, which was rebuilt in 1639. Not far from pagoda there is also historical tea ceremony house, built in the 17th century.
The zoo has also Small Mammal House, where you can see nocturnal animals. The other building is called Vivarium (Reptile and Amphibian House) where visitors can see the world’s rare fishes, crocodiles, turtles, snakes and frogs. Shinobazu Pond in the West Area is a unique habitat for wild common cormorants. Thse birds once were seen everywhere in Japan, but now are endangered.
Near Ueno Zoo there is Ueno-onshi-koen Park. It is amazing place to visit during all four seasons. It’s a great place to rest after visiting the zoo. And the trees and other plants growing there makes the park absolutely beautiful and breathtaking.
