Ueno Zoological Gardens Travel Guide

Ueno Zoological Gardens, or Ueno Zoo, opened in 1882 as Japan's first modern zoo. Situated within the expansive Ueno Park in Tokyo, the zoo has grown into a flagship institution, dedicated to wildlife conservation and public education. The 14.3-hectare (35-acre) zoo is home to over 3,000 animals from around 300 different species.The zoo is geographically divided into the East and West Gardens, connected by the Aesop Bridge. The East Garden features iconic species, including giant pandas, Asian elephants, Sumatran tigers, and western lowland gorillas. The West Garden showcases the African Savannah exhibit, housing giraffes, hippos and more, as well as a vivarium with reptiles and amphibians. A Children's Zoo allows visitors to interact with domestic animals.Ueno Zoo has a long history of receiving animals from abroad and participating in breeding programs. Giant pandas have been a main attraction since 1972, symbolizing the zoo's commitment to conservation. The zoo actively works to create environments that mimic the animals' natural habitats, though some older enclosures remain. Visitors can easily spend a whole day exploring the diverse exhibits and learning about wildlife from around the world.