Ueno Zoo
Ueno Zoo is located inside Ueno Park. It is the oldest zoo in Japan and has about 500 species, including elephants, giraffes, polar bears and penguins. Its star animal is the giant panda.
taito
Tokyo walk: Yanaka & Nippori
The Yanaka (谷中) neighbourhood is located between Sendagi and Nippori stations. It is known for its large number of buddhist temples and cemeteries, the biggest of which is the Yanaka cemetery.
Gojoten Shrine Festival
Gojoten Jinja (五条天神社) is a shinto shrine located inside Ueno Park. It holds its annual festival in May. In 2014, it was at the same time as the Yushima Tenmangu shrine festival: I was walking away from that festival when I saw another mikoshi parade just across Chuo Dori.
Tokyo Walk: Kameido, Arakawa River, Funabori Tower Hall, Kyu-Nakagawa River, Tokyo Skytree & Asakusa
In May, starting at Kameido station, I walked east towards Edogawa City, until I reached the Arakawa River. I then crossed it in order to visit Funabori Tower Hall and its observatory. I went back to the other side of the Arakawa and walked along the Kyu-Nakagawa River (旧中川) then turned west at the Kitajukken River (北十間川), which goes all the way to the Sumida River, passing in front of the Tokyo Skytree. I ended the day with the Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa.
Tokyo Walk: Temples & shrines of Asakusa (Part 1)
Asakusa has a large number of shrines and temples in easy walking distance from each other. There is even a pilgrimage of the 7 Lucky Gods, where you can go through a few of those shrines and collect stamps along the way. For myself, I did my own pilgrimage last April. Starting in Uguisudani, the least used station of the JR Yamanote line and finishing at Senso-ji, I visited:
- Onoterusaki Shrine
- Otori Shrine
- Benten Pond
- Yoshiwara Shrine
- Tobi Fudoson Temple
- Ishihama Shrine
- Hashiba Fudoson Temple
Sumida Park Cherry Blossom Festival
Sumida Park straddles both sides of the Sumida River near Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa. It contains a large number of cherry trees that make it a very popular spot during cherry blossom season. I went there after Ueno Park, since it is quite close.