# Ueno Zoo

> Japan's oldest zoo, opened in 1882 inside Ueno Park, with about 3,000 animals of some 300 species. The East Garden sits on the wooded hill and the West Garden runs down to Shinobazu Pond. Adult entry is 600 yen.

- Prefecture: Tokyo
- Type: Zoo
- Address: Tokyo, Japan
- Opening hours: Tue–Sun 09:30–17:00
- Closed: Mondays (the following day when Monday is a national or substitute holiday). The zoo opens on some Mondays around holidays; check the opening calendar on the official site.
- Hours note: Entry and ticket sales end at 16:00. Some animals go off display before closing time for health care or bad weather.
- Admission: 600 yen
- Official site: https://www.tokyo-zoo.net/ueno/

The zoo opened on March 20, 1882, as an annex to a government museum in Ueno Park, which makes it the oldest in Japan. Today it keeps about 3,000 animals of roughly 300 species on two levels. The East Garden, behind the main gate near the JR Park Exit, sits on the wooded hill: gorillas and tigers in a forest setting, elephants, bears, and polar bears with seals. Paths and the Aesop Bridge lead down to the West Garden on the north side of Shinobazu Pond, with giraffes, hippos, rhinos, aye-ayes, a small mammal house, a reptile and amphibian house and a children's zoo. The shoebills draw their own crowd. A small electric bus covers the 300 m between the halves, mainly for visitors who cannot manage the slope. Allow two to three hours. Weekends and holidays mean waits at the ticket machines, and some animals are taken in before the 17:00 closing, so arriving at 15:30 is a poor plan. There is no car park, and the three gates are all close to stations.

## FAQ

### How much is admission to Ueno Zoo?

600 yen for adults, 300 yen for those 65 and over and 200 yen for junior high school students. Children up to sixth grade of elementary school get in free, as do junior high students who live or study in Tokyo.

### How are the East and West Gardens connected?

The East Garden is on the hill and the West Garden is below it by Shinobazu Pond. Paths and the Aesop Bridge link them on foot, and a small electric bus covers the roughly 300 m between them, with priority for visitors who cannot manage the slope.

### How long does a visit take?

The zoo suggests two to three hours to see it properly. Last entry is at 16:00, an hour before closing.

### Are there free admission days?

Yes: the zoo's anniversary on March 20, Greenery Day on May 4 and Tokyo Citizens' Day on October 1 are free for everyone. On Children's Day, May 5, all junior high school students get in free.

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Source: Ueno Zoo — Japan Voyage