Ueno Zoo
ExploreJapanDaily Editorial Team · Last updated: August 25, 2026 · Facts verified: August 25, 2026
Visiting Ueno Zoo
Ueno Zoo currently has no giant pandas on display. The zoo's final pair, twin cubs Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, returned to China on January 27, 2026, following the earlier departures of their mother Shin Shin and father Ri Ri in September 2024 and their older sister Xiang Xiang in February 2023. For the first time since 1972, Japan has no giant pandas anywhere in the country. Any guide that still leads with panda information is describing a situation that no longer exists.
That said, Ueno Zoo remains very much worth visiting on its own terms. Opened March 20, 1882, it is Japan's oldest zoo, a 14.3-hectare site inside Ueno Park managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government through the Tokyo Zoological Park Society.
The zoo is split into an East Garden, reached from the Main Gate, and a West Garden, reached from the Bentenmon Gate, connected by a monorail and walking paths that cross over Shinobazu Pond. A third entrance, the Ikenohata Gate, offers a quieter approach from the Toei Oedo Line side.
Current exhibits include western lowland gorillas, Sumatran tigers (a mother and cub, viewed separately as of 2026), and a pygmy hippopotamus calf born and named in spring 2026, alongside the zoo's broader collection spanning both gardens.
Admission remains inexpensive, with free entry for children under 12, making Ueno Zoo an easy, low-cost addition to a Ueno Park day that already includes the National Museum of Nature and Science and Tokyo National Museum.
For a traveler specifically hoping to see giant pandas in Japan, Ueno Zoo is, as of this writing, not the destination it once was; there is currently no panda-viewing anywhere in the country. For everyone else, particularly families with young children, it remains a solid, historic zoo well worth an afternoon.
Things to Do at Ueno Zoo
How to Get to Ueno Zoo
Ueno Zoo has three separate entrance gates, each closest to a different station, so the best approach depends on which side of Ueno Park a traveler is arriving from.
Ueno Station itself is served by the JR Yamanote Line and several Tokyo Metro lines, making it an easy stop from almost anywhere in central Tokyo.
- •Nearest station: Ueno Station, Park Exit, JR Yamanote Line (5 minutes walk to the Main Gate)
- •IC cards (Suica, Pasmo, or ICOCA) are accepted on trains, subways, and buses throughout Japan. Tap in and out at every gate.
- •Avoid traveling during rush hour on weekdays: 7am to 9am and 5pm to 8pm. Trains are significantly more crowded.
- •Google Maps provides accurate real-time transit directions in Tokyo. Download offline maps before you arrive.
For IC cards, tickets, and full transit basics for Tokyo, see the complete transportation guide.
See the Getting Around Tokyo guide →Map
Best Time to Visit Ueno Zoo
Best time to visit Ueno Zoo: Weekday mornings for smaller crowds. Weekday mornings are generally quieter than weekends and public holidays.
- •Best time to visit: Weekday mornings for smaller crowds
- •Arriving on a weekday morning avoids the largest crowds. Weekends and public holidays are significantly busier.
- •Spring (late March to early May) and autumn (October to November) are the most popular seasons for visiting Tokyo.
- •Golden Week (late April to early May) is the busiest week of the year in Japan. Book accommodation and tickets well in advance.
Entry Fee & Hours
| Category | Price (JPY) | Approx. (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (16-64) | ¥600 | ~$4 |
| Senior (65+) | ¥300 | ~$2 |
| Student (13-15) | ¥200 | ~$1 |
| Child (under 12) | Free | Free |
USD amounts are approximate and change with the exchange rate.
- •Ueno Zoo currently has no giant pandas; the last pair returned to China on January 27, 2026. This page will be updated if pandas return to Japan.
- •Admission tickets are sold until 4:00 PM even though the zoo remains open until 5:00 PM.
- •Dedicated official pages cover accessibility for visitors with disabilities and elderly visitors, and information for those traveling with infants.
Nearby Attractions
Combine with Ueno Zoo on the same day
National Museum of Nature and Science
Tokyo National Museum
- •National Museum of Nature and Science (A short walk within Ueno Park): The National Museum of Nature and Science, known as Kahaku, is Tokyo's main natural history and science museum in Ueno Park, distinct from the art-focused Tokyo National Museum next door. Its Japan Gallery and Global Gallery cover everything from Japan's natural environment to the history of life on Earth.
- •Tokyo National Museum (A short walk within Ueno Park): Tokyo National Museum, Japan's oldest and largest museum, holds around 110,000 items of Japanese art, antiquities, and archaeology across multiple buildings in Ueno Park. First-time visitors should start at the Honkan, the main Japanese Gallery.
Suggested Itinerary
Pair Ueno Zoo with these nearby stops for a full day in Ueno / Taito.
Frequently Asked Questions
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