Ueno is a district in the Taito ward of Tokyo that is famous for its massive park and for the lively street market of Ameya-Yokocho. In and around Ueno Park are some of Tokyo’s top cultural attractions including Ueno Zoo, several historic shrines and temples, and many fine museums.
The district of Ueno runs along the eastern and southern edges of Ueno Park and is not so big, so it can be easily explored on foot. When looking for a place to stay here, most people will probably choose the main areas around JR Ueno Station, Showa Dori Avenue or the area to the south of Ueno Park. Staying in any of these areas will give you easy access to Ueno’s main attractions and to public transport — and there are plenty of accommodation options in these areas too.
However, there are some other areas to the north, east and west of Ueno and Ueno Park that are not too inconvenient — and that may have better room rates! In this article we will look at all your accommodation options in and around Ueno.
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Ueno Station Area
JR Ueno Station is located at the top of the Ueno district on the northeast side of Ueno Park and just a few steps away from the northern entrance to Ameya-Yokocho street market. Hotels in this area are located on the east side of the JR Ueno Station building. Here you can find several high-end tourist hotels, a large number of medium-range tourist and business hotels, and a few budget hotels and hostels too — all within a short walking distance of the station building.
This area is convenient for sightseeing, shopping and dining. Inside the JR Ueno Station building there are two shopping malls where you can find souvenirs, fashion, groceries and a lot of good dining options. Most of Ueno’s top tourist attractions are located inside Ueno Park, which can be entered on the west side of the station building. Attractions inside the park which are closest to the station include the Ueno Royal Museum, the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan concert hall, the National Museum of Western Art and the National Museum of Nature and Science.
A major reason to choose this area is its convenience for both local and intercity transport. At JR Ueno Station you have access not only to local JR East train services such as the Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines, but also to Shinkansen bullet train services bound for the Joetsu, Hokuriku and Tohoku regions as well as for the cities of Akita and Yamagata, and the northern island of Hokkaido. Beneath the JR station building is Ueno Subway Station which serves Tokyo Metro’s Ginza Line and Hibiya Line.
Keisei Ueno Station, which has services on the Keisei Main Line and Narita Access Line as well as Skyliner services for Narita Airport, is just a 3-minute walk from the JR station. Taxis are readily available outside the JR and Keisei stations and several local bus services run from this area too.
Luxury
- Mitsui Garden Hotel Ueno is a modern hotel offering well-appointed rooms with contemporary design, an on-site restaurant, and a relaxing garden terrace. Located near Ueno Station, it provides convenient access to Ueno Park, museums, and the bustling Ameyoko shopping street.
- MIMARU Tokyo Ueno North is an all-suite hotel designed for families and extended stays, featuring spacious rooms with fully equipped kitchens and living areas. It offers a comfortable and home-like environment, ideal for longer visits in the Ueno area.
- MIMARU Tokyo Ueno East is a family-friendly hotel offering apartment-style accommodations with kitchens, perfect for extended stays. The hotel combines the convenience of home with modern amenities, making it a great choice for those exploring Ueno and its cultural attractions.
Mid-range
- Hotel Sunroute Stellar Ueno is a modern hotel featuring well-appointed rooms with contemporary amenities, an on-site restaurant, and convenient services for travelers. Situated close to Ueno Station, it offers a comfortable stay with quick access to local sights.
- APA Hotel Keisei Ueno Ekimae offers compact and efficiently designed rooms with modern amenities like free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. Located directly across from Keisei Ueno Station, it provides convenient access to Ueno and Narita Airport via Keisei SkyLiner.
- Tosei Hotel Cocone Ueno provides cozy accommodations with a blend of modern and traditional design, featuring amenities like free Wi-Fi and a communal lounge.
- Super Hotel JR Ueno Iriyaguchi is a budget-friendly hotel offering comfortable and eco-friendly rooms with complimentary breakfast and natural hot springs.
Budget
- APA Hotel Ueno Ekikita is a modern hotel offering compact, efficiently designed rooms with amenities like free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs.
- APA Hotel Ueno Ekimae is a contemporary hotel featuring comfortable, space-efficient rooms with essential amenities, including a restaurant and free Wi-Fi.
- Grids Tokyo Ueno Hotel&Hostel is a versatile accommodation offering both private rooms and shared dormitory spaces, featuring modern facilities and a communal lounge. Ideal for budget-conscious travelers, it provides a comfortable and social atmosphere in the heart of Ueno.
Showa Dori Avenue
Showa Dori Avenue is a major road that runs from the north past JR Ueno Station and south towards Akihabara. Between JR Ueno Station and Ahihabara, Showa Dori Avenue marks the official boundary between the Ueno district on the avenue’s west side and the Higashi-Ueno district on the east.
South of JR Ueno Station, there are a large number of hotels on either side of Showa Dori Avenue. Mostly these are medium-range tourist and business hotels but there are some higher-end tourist hotels too.
Showa Dori Avenue is convenient for Ueno’s main business district, with its many department stores. The street market of Ameya-Yokocho and the colorful temple of Marishiten Tokudaiji are also both just a short walk from this avenue. And because Ueno is quite a slim district, Ueno Park is easily walkable from Showa Dori Avenue too.
