Japan Itinerary: Stopover at Ueno

Ueno is the most visited park in Tokyo, especially during Spring when it draws thousands of people for the much-awaited Sakura Season.

From Asakusa, we decided to traipse through the narrow streets of Old Tokyo to see more of the city closely. 

We passed by interesting shops along the way- one of which is a specialty store for anything Samurai-related.

 

And we got to see traditional Japanese neighborhoods which are often depicted in anime: idyllic narrow streets, low-rise box-type residential buildings.

 

There was also this technologically advanced parking building that conveys and stacks cars mechanically...

 

... and what I believe to be a Japanese mansion.

 

Finally, after witnessing a motley of what can be considered as "Only in Japan", we arrived at Ueno Park.

We crossed this unusually wide footbridge from Ueno Station going to the park entrance. There was something about the footbridge's width, the calming silence, and the flying crows that made this mundane moment seemingly important.

 

Even if we knew that it was not yet the peak season of Cherry Blossoms, we still kept our hopes up, crossed our fingers, and imagined a Sakura-strewn park-- awash with pink and ephemeral beauty.

But the timing just wasn't right.

 

Instead of a forest, all we got were groves of Cherry Blossoms. Still, these were worth marvelling at. 

 

 

On a positive note, different species of Sakura, ranging from white to hot pink, were already starting to bloom during our visit.

Better luck next time, maybe? 

With its vast area, Ueno Park houses several tourist attractions. One could easily spend a day in the park without running out of things to do and pictures to take. Our priority was to see the blossoming Sakura Trees; unfortunately, the odds were not in our favor. And due to time constraints, we weren't able to see tha pandas at Ueno Zoo, ride the swan boat on the lake, and delve in history at the wide array of museums in the area. 

 

 

Hoping to buy some pasalubong, we went to Ueno Arcade, just a walking distance from the park.

 

It's a busy shopping district that has a life of its own: With acrylic signages that seem to shout right at your face, bold texts and icons that pop, and everything that seems to demand attention, it perfectly embodies the Japanese culture-- quirky and fascinating; vibrant and carefree -- each element unique yet collectively full of a coherent character.

 

Just walking through the labyrinthian arcade would make you appreciate Japan even more. It's an experience so simple, yet so memorable at the same time.

More photos of our day in Tokyo here.