The 39 best things to do with kids in Shinjuku (2024)

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Nice zoo in the centre of Tokyo. Visitors will appreciate the beautiful and cute pandas, which are rather rare in European zoos. It is a pity that the animals have relatively small enclosures (especially giraffes and hippos). All information about the animals is available in English.

This zoo is next to a number of museums and the best place to experience the cherry blossom season in Tokyo. The zoo itself has a number of the big animals on display. The number one is the giant Panda and its young. You will be in queue for the viewing of the baby Panda for sure. Some of the noted big animals are Tigers, polar bears, Japanese Macaques, rhinos, just to name a few. If you plan it right, you can enjoy the Sakura and the zoo on the same visit. Overall, a great way to spend the afternoon.

First visit to a zoo in Asia and was pleased with the selection of animals native to that region. There were many monkey species that I have never seen in the Western part. The polar bear wasn't available as it was past 11:30am. The pandas were lovely to see but they were tired and in different areas to really see them. I did like that they controlled entry into the panda area to avoid over crowding.

I'm of two minds for this zoo. On the one hand the zoo seems to be well maintained and the staff are polite and helpful throughout, even when dealing with large crowds of people. Where I have an issue is with the enclosures for the animals. The lack of space alotted to the display animals is depressing and makes it hard to visit overall. The zoo needs an overhaul.

Admission for adults is ¥600, payable by cash or card at the machines. The zoo is divided into two sections: East Garden and West Garden. The giant pandas and the polar bear are likely the biggest draws. However, all the animals are fascinating, and I even saw some species for the first time at this zoo.Note that the panda exhibit wait time can reach 30 minutes on weekends, with a one-minute viewing limit. Regardless, it was worth it. Unfortunately, during my visit, the bird house was closed, and the elephant, gorilla, and bear exhibits were inaccessible because the animals were out of sight in the afternoon (around 3:30 PM). To maximize your experience and see all the animals, I recommend a morning visit and allowing 4-5 hours.On a positive note, I saw the polar bear feeding, which was incredible. I'm not sure if they publish animal feeding schedules, but it would be great if they did. The zoo layout is impressive and well-maintained, with plenty of seating, restaurants, and restrooms. Overall, this is an excellent zoo, and I highly recommend spending a day exploring it.

Ueno Zoo in Tokyo is a delightful place to explore. Entry is only 600 JPY, making it an affordable outing.It’s Japan’s oldest zoo, and its commitment to conservation makes it a must-visit.Giant Pandas: These iconic black-and-white bears steal the show. Their bamboo-munching habits and playful antics are a must-see. Don’t miss the chance to witness these gentle giants up close. 🐼🎋Waited for about 40 minutes to see the panda up close.Plan for a 2-3 hour visit and enjoy this educational and fun experience! 🦁🐼🦒

A cozy zoo with a large exposition of animals. On the territory there is a large lotus pond populated by water birds. There are several cafes and souvenir shops. A great place for a family holiday.

I wander into zoos everywhere around the world that I go, and this was one of the more interesting ones for sure - mostly because they had a really wide variety of animals and is part of the beautiful Ueno Park.It’s true that some of the enclosures can be improved, but you can tell that the keepers care a lot for the animals. They truly do their best to ensure a positive experience for the animals.Great to see some education, conservation and rehabilitation work going on here for animals that would otherwise not have made it in the wild due to injury.I thoroughly enjoyed watching a hippopotamus up close for the first time, meeting a Hokkaido brown bear, prairie dog, gorilla and aardvark for the first time cos I’ve never seen them in real life before, and the absolute best surprise was that they had not one, but two Pallas Cats - and they were ADORABLE.For the 600 yen entry ticket, it was a fantastic day out in Tokyo that I thoroughly enjoyed. Would definitely go back again.

Fantastic, an adventure for the whole family! For an absolute great price, you can spent a half or even whole day exploring different animals native around the world. From small to huge from air over earth to water. Here you will find anything the children's heart desires. Plus you have a lot of seating, toilets and drink/food stores.A wonderful attraction to come to, definitely a recommendation, especially with kids.

Stumbled across this zoo while in the area, and decided to spontaneously visit. Large zoo, with a good selection of animals. Some of the enclosures are a little questionable, compared to Australian standards. Highlight was definitely the Panda’s! Cheap tickets, worth a visit, especially for a family.

The zoo was great! I highly recommend it. I spent around 3-4 hours here. The highlights for me where the polar bear, tiger cubs, and the secretary birds. The most popular animal by far was the pandas but I only waited around 20min to see it. There were a lot of animals to see so ne ready to do a lot pf walking if you plan on seeing them all. Luckily there are plenty of places to sit and take break.

lots of people as always, especially because people always would want to see the very popular Pandas 🐼 of Ueno Zoo. 💗there are lines to see the pandas, it flows smoothly and the crowd is well-organized, everyone will have their chance to see the Pandas upclose with lots of time for video and photographs.animals here looks very healthy and vibrant, unlike with the other zoos.entrance fee is very cheap:Adults only 600¥children 0-12yrs old are FREE13yrs old- up are 200¥.

It's a great zoo and is well organized. I bought tickets at the gate for 600 yen, which is much cheaper than the Zoo in the U.S. Great way to spend the day with kids and see all the animals. The Giant panda exhibit is the most popular. There was a 30 minute wait, but it goes by super quick because it's well organized. Make sure to go on a sunny day so the animals are out and playing.

