This time, I toured with my beloved Harley-Davidson FLSB Sport Glide from Ageo City, Saitama Prefecture to Ueno Park in Tokyo.
Ueno Park is known as Japan’s first urban park, and is packed with a variety of attractions, including cherry blossoms, art museums, and a zoo. This time, I would like to introduce some of the most recommended attractions and information on motorcycle parking lots.
From Ageo City to Ueno Park, take the Metropolitan Expressway No. 5 Ikebukuro Line via National Route 17 and the Shin-Omiya Bypass.
The Shuto Expressway is often congested, so we recommend leaving with plenty of time to spare.
After getting off the Shuto Expressway at Iidabashi IC, head towards Ueno Park via Sotobori Dori and Kasuga Dori. There are some famous spots along the way, such as Tokyo Dome and the University of Tokyo, but be sure to drive carefully.
The time required to reach Ueno Park is approximately 1 and a half hours, but this may vary depending on traffic conditions.
Highlights of Ueno Park
When you arrive at Ueno Park, let’s take a walk through the cherry blossom trees. Ueno Park is a nationally famous cherry blossom viewing spot, with 800 Yoshino cherry trees in full bloom. The cherry blossom season usually lasts from late March to early April, and the area is crowded with hundreds of thousands of cherry blossom viewers every day. Not only can you be enchanted by the beauty of the cherry blossoms, but you can also enjoy events such as the open-air antique market. During the cherry blossom festival sponsored by the park, 1,000 paper lanterns are hung, creating an atmosphere unique to cherry blossom viewing at night.
There are many other attractions in Ueno Park besides cherry blossoms. If you love animals, visit Tokyo Ueno Zoo. It is known as Japan’s oldest zoo and is home to over 2,500 animals of approximately 350 species. The most popular is the giant panda, but don’t miss the Sumatran tiger, western lowland gorilla, American tapir, polar bear, and more. You can also experience interacting with animals at the children’s zoo.
If you are interested in art and culture, please visit the art galleries and museums in Ueno Park. The Tokyo National Museum is one of the largest museums in Japan, exhibiting a wide variety of Japanese and Asian art and crafts. The National Museum of Western Art is famous for its Le Corbusier-designed building, where you can see masterpieces from Europe and North America. The National Museum of Nature and Science has a wealth of exhibits related to natural science and anthropology, and you can see things like dinosaurs and stuffed animals. Also recommended are the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum and the Tokyo University of the Arts Museum.
If you want to experience history, please visit the shrines and temples that are scattered around Ueno Park. Ueno Park was originally part of the grounds of Kan’eiji Temple, where the tombs of the Tokugawa family were located during the Edo period. The temple was destroyed during the Boshin War, but some parts still remain. Ueno Toshogu Shrine, where the first Tokugawa Shogun Ieyasu is enshrined, is designated as a national important cultural property and is a majestic building decorated with gold leaf and carvings. Benzaiten, the octagonal temple located in the center of Shinobazu Pond, is dedicated to Benzaiten, the goddess of wealth and fortune.
Ueno Park does not have a dedicated parking lot for motorcycles, but there are several motorcycle parking lots in the surrounding area.
The Ueno Koen-dori motorized bicycle parking lot on the south side of the park can accommodate 23 motorbikes of 250cc or less.
The fee is 50 yen for every 30 minutes, and the daily limit is 500 yen. Available 24 hours.
The Eco Station 21 Park Place 24 bike parking lot on the north side of the park can accommodate 3 bikes with no displacement restrictions.
The fee is 100 yen/hour (first hour free). Available 24 hours.
Apple Park Hongo 3-chome 1, located a little far from the park, can accommodate 7 motorcycles with no displacement restrictions.
The charge is 300 yen for 3 hours after entering the parking lot, and 600 yen for 24 hours after entering the parking lot. Available 24 hours.
Summary
This time we toured from Ageo City, Saitama Prefecture to Ueno Park in Tokyo.
Ueno Park is a place filled with a variety of attractions such as cherry blossoms, art museums, and a zoo, so you can enjoy it all day long.
There are also motorcycle parking lots nearby, so you can easily visit on your Harley. Make sure to make Ueno Park your destination for touring, as it shows off its seasonal beauty, with cherry blossoms in the spring, lotuses in the summer, and autumn leaves in the fall.
The above was sent to you by _hiroyuki.ta. Next time we look forward to!
