MAK家BLOG: Tokyo

顯示具有 Tokyo 標籤的文章。顯示所有文章

2026年10月6日星期二

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 14): Farewell to Ueno, Once Again!

“Ueno” is a guaranteed crowd-puller. Articles that mention it always seem to attract high readership. Perhaps that is because of its unique and multifaceted charm.

For Japanese people, Ueno is often the starting point of a dream-chasing journey in Tokyo. It is where stories begin, whether they end in triumphant homecomings or empty-handed returns. Many of life's turning points start from this very station.

For foreign visitors, Ueno is both the beginning and the end of a Tokyo adventure. The excitement of arrival and the reluctance of departure all converge here, making it a place where countless emotions intersect.

With its excellent transportation links, the endless souvenirs and food stalls of Ameyoko, the shopping districts of 0101 and PARCO, and the breathtaking cherry blossoms of Ueno Park, Ueno has become one of the top accommodation choices for independent travelers visiting Tokyo. It is also a destination that finds its way into almost every itinerary.

Let’s take a look back at some of my Ueno experiences from recent years!

2025

Tokyo Again 2025 (3) -APA Hotel Ueno Ekimae - with Movie NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (4) The First Night in Ueno（GYU STAR All you can eat BBQ / Donki in Ueno) NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (9) - Under the cherry blossom trees (Ueno Park / Tsukiji Market) NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (12) - Ueno Again NEW!!

2026

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 2) – Arrival: The Hotel in Ueno NEW2026!!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 13): Penguins and Polar Bears at the Sweltering Ueno Zoo NEW2026!!!

July 22, 2026

On the final day of the trip, I woke up early and headed alone to Keisei Ueno Station. After selecting my Skyliner departure time and reserving a seat, my journey back to the airport was all set.

(I bought the ticket through Trip.com and simply used the QR code at a self-service ticket machine to collect my ticket and choose my departure time and seat. In fact, you can check the available train times beforehand using Google Maps. For example, if you set the departure time to 6:30 PM on July 22 and the destination as Airport Terminal 2, Google Maps will accurately tell you that the next fastest train departs at 7:00 PM. This allows you to know your train options and airport arrival times before even reaching the station. Very convenient.)

After leaving our luggage at the hotel, we devoted the remaining half day before our flight entirely to Ueno.

Ueno is beautiful both day and night. At night, you can enjoy steaming bowls of ramen and skewers from restaurants that stay open until the early hours. In the morning, fresh seafood rice bowls await those who rise early.

After breakfast, we visited Ueno Zoo and spent a scorching hot morning there (see Diary 13 for details). Following lunch near Ueno Station, we split into groups once again. My mother went shopping at (0101), while the rest of us headed to Ueno’s paradise for anime fans, Yamashiroya.

This was my third visit to Yamashiroya in recent years. It no longer felt surprising, but the ever-changing range of anime merchandise remained as appealing as ever.

Before leaving for the airport, our reunited group made one final stop at the souvenir shop Niki no Kashi. While the two ladies in our group immersed themselves in aisles filled with snacks and dried foods, I wandered around nearby stores browsing football jerseys and nostalgic collectibles. Each of us spent our final afternoon in Tokyo doing exactly what we loved most.

As both the beginning and the end of countless journeys, the road leading back to Keisei Ueno Station became the place where we once again said goodbye to Ueno, to Tokyo, and to this unforgettable trip.

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 - To Be Continued

Next chapter: (15) The Trip Planner’s Summary and Trip Rating

If you find it interesting to read my blog, please click on the google ads on the blog to show your support. The income from these ads is very pitiful, but for me this is a great support and recognition, allowing me to continue to persevere in this era when writing are no longer popular. Thank you!

Below are other sharing about My Previous trips in Japan, including Disney Sea Tokyo, The Making of Harry Potter, USJ Osaka, and also my last 2 couple trips in Bangkok, Thailand

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Busily working on my write-up...)

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 - Pre-Trip Preparation Checklist NEW2026!!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 2) – Arrival: The Hotel in Ueno NEW2026!!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 3) – Disneyland vs DisneySea Ultimate Showdown NEW2026!!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (part 4) Tokyo Disneyland – Pre-Trip Preparations NEW2026!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (part 5): Full‑Day Field Log at Tokyo Disneyland NEW2026!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (part 6) - The Akihabara Dad Squad NEW2026!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 7): Complete Guide to Shibuya Sky NEW2026!!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 8) Preparation!‑ Fuji‑Q Highland NEW2026!!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 9) Fuji‑Q Highland – Thrills, Scares and the Attack NEW2026!!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 10) TeamLab Plants Tokyo: Immersed NEW2026!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 11) Dad’s “One‑Unicorn Show” NEW2026!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 13): Penguins and Polar Bears at the Sweltering Ueno Zoo NEW2026!!!

