Guidebook for Taitō-ku
Food Scene
Ootoya Okachimachi Minamiguchi
5-chōme-21-8 UenoIppudo Ueno Hirokoji shop
3-chōme-17-5 UenoWhat makes Chodaikichi's ramen so special for the locals must be their soup in its Tokusei Ramen (Special Ramen). The slice of thick bamboo shoots with fine seasoned egg and seaweeds on top of the mixture of pork bone and soy sauce based creamy soup. When you take two or three strands of thick noodles that are neatly dipped in the soup, you would realize how dense the soup is coiling around the noodles and your chopsticks with the alluring smell. The soup is thick enough to feel its salty taste and has a strong punch in it. The price is just a little bit steeper for the ramen, but the quality is, without a doubt, a top notch.
Ramen Chou Daikichi
6-chōme-6-4 UenoWhat makes Chodaikichi's ramen so special for the locals must be their soup in its Tokusei Ramen (Special Ramen). The slice of thick bamboo shoots with fine seasoned egg and seaweeds on top of the mixture of pork bone and soy sauce based creamy soup. When you take two or three strands of thick noodles that are neatly dipped in the soup, you would realize how dense the soup is coiling around the noodles and your chopsticks with the alluring smell. The soup is thick enough to feel its salty taste and has a strong punch in it. The price is just a little bit steeper for the ramen, but the quality is, without a doubt, a top notch.
Isen Honten has been around Ueno for more than 80 years now which is famous for its extremely tender pork cutlet that you can even cut it in half by using chopsticks.
Being able to "cut with chopsticks" is one of the best compliment a food can get when we want to express the tenderness of the food. The birth place of the Tonkatsu sandwich, where you would often find them at the train stations, is here at Isen Ueno which you might have tried them before in the past. When you are in Isen, there are several good choices on the menu you would have to decide which one to order from Yawaraka Tonkatsu that is super tender pork cutlet prepared with low heat, Toku Rosu Katsu to enjoy the delicious standard pork cutlet that represents the 80 years of history, and of course the Katsu Sandwich which has already become well known in Japan. The sauce they are using probably has some sourness in it unlike most of the Tonkatsu restaurants that offer relatively sweeter sauce, but it is absolutely marvelous. The decor, on the hand, leaves the ambience of Showa times that reminds locals of good old times of Japan which seems quite retro for such famous place. Even though the building is old, the restaurant is kept tidy and these are the reasons why it has been the most loved restaurant since its foundation on 1930.
10 当地人推荐
Isen Honten
3-chōme-40-3 YushimaIsen Honten has been around Ueno for more than 80 years now which is famous for its extremely tender pork cutlet that you can even cut it in half by using chopsticks.
Being able to "cut with chopsticks" is one of the best compliment a food can get when we want to express the tenderness of the food. The birth place of the Tonkatsu sandwich, where you would often find them at the train stations, is here at Isen Ueno which you might have tried them before in the past. When you are in Isen, there are several good choices on the menu you would have to decide which one to order from Yawaraka Tonkatsu that is super tender pork cutlet prepared with low heat, Toku Rosu Katsu to enjoy the delicious standard pork cutlet that represents the 80 years of history, and of course the Katsu Sandwich which has already become well known in Japan. The sauce they are using probably has some sourness in it unlike most of the Tonkatsu restaurants that offer relatively sweeter sauce, but it is absolutely marvelous. The decor, on the hand, leaves the ambience of Showa times that reminds locals of good old times of Japan which seems quite retro for such famous place. Even though the building is old, the restaurant is kept tidy and these are the reasons why it has been the most loved restaurant since its foundation on 1930.
A GUEST'S COMMENT: I've told many people that if I could pick anything in the world to be the last thing I eat before I die, Jojoen's Tokusen Rousu usugiri (with salt and sauce) would be it. This is Premium Japanese Black Angus short rib meat, that you cook on your personal table grill. It's similar to Korean bbq, except with Japanese barbeque 1) the meat is usually not marinated, and served with only salt, or a light sauce 2) the Japanese grills are different. It doesn't really seem to make the meat taste any different, but I've never come out smelling like meat after being in Jojoen, versus any other Korean bbq place I've been to. 3) The cuts of meat are just different. 4) And at least at Jojoen, the meat I had here was the best quality meat I've EVER had. Perfectly marbled with fat, so tender, and the meat just melts in your mouth. At Jojoen, they will ask you if you want the meat served with salt or sauce, and I believe my favorite was to get both. Sometimes they get confused by this order, and I've only managed it successfully once.