Showa Dori Avenue passes close by JR Ueno Station, which has local JR East and Shinkansen services, and also Ueno Subway Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya and Ginza lines.
Further south Showa Dori passes close by a cluster of stations on Kasuga Dori Avenue. These are Ueno-Hirokoji Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line
Luxury
- hotel MONday Premium Ueno Okachimachi offers modern accommodations with a focus on comfort and convenience, featuring well-equipped rooms, a fitness center, and an on-site restaurant. Located between Ueno and Okachimachi stations, it provides easy access to popular attractions and shopping areas.
- Minn Ueno is a stylish and contemporary hotel designed for both short and extended stays, featuring spacious rooms with kitchenettes and living areas.
- MIMARU Tokyo Ueno Okachimachi is an all-suite hotel designed for families and extended stays, offering spacious rooms with fully equipped kitchens and living areas. The hotel provides a comfortable and home-like environment, ideal for longer visits in the Ueno-Okachimachi area.
Mid-range
- Super Hotel Ueno-Okachimachi offers eco-friendly accommodations with comfortable rooms, complimentary breakfast, and natural hot spring baths. Located near Ueno and Okachimachi stations, it provides a convenient base for exploring nearby attractions and shopping areas.
- Hotel Crown Hills Ueno Premier features comfortable accommodations with modern amenities, including a complimentary breakfast and free Wi-Fi. Located near Ueno Station, it offers a convenient and budget-friendly option for travelers exploring Ueno’s cultural sites.
- Hotel Sardonyx Ueno provides spacious and comfortable rooms with modern amenities, including free Wi-Fi and an on-site restaurant. Located in the Ueno area, it offers a convenient and relaxing stay for travelers looking to explore Ueno Park and the surrounding attractions.
Budget
- Hop Inn Tokyo Ueno is a budget-friendly hotel offering clean and simple accommodations with essential amenities, including free Wi-Fi. Located near Ueno Station, it provides a practical and affordable stay for travelers exploring the Ueno area.
- Hotel Wing International Select Ueno Okachimachi offers stylish rooms with a blend of modern and traditional Japanese design elements. The hotel provides essential amenities, such as free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour front desk, making it a convenient choice for visitors to the Ueno-Okachimachi area.
- Centurion Hotel & Spa Ueno Station is a stylish hotel offering comfortable rooms with modern amenities, along with a full-service spa and sauna.
Higashi-Ueno Area
Higashi-Ueno (literally “East Ueno”) is a large district on the east side of Ueno, where you can find a great number of reasonably-priced, medium-range tourist and business hotels and also some budget accommodation. Hotels tend to be cheaper in this district and as Higashi-Ueno is just outside of the Ueno district, it is still a fairly convenient area to stay.
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Higashi-Ueno is also home to Shitaya Jinja, Tokyo’s oldest Inari Shrine, which was founded in 730 AD and is the focus of a lively annual street festival in May. Higashi-Ueno Korea Town, which is Tokyo’s oldest Korean district, is also located in this district and is home to several Korean restaurants and shops.
This area is fairly convenient for public transport. The northern half of Higashi-Ueno is close to JR Ueno Station. Two more useful stations in this area are Inaricho Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line and Shin-Okachimachi Station on the Toei Oedo Line and Tsukuba Express Line.
Luxury
- MONday Apart Premium UENO offers modern, apartment-style accommodations designed for both short and extended stays, featuring spacious rooms with kitchens and living areas.
- MIMARU Tokyo Ueno Inaricho is an all-suite hotel ideal for families, offering spacious accommodations with fully equipped kitchens and dining areas. The hotel’s home-like atmosphere makes it perfect for extended stays in the Ueno Inaricho area.
- NOHGA HOTEL UENO TOKYO combines modern design with a focus on local culture, offering stylish rooms, an on-site restaurant, and an art gallery.
Mid-range
- Minn Ueno-Shinokachimachi features contemporary accommodations with smart design, offering spacious rooms equipped with kitchenettes. The hotel is ideal for both short and extended stays in the Shin-Okachimachi area, providing comfort and convenience.
- ICI HOTEL Ueno Shin Okachimachi offers cozy and modern accommodations with a blend of traditional and contemporary design. Located near Shin-Okachimachi Station, it provides a comfortable base for exploring the Ueno and Okachimachi areas.
Budget
- HOTEL MYSTAYS Ueno East is a budget-friendly hotel offering simple and comfortable rooms with essential amenities, including free Wi-Fi and an on-site restaurant. Its proximity to Ueno’s attractions makes it a convenient choice for travelers.
- APA Hotel Asakusa Shin Okachimachi Ekimae features compact, efficiently designed rooms with modern amenities like free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. Located near Shin-Okachimachi Station, it offers easy access to both Asakusa and Ueno areas.
- HOTEL LiVEMAX Ueno-Ekimae is a budget hotel providing basic, functional accommodations with essential amenities. Its convenient location near Ueno Station makes it a practical option for travelers looking to explore the Ueno area.