Tokyo Again 2025

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary（Part 12) Shopping‑Culture Experience – Mitsui Outlet Park Makuhari NEW2026!!!

Tokyo Again 2025

Tokyo Again 2025(1) - 72 hours of traveling in Tokyo (3 -days Itinerary plan, plus 7-days in 2024) NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (2) - Tokyo Transportation - Simplified Package for Dummies NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (3) -APA Hotel Ueno Ekimae - with Movie NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (4) The First Night in Ueno（GYU STAR All you can eat BBQ / Donki in Ueno) NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (5) - Karuizawa Day Trip (Part 1 - How Did We Go?) NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (6) - Karuizawa Day Trip (Part 2 - Leisurely Stroll......Kumoba Pond) NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (7) - Karuizawa Day Trip (Part 3 - Can't Miss......Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza Shopping Street) NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (8) - Karuizawa Day Trip (Part 4 - Day and Night......Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza) NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (9) - Under the cherry blossom trees (Ueno Park / Tsukiji Market) NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (10) - First Avenue Tokyo Station - Tokyo Character Street NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (11) - Shopping Paradise (Ginza) NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (12) - Ueno Again NEW!!

Tokyo Again 2025 (13) - Prepare for Next Tokyo Trip NEW!!

Tokyo 2024

Tokyo 2024 - 7 days itinerary (Family of 4 - Attractions and Shopping Experience) NEW!!

Disney Sea Tokyo 1 - Basic Information and Tips for your journey NEW!!

Disney Sea Tokyo 2 - Busy First Half with Mobile Phone (Tower of Terror / Journey to the Center of the Earth / Rapunzel's Lantern Festival)

Dinery Sea Tokyo 3 - Busy Second Half Having fun (Peter Pan / Toy Story Mania)

The Making of Harry Potter (Tokyo)

Hotel in Ikebukuro (Hotel Hisoca Ikebukuro)

USJ Osaka 2023

Universal Studio Japan (Osaka) 1 - Basic Information and Some Tips for your journey

Universal Studio Japan (Osaka) 2 - Preparation with Kids

Universal Studio Japan (Osaka) 3 - Time Entry / Express Pass Experience / Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem

Universal Studio Japan (Osaka) 4 - Super Nintendo World

Universal Studio Japan (Osaka) 5 - Kinopio's Café

Universal Studio Japan (Osaka) Part 6 - Harry Porter and His Magic Wand

Universal Studio Japan (Osaka) Part 7 - Our Forbidden Journey

Universal Studio Japan (Osaka) 8 - Universal Wonderland and Others

Bangkok 2023/2024

Bangkok Trip - Previous Articles

Bangkok Trip 23/24 (1) - About My Itinerary

Bangkok Trip 23/24 (2) - Bangkok Tour begins (Experience of Thai Bahts Exchange and Transportation from Suvarnabhumi Airport to ASOK)

Bangkok Trip 23/24 (3) - Unbeatable Shopping Spirit in Chatuchak Market (JJ Market)

Bangkok Trip 23/24 (4) - Eat and Relax (Puponfai Food Delivery / Let's Relax Massage)

Bangkok Trip 23/24 (5) - Palace on the River (Iconsiam)

Bangkok Trip 23/24 (6) - Another Side of the River - Asiatique The Riverfront

Bangkok Trip 23/24 (7) - Popular night market JODD FAIR (GRAB Experience and Spicy Pork Bones Soup)

Bangkok Trip 23/24 (8) - Big C Supermarket and Water Gate Chicken Rice

Bangkok Trip 23/24 (9) - Cheap and Localized Products - Platinum Fashion Mall

Bangkok Trip 23/24 (10) - COPPER BEYOND BUFFET Bangkok - Gaysorn Amarin - Reservation and Experience)

Bangkok Trip 23/24 (11) - Couple SPA 2023 (Health Land Bangkok - Natural Reviver)

Bangkok Trip 23/24 (12) - Hotel: Grand Centre Point Terminal 21

THANKS FOR YOUR READING!

2026年9月25日星期五

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 13): Penguins and Polar Bears at the Sweltering Ueno Zoo

"Won't it be unbearably hot if we go to the zoo?"

Zoos and blazing sunshine seem like two brothers who simply can't get along, yet are forced to live together. Most zoos are outdoor attractions, they don't open at night, and daytime visitors have to endure the full force of the scorching sun.

Personally, I'm not particularly supportive of keeping animals in captivity. However, as a tour leader, I can't simply follow my own interests and spend the day immersed in an art museum. That was why I came up with Ueno Zoo, a historical attraction with broad appeal. Besides, compared with setting off early in the morning for Tokyo Disneyland or Fuji-Q Highland, this activity was clearly a much more relaxed option.