叙々苑 上野不忍口店
A GUEST'S COMMENT: I've told many people that if I could pick anything in the world to be the last thing I eat before I die, Jojoen's Tokusen Rousu usugiri (with salt and sauce) would be it. This is Premium Japanese Black Angus short rib meat, that you cook on your personal table grill. It's similar to Korean bbq, except with Japanese barbeque 1) the meat is usually not marinated, and served with only salt, or a light sauce 2) the Japanese grills are different. It doesn't really seem to make the meat taste any different, but I've never come out smelling like meat after being in Jojoen, versus any other Korean bbq place I've been to. 3) The cuts of meat are just different. 4) And at least at Jojoen, the meat I had here was the best quality meat I've EVER had. Perfectly marbled with fat, so tender, and the meat just melts in your mouth. At Jojoen, they will ask you if you want the meat served with salt or sauce, and I believe my favorite was to get both. Sometimes they get confused by this order, and I've only managed it successfully once.
Drinks & Nightlife
Hokkaido Maruha Sakaba Okachimachi North Exit
“Toridori uses only "Tsukuba Akanedori", high-grade, grain-fed Japanese chicken which ensures full flavor and quality while allowing for a variety of cooking styles to be explored. Each location has its own unique interior and holds a traditional Japanese atmosphere. Popular favorites include the charcoal grilled chicken and the roasted skewer dishes.”
鳥貴族 上野中央通り店
4-chōme-8-6 Ueno“Toridori uses only "Tsukuba Akanedori", high-grade, grain-fed Japanese chicken which ensures full flavor and quality while allowing for a variety of cooking styles to be explored. Each location has its own unique interior and holds a traditional Japanese atmosphere. Popular favorites include the charcoal grilled chicken and the roasted skewer dishes.”
Sightseeing
Ueno Park is known around the nation and on any day of the week plays host to crowds of tourists rubbing shoulders with locals out cycling, visiting one of the many museums and concert halls or simply taking a stroll.
With six major facilities gathered within the roughly 1200m by 500m confines of the park, the worlds of art, history, science and culture are all represented on what was once sprawling temple grounds named Kanei-ji.
779 当地人推荐
上野公园
8 UenokōenUeno Park is known around the nation and on any day of the week plays host to crowds of tourists rubbing shoulders with locals out cycling, visiting one of the many museums and concert halls or simply taking a stroll.
With six major facilities gathered within the roughly 1200m by 500m confines of the park, the worlds of art, history, science and culture are all represented on what was once sprawling temple grounds named Kanei-ji.
Ameyoko is both laid-back and full-on, with crowds drifting through its narrow alleys while hawkers holler and cajole at full volume. Fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, imported delicacies, shoes, used golf clubs, clothes, kebabs, street snacks, sweets - Ameyoko is multitudinous, raucous colorful, photogenic, invigorating, tiring, smelly, great-tasting - all at once. You'll even find Tokudaiji, a brightly colored Buddhist temple, in the midst of it all, perched on top of part of the huge Miki confectionery shop! The basement floor of the Ameyoko Center Building is the place in Tokyo to go for Asian mainland foodstuffs and ingredients.
549 当地人推荐
Ameyoko
4 Chome-7 UenoAmeyoko is both laid-back and full-on, with crowds drifting through its narrow alleys while hawkers holler and cajole at full volume. Fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, imported delicacies, shoes, used golf clubs, clothes, kebabs, street snacks, sweets - Ameyoko is multitudinous, raucous colorful, photogenic, invigorating, tiring, smelly, great-tasting - all at once. You'll even find Tokudaiji, a brightly colored Buddhist temple, in the midst of it all, perched on top of part of the huge Miki confectionery shop! The basement floor of the Ameyoko Center Building is the place in Tokyo to go for Asian mainland foodstuffs and ingredients.
Parks & Nature
“Ueno Zoo borders the art museum and is still famous today as the first Western style zoo in the country. Ueno Zoo opened a decade and a half into the reign of Mutsuhito, the Meiji Emperor.”
523 当地人推荐
上野动物园
9-83 Uenokōen“Ueno Zoo borders the art museum and is still famous today as the first Western style zoo in the country. Ueno Zoo opened a decade and a half into the reign of Mutsuhito, the Meiji Emperor.”
Arts & Culture
The Ueno Royal Museum was opened in April 1972, when the facilities of the Japan Art Association Museum were completely remodeled. There are no permanent exhibitions, but various planned exhibitions are held introducing different genres of art including retrospectives of Japanese and foreign artists, as well as exhibitions by art and calligraphy groups.
122 当地人推荐
上野皇家美术馆
1-2 UenokōenThe Ueno Royal Museum was opened in April 1972, when the facilities of the Japan Art Association Museum were completely remodeled. There are no permanent exhibitions, but various planned exhibitions are held introducing different genres of art including retrospectives of Japanese and foreign artists, as well as exhibitions by art and calligraphy groups.
