The district of Ueno functions as a major transport hub and a concentrated centre for culture and commerce. Its core is Ueno Park, a spacious public ground that contains several major institutions. These include the Ueno Zoo, the Tokyo National Museum with its comprehensive Japanese collection, the National Museum of Nature and Science, and the National Museum of Western Art. South of the station, the Ameya-Yokochō market street presents a different atmosphere. This crowded street with covered alleyways started as a post-war black market, and now features vendors selling seafood, clothing and spices.

Harlequins, a multiple award-winning theater, offers an intimate setting for enjoying quality community theater productions. Explore their diverse event calendar online and discover upcoming shows, ranging from classic plays to contemporary musicals.

Shinjuku Gyoen offers a serene escape from Tokyo’s skyscraper district, blending traditional Japanese landscapes with elegant French formal gardens and expansive English lawns. Originally an imperial retreat (1906), it reopened to the public in 1949 and remains a favourite for picnics and cherry-blossom viewing. Don’t miss the sleek greenhouse brimming with tropical plants, the historic Taiwanese pavilion overlooking reflective ponds, or Momijiyama’s fiery autumn maples. With over a dozen cherry varieties, the bloom season stretches unusually long.

Be sure to visit this peaceful place. As the last residence of the Merinide sovereigns, it is protected by imposing walls, where storks like to build their nests. This is also the location of the ancient Roman city of Salé. You will admire the ruins of a triumphal arch, the forum, thermal baths, and several shops.