Ueno Zoological Gardens

Ueno Zoological Gardens, founded in 1882, is Japan’s first and most historic zoo, situated within the expansive and culturally rich Ueno Park in Taito, Tokyo. Spanning 14.4 hectares, the zoo is home to over 2,800 animals representing more than 300 species from across the globe, making it one of the largest and most diverse animal collections in Japan. The zoo is especially famous for its giant pandas, currently represented by the twin cubs Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, born in June 2021, who draw enormous crowds of adoring visitors. Other headline attractions include Western gorillas in the atmospheric Gorilla Woods, Sumatran tigers in Tiger Forest, Asiatic elephants, polar bears, and the rare shoebill bird, beloved for its prehistoric appearance and habit of standing perfectly still for extended periods. The Children’s Zoo offers young visitors the chance to interact with domesticated animals in a hands-on setting, and a Children’s petting area adds further interactive fun. The historic Five-Story Pagoda, built in 1631, and the traditional Kankan-Tei teahouse add cultural depth to the visit. The zoo is split into East and West gardens connected by a bridge, and entry is affordably priced, with children under junior high school age receiving free admission. Admission is also free on March 20, May 4, and October 1 each year. The zoo is a five-minute walk from both Keisei Ueno Station and JR Ueno Station.