South of Ueno Park
The area to the south of Ueno Park is a pleasant area to explore with several fine restaurants and interesting bars. There is also a good range of hotel choices here with several high-end tourist hotels, medium-range tourist and business hotels and some budget accommodation too.
This area has easy access to the scenic Shinobazu Pond and the island temple of Bentendo in Ueno Park and also to the southern end of the Ameya-Yokocho street market. It is also very convenient for the Shitamachi Museum, a small friendly museum dedicated to the history and culture of Tokyo’s downtown district, which is called “Shitamachi” in Japanese. The ancient shrine of Yushima Tenmangu is also in this area and is especially pretty in the springtime when its plum grove is in bloom.
This area is highly convenient for local transport with access to several railway lines. Useful railway stations in this area are Yushima Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, Ueno-Hirokoji Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Ueno-Okachimachi Station on the Toei Oedo Line, Okachimachi Station on JR East’s Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines, and Naka-Okachimachi Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line.
Luxury
- &Here TOKYO UENO is a modern and stylish hotel offering minimalist accommodations with contemporary design elements. The hotel emphasizes a chic and comfortable stay, with communal spaces for socializing in the vibrant Ueno area.
- NOHGA HOTEL AKIHABARA TOKYO combines sleek, modern design with a focus on local culture and art, offering comfortable rooms, a restaurant, and an art gallery.
Mid-range
- Tosei Hotel Cocone Ueno Okachimachi provides modern accommodations with cozy rooms and amenities like free Wi-Fi and a communal lounge. Situated near Okachimachi Station, it offers a comfortable base for exploring Ueno and nearby areas.
Budget
- APA Hotel Ueno Hirokoji features compact, efficiently designed rooms with essential amenities, including free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. Its convenient location near Ueno Hirokoji Station makes it an ideal choice for travelers exploring Ueno and its surroundings.
- Sotetsu Fresa Inn Ueno-Okachimachi offers modern, comfortable accommodations with a range of amenities, including free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour front desk. The hotel’s location near Ueno and Okachimachi stations makes it a practical choice for visitors looking to explore Tokyo.
West of Ueno Park
There aren’t many accommodation options on the west side of Ueno Park, but this quiet, leafy residential area is a pleasant place to stay if rooms are available. Two possible options are Hotel Graphy Nezu — a modern and stylish medium-range tourist hotel, and Ryokan Katsutaro — a small, traditional guest house offering simple but affordable Japanese-style accommodation.
The area west of the park is handy for the downtown shopping streets of the Yanaka district and there are several museums in this area too. Kuroda Memorial Hall is a free museum displaying the art of the Western-style painter Kuroda Seiki. The University Art Museum of Tokyo University of the Arts includes 22 National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties in its collection. The International Library of Children’s Literature is both an active children’s library and a museum hosting a range of exhibitions and events.
Attractions inside the park which are closest to this area are Ueno Zoo and Ueno Toshogu Shrine.
Nezu Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line is the most convenient station in this area, but the JR and Keisei Ueno Stations are also just a short walk away through the park.
North of Ueno Area
In the area to the north of Ueno Park and Ueno Station there are a good number of reasonably-priced, medium-range tourist and business hotels, some budget guest houses and even an old-fashioned Japanese inn, where you can enjoy traditional hospitality in a machiya wooden townhouse.
This area is still a walkable distance from the JR Ueno Station and the north side of Ueno Park and it also has its own attractions. Here you can find Jomyoin, a Buddhist temple dating from 1666, which is notable for having over 20,000 stone statues of Jizo, the patron deity of children and travelers. Another important Buddhist temple in this area is Kaneiji, which was founded in 1625 and which was once one of the most powerful temples in Japan. Kaneiji’s grounds once covered the whole area now occupied by Ueno Park and JR Ueno Station, and although the temple is now much reduced in size, various structures and artifacts around its present grounds give the visitor a taste of Ueno’s long history.
A lot of the best hotels in this area are clustered around two stations: Uguisudani Station on JR East’s Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines, and Iriya Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line.
Mid-range
- Vessel Inn Ueno Iriya Ekimae features well-appointed rooms with modern amenities, including free breakfast and a communal bath. Its proximity to Iriya Station offers convenient access to Ueno Park and nearby cultural sites.
- Candeo Hotels Ueno Park features modern and comfortable rooms with upscale amenities, including a rooftop spa and sauna. The hotel is situated close to Ueno Park, making it an ideal choice for visitors looking to explore cultural landmarks and green spaces.
- LANDABOUT TOKYO is a chic and contemporary hotel offering stylish rooms and a vibrant café. The hotel’s design focuses on comfort and community, providing a unique and trendy atmosphere near Ueno’s popular attractions.
Budget
- Toyoko Inn Tokyo Uguisudani Ekimae is a budget-friendly hotel offering simple, comfortable rooms with essential amenities, including complimentary breakfast. Located near Uguisudani Station, it provides a practical base for exploring Ueno and Tokyo.
Article Michael Lambe. Photos by Ryuji/pixta (1,4), yama1221/pixta (2,7), momo/pixta (3), Caito/pixta (5), Masa/pixta (6), prof530/pixta (7). All rights reserved.
