Ueno and Akihabara Guide: Museums, Market Streets and Anime

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Researched guide · Checked on Nov 5, 2026

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Ueno and Akihabara sit side by side on the east of central Tokyo, but they feel like two different cities. Ueno is a big green park full of museums, with a lively market street under the train tracks. Akihabara, a few stops south, is Tokyo’s center for anime, games and electronics.

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Overview

Best Things to Do

Ueno Park

Ueno Park is one of Tokyo’s largest parks, and one of its most famous spots for cherry blossoms in spring. Several major museums and Ueno Zoo are inside the park, so it is easy to fill a morning here, rain or shine. Next door, the old streets of Yanaka are an easy walk away.

Tokyo National Museum

Japan’s oldest museum has one of the best collections of Japanese art and historical objects, from samurai armor to scrolls and ceramics. It opens at 9:30 am and is usually closed on Mondays (if Monday is a holiday, it opens that day and closes the next day). It stays open until 8:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Compare it with other museums in our Tokyo museums guide.

Ueno Zoo

Japan’s oldest zoo is also in the park. It is open from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, with the last entry one hour before closing, and it is closed on Mondays (or the next day if Monday is a holiday) and December 29–January 1. Admission is ¥600 for adults.

Many places in Ueno Park close on Mondays, so plan your Ueno day for another day of the week.

Akihabara Electric Town

Akihabara started as an electronics market and is now known worldwide for anime, manga and games. The main street, Chuo-dori, and the side streets around it are lined with shops selling figures, trading cards, retro games, cameras and computer parts.

• Multi-floor shops: many buildings have a different theme on every floor, so take the elevator to the top and work your way down.
• Retro games and cards: look for specialist shops on the side streets as well as the main road.
• Arcades: game centers with crane games and rhythm games are everywhere.
• Themed cafés: some cafés have a cover charge or time limit, so check the prices at the entrance.

Food & Drink

Ameyoko

Ameyoko is a busy market street that runs along and under the train tracks between Ueno and Okachimachi stations. It is packed with food stalls, snack shops, fish and fruit sellers, and small bars. It is a fun place for a casual lunch, but it gets very crowded on weekends.

Ueno and Akihabara are casual places to eat: street food and small bars at Ameyoko, and quick meals around the stations. See also How to eat out in Tokyo and Japanese food to try in Tokyo.

Restaurants near Ueno Park

These two fit well around a day at the Tokyo National Museum or in the park:

• Inshotei: a Japanese restaurant inside Ueno Park, established in 1875. Lunch starts from ¥2,000, and seasonal kaiseki (traditional course meals) costs ¥7,800–¥20,000.
• Nadai Unatoto Ueno: an affordable eel restaurant near Ueno Station. Unadon (eel on rice) starts from ¥640 on the chain’s official menu, and prices can differ by store.

Prices can change, so check before you go. See our restaurant guide for more.

Shopping

• Akihabara: figures, trading cards, retro games, cameras and computer parts along Chuo-dori and the side streets. Many shops sell tax-free to visitors, so bring your passport.
• Ameyoko: snacks, fruit, fish and everyday goods at bargain prices.
• More ideas in our Tokyo souvenirs and shopping guide.

Where to Stay

Ueno is well connected, has direct trains to Narita Airport, and hotels are often better value than in Shinjuku or Shibuya. See three hotels we researched in Best hotels in Ueno, or compare it with other areas in our Where to Stay guide.

TODO：アフィリエイト提携後に上野のホテルのボタンのリンクを差し替える。実際に行ったら写真と感想を追加して「We’ve been here」に変更

How to get from Ueno to Akihabara

The easiest way is the JR Yamanote Line: Akihabara is two stops from Ueno, with Okachimachi between them. The two areas are also close enough to walk.

Way	Route	Good to know
JR Yamanote Line	Ueno → Okachimachi → Akihabara	Two stops. The simplest choice if you have a Suica or other IC card.
Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line	Ueno → Naka-Okachimachi → Akihabara	Two stops. Useful if you are already on the Hibiya Line.
On foot	Follow Ameyoko from Ueno to Okachimachi, then keep going south along the JR tracks	A good way to include lunch at Ameyoko. The Japan National Tourism Organization lists the two areas as within walking distance.

Ueno or Akihabara: which should you visit?

Choose Ueno for museums, the park and the zoo, and Akihabara for anime, games and electronics. If you have one day, see both: they are close together.

	Ueno	Akihabara
Best for	Museums, Ueno Park, Ueno Zoo, Ameyoko market	Anime, manga, games, cards and electronics
Best time	Morning	Afternoon and evening
Watch out for	Many places in Ueno Park close on Mondays	Shops usually open late in the morning
Getting from the airport	Direct Keisei trains from Narita, including the Skyliner	Change trains, for example at Ueno

Getting There

• Ueno: JR Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines, Tokyo Metro Ginza and Hibiya lines, and the Keisei Line, including the Skyliner to Narita Airport.
• Akihabara: JR Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines and the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, two stops from Ueno on the Yamanote Line.
• Arriving at Narita? See Narita Airport to Tokyo.

New to Tokyo trains? See Trains in Tokyo and How to use Suica.

Suggested Itinerary

One easy day: the park and the market street in Ueno, a detour to old Yanaka, then anime and games in Akihabara. The times are a suggested pace, not opening hours.

1. 9:30Ueno Park morning walk
2. The park is always open and free to enter; some facilities inside charge a fee.
3. 10:30Ameyoko market street under the train tracks
4. It runs along and under the tracks between Ueno and Okachimachi stations.
5. 12:00Street food lunch at Ameyoko
6. Walk back through Ueno Park toward Yanaka.
7. 13:30Detour: the quiet old streets of Yanaka
8. Nippori Station on the JR Yamanote Line is the closest JR station to Yanaka.
9. 15:00JR to Akihabara (2 stops from Ueno)
10. Many shops offer tax-free shopping, so bring your passport.
11. 16:00Anime shops, retro games and arcades

Travel Tips

• Ueno Station has direct Keisei trains to Narita Airport, including the Skyliner.
• Bring cash for Ameyoko. Some stalls do not take cards. See our money guide.
• Many Akihabara shops offer tax-free shopping to visitors. Bring your passport; the tax is refunded after the customs check when you leave Japan.
• Akihabara shops usually open late in the morning, so it works best in the afternoon.

Comparing areas? See 23 Tokyo neighborhoods side by side in Tokyo neighborhoods compared.

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Explore More in This Area

• Things to Do in Akihabara & Ueno ›
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• Restaurants in Ueno ›
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