Ueno Toshogu Shrine, underwent major renovation in 1651 by order of the third shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu. The heavily gilded and splendid main building is also known as the shrine of gold. Having survived the calamities such as wars and earthquakes that followed and retained its features from the Edo period, the precious structure is designated a Cultural Property of Japan.
38 当地人推荐
东照宫
9-88 UenokōenUeno Toshogu Shrine, underwent major renovation in 1651 by order of the third shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu. The heavily gilded and splendid main building is also known as the shrine of gold. Having survived the calamities such as wars and earthquakes that followed and retained its features from the Edo period, the precious structure is designated a Cultural Property of Japan.
Opened in 1871, it has had several names, including Ministry of Education Museum, Tokyo Museum, Tokyo Science Museum, the National Science Museum of Japan, and the National Museum of Nature and Science as of 2007. It was renovated in the 1990s and 2000s, and offers a wide variety of natural history exhibitions and interactive scientific experiences.
206 当地人推荐
东京国立博物馆
13-9 UenokōenOpened in 1871, it has had several names, including Ministry of Education Museum, Tokyo Museum, Tokyo Science Museum, the National Science Museum of Japan, and the National Museum of Nature and Science as of 2007. It was renovated in the 1990s and 2000s, and offers a wide variety of natural history exhibitions and interactive scientific experiences.
Shopping
Atre Ueno
7-chōme-1-1 UenoYoung women love it, right at JR Ueno Station
Matsuzakaya carries a variety of products for senior citizens in Japan. You can find merchandise made for elder ladies in the Madame Selection departments, as well as comfortable walking shoes in the ladies footwear shops. The building has 10 levels, ranging from B1 to 8F (the 2nd floor is split into two levels). Each level is packed with shops, making for a very ample selection of goods.
The building itself is also directly accessible from the Ginza Line, so it’s a good place to go when the weather’s not great.
26 当地人推荐
Matsuzakaya Ueno
4-chōme-9-5 UenoMatsuzakaya carries a variety of products for senior citizens in Japan. You can find merchandise made for elder ladies in the Madame Selection departments, as well as comfortable walking shoes in the ladies footwear shops. The building has 10 levels, ranging from B1 to 8F (the 2nd floor is split into two levels). Each level is packed with shops, making for a very ample selection of goods.
The building itself is also directly accessible from the Ginza Line, so it’s a good place to go when the weather’s not great.
Ueno Marui
6-chōme-15-1 UenoFun shopping for everyone
Takeya is truly a one-stop shopping destination with nearly 200,00 different items to choose from. It is a collection of eight different buildings, all connected and all carrying everything you can dream of. There’s a building for furniture, another for novelties, another for clothing, and food, and much much more! They’re all labeled and clearly outlined to make it easy to find what you’re looking for.
With such services as a Duty-Free counters and Free Wi-Fi, this is truly a traveler’s dream come true.
12 当地人推荐
Takeya Select Ueno
2-chōme-18-4 HigashiuenoTakeya is truly a one-stop shopping destination with nearly 200,00 different items to choose from. It is a collection of eight different buildings, all connected and all carrying everything you can dream of. There’s a building for furniture, another for novelties, another for clothing, and food, and much much more! They’re all labeled and clearly outlined to make it easy to find what you’re looking for.
With such services as a Duty-Free counters and Free Wi-Fi, this is truly a traveler’s dream come true.
8 floors of goods ranging from travel goods and camera accessories on the B1 floor to cameras and watches on the 1F, computers and PC peripherals on the 2F and 3F, TVs and audio on the 4F, personal care-related devices on the 5F, and home appliances on the 6F and 7F.
The Yodobashi Camera Multimedia Ueno No.2 Store on the next block offer three floors of mobile and smartphone-related on the 1F, toys and hobby-related on the 2F, and TV games on the 3F.
Both Yodobashi Camera stores provide a tax-free service for non-residents of Japan.
39 当地人推荐
Yodobashi Ueno
4-chōme-10-10 Ueno8 floors of goods ranging from travel goods and camera accessories on the B1 floor to cameras and watches on the 1F, computers and PC peripherals on the 2F and 3F, TVs and audio on the 4F, personal care-related devices on the 5F, and home appliances on the 6F and 7F.
The Yodobashi Camera Multimedia Ueno No.2 Store on the next block offer three floors of mobile and smartphone-related on the 1F, toys and hobby-related on the 2F, and TV games on the 3F.
Both Yodobashi Camera stores provide a tax-free service for non-residents of Japan.
Essentials
7-Eleven
4-chōme-7-17 MotoasakusaFamilyMart Ueno Rokuchome
6-chōme-16-22 UenoMinistop
2-chōme-39-11 Iriya