Ueno Park and Zoo- Tokyo, Japan

You will see this once you pass the entrance.

Our next animal-related journey took us to Ueno Zoo.

Before reaching the zoo, it look us about a good 15-20+ mins walk from the JR Ueno station (longer if you want to explore the many areas of the park as there is a temple & a boat pond).

According to the Lonely Plant guide, Ueno Park is one of the top places to go Cherry Blossom viewing in early to Mid-April.

Even though we visited during September, it was still very crowded (not to mention very humid).

We went on a day that was popular for school field trips so we saw lots of cute elementary kids visiting too.

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Seeing the Pandas were top priority of the visit, but we didn't know that they nap around lunch time. Bummer! They had a large adjoining artificial habitat next to this room for them to play in too. What a life! Pictures are ok, but flash is not.

At the very least, all was not lost and we were blessed with Monkey Mountain! This is the first of its kind in Japan.

A large sign documenting the life of the Japanese Macaque Monkeys.

I see you Monkey!!!

Ok, I have to admit, seeing the Monkey's here were not all that exciting after having visited Monkey Parks in Kyoto and Nagano since you can't get near or feed the Monkeys here. 

However, if you don't plan on visiting other Monkey Parks, Ueno Zoo has a lot to offer (you can literally spend almost a day here since the Zoo is so large).  It is a bargain in fact, especially as the entrance fee is 600 Yen (adult admission; Children under 12 is free).

Let me give you a small taste of what Monkey Mountain offers: 

One of the inhabitants I found interesting:

Sign for the Otter couple that lives here. They are so cute!! (See my video clip below).

The Zoo is divided into 2 separate areas. You can find 2 Red Pandas on the opposite side (they are underneath the bridge walk-way so be sure not to miss them). Sorry my picture cut-off the other Panda (which is actually black). Close to this area, there is an actual Panda exhibit with pictures and signage in English (with A/C!).

You will soon see in person the really big Lotus Plants! (On the left cut-off portion of the photo, there is a large seating area where there's individual tables with its own parasols where you can buy food or drinks and sit and relax).

More beautiful scenery.

I found this artificial stump interesting with it's cute carvings.

Kangaroos!

Oh...is that why they don't hop...

Cleansing water for outside of Bendento Temple, a little outside of the Zoo. Say...I see the tri-force from Zelda...

Interior of the temple.

Another interior view.

We headed to the boat pond and saw this cute tea cafe ("Kissaten").

Bummer #2, it's closed and empty like a ghost town.

From what I could get from this sign, they are doing construction until the end of October 2012.

Although I did not get to see the Pandas be active or get to rent a swan boat, I still enjoyed my visit to Ueno Park and Zoo.  If I ever go back, I would definitely make another visit (in the early morning).

I found a comprehensive list of all the things you can do here on your visit.

If you find yourself in Tokyo, Ueno Park and Zoo is worth a visit, be sure to budget a day for it!