Ueno is a fun place to visit with kids and I also believe that Ueno is a great place to stay with kids once they are past the “needing a playground nearby” age. See here for my recommendation for where to stay in Ueno with kids.
For street food and bustling restaurant options I recommend going straight to Ameyoko Market and Shopping District.
Ueno is most well-known for its zoo, but if you’ve been there, you’d definitely know that !
Everywhere is covered with animal pictures and merchandise – even more so this year as a new baby panda was just born at the Ueno Zoo! This is the place to grab a panda shaped cupcake or bakery item – that’s for sure.
To begin your tour of panda and zoo animal-shaped food, I’d start inside Ueno Station.
Inside of the station in the connected department store, Atre West, is Andersen Bakery. Lots of panda shaped goodness here (as well as coffee, sandwiches and juice.) There are lots of tables if you want to eat inside the store.
ANDERSEN BAKERY, UENO
台東区上野7-1-1 アトレ上野
ATRE UENO DEPARTMENT STORE, 7-1-1 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN 7:30AM -10PM
WEBSITE
If you need something heavier for breakfast, the Hard Rock Cafe is just opposite this bakery. The Hard Rock Cafe in Ueno is open from 7am.
In case you’re a die-hard fan they have a jacket of Madonna’s and Pink Floyd’s on display, Justin Timberlake’s jeans, Elvis’s boots and some other treasures too.
THE HARDROCK CAFE UENO
台東区上野7-1-1 アトレー上野１F
GROUND FLOOR, ATRE UENO SHOPPING COMPLEX, 7-1-1 UENO ,TAITO
OPEN 7AM-11PM (THE GIFT SHOP OPENS AT 10AM)
WEBSITE
After that, if you have a toddler who needs a moment of “toddling” time while you drink a take-away coffee there is a little book shop right behind the Andersen bakery. They have a small “play area” with some books and toys that would keep a 2-3 year old occupied for 10 minutes or so.
…and right next door to the Meishodo bookshop is a public bathroom that is equipped with a change table and toddler toilet.
On your way back towards the bakery, you’ll pass another cake shop with more panda shaped treats at Morozoff. These are “Cup a la mode” and picture below shows a Danish cream cheesecake.
MOROZOFF, UENO
台東区上野7-1-1 アトレー上野１F
GROUND FLOOR, ATRE UENO SHOPPING COMPLEX, 7-1-1 UENO ,TAITO
OPEN 10AM-8PM
WEBSITE
For street food and bustling restaurant options I recommend going straight to Ameyoko Market and Shopping District.
And if you’re looking for a lovely but also kid-friendly cafe for lunch or dinner, I recommend dining at Wired Cafe Ueno. Lunch sets are 1300yen and include a pasta, rice or salad with a dessert and a small drink. For dinner I would budget 2000 yen for an adult. They can be found on the basement (B1) floor of the Atre Complex.
Wired Cafe accepts most major credit cards and the entire restaurant is non-smoking. They don’t have high chairs but they offer sofa seating as well as stool / bar counter seating.
WIRED CAFE, UENO ATRE BRANCH
台東区上野7-1-1 アトレ上野B1F
BASEMENT B1 FLOOR, ATRE UENO DEPARTMENT STORE COMPLEX, 7-1-1 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN 11AM – 9PM
And also inside the station, on the 3rd floor in a section called Ecute, you’ll find Siretoco Donuts. They are a Hokkaido–based organization ( if you really love them, you can even visit their factory in Hokkaido too!)
Many of the flavours (and little guys in the middle) change, depending on the season.
This little box, below, costs an additional 50 yen but, as this was a gift for a friend – this was better than the normal bag , this time.
SIRETOCO DONUTS, UENO STORE
東京都台東区上野7-1-1エキュート上野 3F
3F ECUTE UENO, 7-1-1 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN EVERYDAY OF THE YEAR: 8AM-10:30PM (CLOSES AT 9PM ON SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS)
SIRETOCO DONUTS WEBSITE ( JAPANESE ONLY)
And for a vegan meal inside Ueno Station, try the amazing T’s Tan Tan Ramen.
The entire restaurant is vegan. It is called T’s Tan Tan. The ramen, the gyoza, the “beef” bowls. They have Gluten Free and Nut free options too.
There are also lots of take away vegan options.
The restaurant is actually located within the gates of JR Ueno Station. But, even if you’re not travelling, I still recommend buying the basic “Platform/send off ” ticket for 130 yen
IT IS ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS HERE!
I also recommend grabbing a bento here for the bullet train. So yummy.
Here are some photos from my most recent visit.
T’S TAN TAN RAMEN
東京都台東区上野7-1-1《JR上野駅 改札内》エキュート上野3F
3F ECUTE UENO, (WITHIN THE JR UENO TICKET GATES) 7-1-1 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN 7AM-11PM
T’S TAN TAN RAMEN WEBSITE
*There are other stores in Jiyugaoka and Tokyo Station.
