Ueno Zoo

Ueno Zoo is the oldest and one of the most beloved in Japan: founded in 1882, it occupies an area of 14 hectares inside Ueno Park and houses more than 3.000 animals of around 300 species. Historically it was famous for its giant pandas, although the last specimens (the twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei) returned to China in early 2026. Today the animals most valued by visitors are the shoebill —an extremely rare species with a prehistoric look—, the okapis and the Pallas's cats, among others. The zoo is divided into two zones connected by a monorail: the east zone (main entrance) and the west zone with the big cats and the gorillas. Admission costs only 600 ¥ for adults (200 ¥ for teenagers aged 13 to 15; free for primary-school children and younger). It opens from 9:30 to 17:00 and closes on Mondays. To get there, leave by the Ueno Park exit of JR Ueno station. It is a perfect plan for families or to round off a cultural morning in the Ueno area, combining it with the national museums in the same park.