(Photo: To combat the blazing heat, your battle-hardened tour leader Mak wrapped a soaking wet cooling towel around his head. The look may not be particularly flattering, but it works wonders for cooling down. No fans or parasols required.)

Having visited Ueno countless times, I hardly need Google Maps to find my way around Ueno Zoo. We entered through the Benten Gate and planned to begin our visit in the Western Garden.

(Photo: Admission is only ¥600 for adults, ¥200 for junior high school students, and free for children aged 12 and under. A family of four can get in for just ¥1,400. An excellent budget-friendly attraction.)

10:30 AM - Entering the Western Garden

The moment we stepped inside, a few shameless members of the group immediately rushed off to see the tortoises and rabbits. The real reason, of course, was the indoor, air-conditioned viewing area.

Looking at the map, two animals in the Western Garden particularly caught my interest. The first was the African penguin.

"Penguins? Surely their enclosure must be air-conditioned if they live in icy environments?"

As it turned out, not all penguins live among snow and ice.

"According to the information panel, African penguins inhabit the southwestern coasts of South Africa and Namibia, where ocean temperatures range from 25 to 28 degrees Celsius..."

Before I could finish reading, the younger members of the group had already hurried toward the next exhibit. The intense heat had clearly claimed more than a few casualties among their curiosity and thirst for knowledge.

The second animal was the shoebill stork, one of Ueno Zoo's biggest stars. Its popularity probably stems from its status as an endangered species. There are only ten shoebills in all of Japan, and remarkably, four of them live at Ueno Zoo.

(Photo: It has a rather amusing appearance, and its head seems capable of rotating almost 360 degrees.)

Beside Shinobazu Pond, where lotus flowers were in full bloom, lies the Western Garden area. The surroundings were beautiful, albeit a little too hot. Giraffes and hippos, animals rarely seen in Hong Kong, could also be found here.

After exploring the Western Garden, we crossed the Aesop Bridge toward the Eastern Garden. The walk between the two sections takes only five to eight minutes, so there's really no need to wait for the shuttle bus. There are also restaurants and rest areas along the way, making the journey quite manageable.

12:00 PM - After a Short Break - Eastern Garden

The Eastern Garden is home to many of the larger animals, including polar bears, elephants, and Sumatran tigers.

However, when we entered the indoor viewing corridor for the polar bears, we discovered that the bears had been kept inside their air-conditioned quarters and were not visible to visitors. In fact, it wasn't just the polar bears. Even the tigers, animals that naturally live in tropical rainforests, were hiding from the heat during the hottest part of the day.

If you want to see the animals actively moving around, it's best to arrive early, before the sun climbs high into the sky.

At this point, readers may be wondering why I chose to feature "Polar Bears" in the title.

Well, I simply wanted everyone to share the disappointment I felt when I desperately wanted to see them but couldn't.

(Photo: Given the oppressive heat, it's impressive that the elephant still found the energy to play with a giant tyre.)

Fortunately, there were still elephants and orangutans to see. The biggest surprise for me, however, was the Small Mammal House, which featured dozens of bats. Watching them hang upside down and swoop through the enclosure together was a fascinating and rather rare sight.

(Bats - there's a video!)

12:40 PM

Hot, hungry, and exhausted, the tour members decided it was time to leave.

"Why didn't we just visit an art museum? At least they have air conditioning!"

As we passed the long queue outside one of the nearby museums, the group once again began questioning the tour leader's planning.

"You lot aren't even interested in Hong Kong's M+ Museum. Why have you suddenly become art lovers the moment you arrive in Tokyo?"

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 - To be continued

Next chapter: Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 14): Farewell to Ueno, Once Again!

Below are other sharing about My Previous trips in Japan, including Disney Sea Tokyo, The Making of Harry Potter, USJ Osaka, and also my last 2 couple trips in Bangkok, Thailand

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Busily working on my write-up...)

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 - Pre-Trip Preparation Checklist NEW2026!!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 2) – Arrival: The Hotel in Ueno NEW2026!!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 3) – Disneyland vs DisneySea Ultimate Showdown NEW2026!!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (part 4) Tokyo Disneyland – Pre-Trip Preparations NEW2026!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (part 5): Full‑Day Field Log at Tokyo Disneyland NEW2026!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (part 6) - The Akihabara Dad Squad NEW2026!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 7): Complete Guide to Shibuya Sky NEW2026!!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 8) Preparation!‑ Fuji‑Q Highland NEW2026!!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 9) Fuji‑Q Highland – Thrills, Scares and the Attack NEW2026!!!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 10) TeamLab Plants Tokyo: Immersed NEW2026!

Tokyo Trip Planner Diary 2026 (Part 11) Dad’s “One‑Unicorn Show” NEW2026!!