Page 23 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Tokyo

Ueno Park ❮❮ 21

MEIJI RESTORATION
A fierce battle between
supporters of the
deposed shogun and
the new forces of the
Meiji restoration was
fought on Ueno Hill in
1868. Heavy rains
flooded Shinobazu Pond,
with men combating in
Cherry Trees
5 knee-deep water, while
a cannon shot from a
Every spring, the park hosts Tokyo’s largest
cherry-blossom party (above). Beer, sake, dancing, tea house on one side of
the water and another
and karaoke are the main highlights. from a cave dedicated
to Inari exploded over
their heads. Over 300
men died in the conflict.
Benten-do
9
This temple
honors the Goddess
of Beauty (left). The
ceiling inside the
hall is painted with
dragons, and the
walls with murals
of fall flowers.
Shinobazu
0
Pond
The pond’s southern
section is filled with
beautiful pink lotuses
during the summer.
A clump of reeds
provides a habitat
for herons, grebes,
and thousands of
other water fowl.
Saigo Takamori Statue
6 2 1 7 3
The bronze statue, unveiled in 1898,
is a tribute to Takamori, a powerful
samurai who led a major rebellion in the
19th century. He is shown wearing a
summer kimono, walking his dog.
Shitamachi
Five-Story
7 8 Ueno P ark
Museum
Pagoda
Covered with bronze Displaying everyday Ueno
roof tiles to protect it items such as SHINOBAZU- DORI 4
from fire, the current kitchenware and 6
pagoda was built in furniture, this
1640. The 120-ft- museum also features Keisei-
Ueno
(37-m-) tall vermillion re-creations of Edo-
structure is located era stores and
inside the zoo. tenements. 9 0 8

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