And then, across the road from the station is the Ueno3153 complex. The ground floor has a small food corner with more options for bakery goods, sweets and cupcakes.
There is also a cute seating area inside the food court.
UENO3153
台東区上野公園1-57 UENO3153 1F
GROUND FLOOR, UENO3153 COMPLEX, 1-57 UENOKOEN, TAITO-KU
OPEN EVERYDAY 7AM-11PM
Ueno, itself, it quite gritty. Outside of the park, it’s not the most beautiful part of Tokyo but if you like to try street food and walk through market streets (Ameyokocho), I think you’ll still have a good time.
There are lots of food stalls and some second hand clothing stores too.
If you’re looking for some Japanese food to eat with kiddies, Kyushuu Ramen called Motomaru. They have an English menu out the front of the store and the staff are so so friendly too.
There is table and counter seating to choose from.They also serve gyoza.
Just watch that little hands don’t hop into those noodle/soup bowls, ok?
KYUSHU MOTOMARU RAMEN
台東区上野4-2-4
4-2-4 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-10PM
Only 4 minutes walk from Ueno Station is a fruit stand called Hyakkaen ( if you enter Hyakkaen Ueno into google maps it will take you right there.)
Fruit is famously expensive in Japan but it is also sooooooo good and this is a cheap way to sample it. Depending on the season, the fruits offered varies but I have purchased pineapple on a stick or a ‘kebab’ of gorgeous strawberries for only 200 yen. It is washed and ready to eat.
It’s also a great way to sample new fruits too.
This stand only accepts cash.
*Note: Walking and eating is frowned upon in Japan so the polite thing to do is to buy the food, stand and eat it next to or in front of the shop and then throw the rubbish/wrappers/sticks in the bin outside the store.
The following photos are from the Shinjuku Store but it is the same brand.
HYAKKAEN, UENO (百果園 上野店)
台東区上野6-10-13
6-10-13 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN：10AM – 7PM
CLOSED EVERY WEDNESDAY
I’m not a huge fan of this zoo so don’t feel comfortable recommending – but I know lots of people who do enjoy it.
The area in front of the zoo is lovely and open – often the location of markets and festivals. There is also a big Starbucks with lots of place for kids to play out the front.
Just near the zoo entrance is this adorable post box- all in keeping with the theme. Of course.
The park is also the home of some of Tokyo’s most well-known museums.
My kids enjoy the National Museum of Science and Nature – particularly on rainy days.
I next recommend a walk through the park to the shrine. Here is a photo of my big girl making her way to the shrine through the hydrangeas (this was in rainy season.)
The shrine is called Hanazono Inari Shrine. It’s small but makes for a cute little walk through the torii gates and is a great mini-explore with little kids in tow.
HANAZONO INARI SHRINE
台東区上野公園4-59
4-59 UENOKOEN, TAITO-KU
And then, if the weather allows, why not take a Swan Boat? It costs 700 yen for 30 minutes.
Life vests aren’t compulsory but please please please ask for them – just in case?
Swan boats are closed on Wednesdays in Winter.
Swan boat hours are 10AM -6:30PM in Summer, 10AM-6PM in September, 9:30AM-5:30PM in October, February and March, 9AM – 5PM in November, 9AM-4:30PM in December, 9-5AM in January (very confusing, yes? )
I like to use these changing & feeding facilities in this area:
- UENO MARUI DEPARTMENT STORE, Basement B2 Floor (breastfeeding rooms & change tables, boiling water)
- UENO ZOO, Benten Gate (breastfeeding rooms & change tables)
- NATIONAL SCIENCE & NATURE MUSEUM, Basement Floor, Japan Pavilion (breastfeeding room & change tables) Earth Hall, 3rd Floor (change table)
- MATSUZAKAYA UENO STORE, South Building, 6th Floor (breastfeeding rooms, change tables, high chairs, boiling water, microwave)
- UENO ATRE DEPARTMENT STORE West Side, Ground Floor, next to Meishodo bookstore (change tables)
Only 7 minutes in a cab or 20 minutes on foot from Ueno Zoo is Nezu Shrine. You wouldn’t regret it. It’s so lovely here.
Not far from Tokyo Dome is Nezu Shrine. A beautiful slice of history and beauty – a little minature Kyoto. If you’re lucky enough, you will be there for a festival with the yatai (food stalls) and street food selection. The little tunnel of red tori gates is my favourite part.
Admission is free (when its Azalea season – mid to late spring- it is 200 yen to enter the Azalea area. Kids under school age are free.)
NEZU SHRINE
1-28-9 NEZU, BUNKYO
文京区根津1-28-9
OPEN: 6AM-6PM
