Yamashita Park
Yamashita Park is located by the sea, just a short walk from Yokohama Chinatown. It was opened in March of 1930, reclaiming the waterfront using rubble caused by the Great Kanto Earthquake.
Yamashita Park is really relaxing, and the ocean view is beautiful. It's also close to the Red Brick Warehouse, Chinatown, and the Hikawa Maru, so it's very convenient to visit them all in one trip.
Neo Park Okinawa
This zoological and botanical garden is located about 10 minutes by car from downtown Nago. The vast site, nearly five times the size of the Tokyo Dome, features an area that reproduces the environment of a tropical region.
My favorite part was being able to feed the animals in the park. Lots of birds would fly right up next to us, so it felt very interactive. Both kids and adults had a great time.
Mikuni Port Echizen Crab & Seafood Specialty Restaurant Mikuni Inkyojo
A specialty crab restaurant in Sakai, Fukui Prefecture, a gourmet town that won the Gastronomy City Award 2025, serving Mikuni Port Echizen crab cuisine. This seaside auberge shares the Sea of Japan and the lifestyle of the port town through food. Accommodations are limited to one group per day for a fully private stay, while lunch and dinner at the restaurant are also available for day visitors. Outside crab season, it serves 'Echizen Kitamae Cuisine,' carrying on the food culture brought by Kitamaebune trade into the present day. The restaurant also participates in a project certified by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, offering dishes inspired by historical background and seasonal local ingredients.
The seafood was really fresh. You could really taste the natural sweetness of the sweet shrimp, scallops, and salmon roe, and the quality of the ingredients was excellent. The place was also clean and comfortable, with a simple Japanese-style interior. The dining space was quiet and had a nice, refined feel.
Yanaka Matsunoya
Yanaka Matsunoya specializes in aramono-simple, durable household goods designed to enhance daily life. Founded originally as a bag manufacturer and wholesaler in Tokyo’s Bakurocho district in 1945, Matsunoya expanded its business to become a wholesaler of everyday household goods. In 2010, they opened a retail shop for the public atop Yanaka’s famous Yuyake Dandan stairs.
If you like household goods and little knickknacks, you’ll probably love Matsunoya. The shop has lots of practical items with character, and this woven tote bag was one of my finds this time.
Ameyoko Shopping Street
The Ameyoko Shopping Street, affectionately known as "Ameyoko," stretches approximately 500m between JR Ueno Station and JR Okachimachi Station, with around 400 shops lining the street. It features a variety of businesses, including food and confectionery, clothing, general goods, and jewelry stores.
If you love shopping, you definitely have to come to this area. Ameyoko has that lively market atmosphere, and you can do some serious shopping at Takeya. A whole afternoon goes by in no time.
Ueno Park
Ueno Park, officially known as "Ueno Onshi Park," is located in Taito Ward, Tokyo. Managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Construction Bureau, the park spans an impressive area of 530,000 square meters and has a rich history.
There’s no need to rush when you visit Ueno Park. Just wandering around is enough to feel a laid-back atmosphere that’s rare in Tokyo. Whether you want to enjoy the scenery, take photos, or find a bench and rest, Ueno Park is a great place to spend some time.
Ueno Zoo
This is Japan’s first ever zoo, founded in 1882. Despite its urban setting in the heart of Tokyo, it still keeps a lush, natural environment as well as about 2,500 different animal friends of some 300 different species.
The pandas at Ueno Zoo have all been sent back to China, so it feels like the biggest draw is gone. This time, we just took some photos at the entrance and walked around a bit.
Kaneiji Temple
This temple was founded in 1625 and is the head temple of the Kanto region of the Tendai sect of Buddhism. It was built by the high priest Tenkai, who was deeply revered by three shoguns, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Hidetada, and Iemitsu, to pray for the safety of the Tokugawa shogunate and the well-being of the common people. It is a prayer hall and family temple of the Tokugawa shoguns, and six of the fifteen Tokugawa shoguns are still buried there today.
I was originally just stopping by, but I didn’t expect Kaneiji Temple to have such a long history. The trees are lush, and it felt especially nice to walk around. It has a peaceful feel, tucked away from the bustle.
Mitsui Garden Hotel Ueno
A brief 2-minute jaunt away from Ueno Station is where you’ll find Mitsui Garden Hotel Ueno, an uber-easy base with direct access to major Tokyo transit lines plus major destinations like Asakusa and Akihabara.
I was really looking forward to staying here, but the price kept climbing for popular dates, so all I could do was quietly save it and wait to try again during the off-season next time.
Even though I didn’t get to stay at Mitsui Garden Hotel Ueno this time, I could still feel its upscale atmosphere just by passing by. The location is also fantastic, so it’s easy to see why it’s such a popular place to stay in Tokyo.
Pensta ecute Ueno store
Suica is the transit IC card from JR East. At the Pensta café and goods shop located in the ecute Ueno shopping floor you can find the beloved Suica mascot penguin waiting along with plenty of themed goodies and merch’. The shop is located inside the JR Ueno station ticket gates, making easy to swing by before heading over to local favorites like the Ueno Zoo, Ueno Park and the Ameyoko shopping street.
The whole shop, from the decor to the merchandise, is full of Suica penguin elements. It's super convenient to stop by and sit for a bit before hopping on the train.