Ueno Zoo can be explored in about 2.5 hours. The main attraction here is the pandas. Visitors typically need to queue for around 20 minutes to see them, and viewing time is limited to about two minutes before moving on. Even on Sundays, the zoo wasn't overly crowded. Entry fees offer great value, especially for families, as children under 12 can enter for free.

Got our tickets at the gate around noon. There were little to no lines to enter. Once inside the park was clean and spacious. Lots of animals to see. The panda exhibit had a line of 60 mins to view them. Once you get through the line, you get one minute to view the baby twins and then another minute to view the older pandas before your time is up. I remember years ago they used to have a line to have a meet and greet with photo opportunity with the pandas but it seems like they stopped. The ice cream they sell here is delicious as well. The merch is a little pricey. Food is affordable.

600 Yen (May 2024) entrance fee, buy at ticket machine. You can use credit cards. Fantastic zoo inside Ueno Park. There are 4 pandas. The ones that are 30+ min wait each and 1 min viewing time will likely be sleeping and you’ll be greeted by their butt. There are 2 pandas (1 outside, 1 eats) with almost no line. Plus the zoo has kangaroo and Japanese monkeys.

Very mixed feelings after spending pretty much an entire day here and seeing almost every animal. I'll try to keep it short.The biggest draw are definitely the cheap entrance fee of 600 yen for adults and free for kids. The zoo grounds itself are nicely maintained, with open spaces, restaurants and souvenir shops. Most people come for the pandas, of which there are multiple. Just get in the queues, and everyone gets an equally long turn to admire them and take pictures. They are definitely cared for the best.Sadly it is kind of downhill from there. They simply have too many different animals to care for and they clearly don't have the budget, staff or knowledge to do so. Cages/enclosures that are too small and have not been updated in decades, no entertainment or enrichment for the animals, animals showing distress behavior (going in circles, pacing, head bobbing, clawing at doors,...), dirty floors or windows, etc.Like most other zoos/aquariums in Japan, animal happiness and care are lacking. Animal rights still have a long way to go, and Ueno Zoo is no different.

Great small zoo in the middle of the city. Not sure if the animal cages are adequate, they seem small.The prairie dogs were cute but the panda was asleep behind a rock. Also the eagle there seems strange, how do they keep it in place?

Recommend for parents with little kids, and for wildlife photographers. There’s lots of little kids, and accommodations for them - restaurants, vending machines, rental strollers, and of course the animals. As a wildlife photographer myself, i enjoyed taking pictures of the animals, and exploring the many species - some were endangered species. I had a great day checking out my new 500mm lens, and at home i was shocked at how many great photos i could get. So many colorful and exotic birds - eagles, vultures, owls, and toucans - to take pictures of. There are signs for every animal describing them - and for the many tourists that come, their english names. The zoo is large and the animals seem to be cared for very well. Lots of food to buy and seating areas to eat and rest.

Zoo gets busy during spring like anything else around Japan. It’s best to come in early if you want to see most the animals otherwise they will be off display. Long queues for the Panda when it’s peak but they are very cute and worth the wait!

I visited the zoo on a Tuesday morning. The crowd was manageable, and it was easy to navigate with a child's stroller. The zoo is not extensive, and considering the relatively low admission fee, I believe it is a worthwhile visit.However, I would advise against waiting in the queue for the panda exhibit, as I found it to be not worth the time and effort.

This is definitely a great attraction to Tokyo, especially because of pandas. Overall, the zoo is very large. You can spend the whole day here and see just about everything if you want. I enjoyed my walkthrough,seeing all of the different animals native to Japan. It's definitely fun for the family or if you're looking for something to do.

A lovely zoo in the middle of a beautiful park (especially when the cherry blossom is out).The prize attractions were the two pairs of pandas, the you twins or the two adults.The queue for the twins ranged between 90 minutes and 2 hours (mid morning on a Thursday - weekends probably longer).The gift shops are geared up for the pandas so you can get some souvenirs of the visit.There is plenty to see throughout the park, though the sizes of the enclosures are small, you can see the animals when they are out on display.A good morning was spent here.

Fantastic Zoo! The diverse range of animals, including the captivating Giant Pandas, is a highlight. The exhibits are well-designed and educational, perfect for all ages. The zoo is clean, beautifully landscaped, and easy to navigate. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, enhancing the overall experience. A visit to Ueno Zoo is enjoyable, educational, and highly recommended for anyone visiting Tokyo!

Zoo with helpful staff and English signs can be found here. Ticket price is cheap and affordable. I went on a Friday and it was extremely crowded.The main selling point here is the pandas, so expect a queue and time-limit per person to view the pandas. The other animals were underwhelming, with only 1 or 2 animals in each enclosure. The variety of animals on display is average, with what you will typically find in a zoo.I would recommend going only once to see the pandas as a priority, and the rest you can view slowly as you walk in the zoo. I was done walking the zoo in around 2 hours. I would not return to the zoo again since the experience is pretty average.

9-83 Uenokoen, Taito City, Tokyo 110-8711, Japan•https://www.tokyo-zoo.net/zoo/ueno/•+81 3-3828-5171•Tips and more reviews for Ueno Zoological Gardens