Ueno Zoo, Tokyo

The zoo and rather cheap to enter, and a good deal. I felt very bad for many of the animals. The polar were out in the hot sun, I went in mid-july and many of the animals were either pacing back and forth or looked like the heat was going to kill them. When arriving there I found out the gaint panda had died in April from heart failure, which I was looking forward most to seeing the panda.

Overall I found Japan an amazing country that was a delight to travel in, which is why I was so surprised by the terrible conditions for the animals in the zoo. Many were pacing neurotically, had very little room, and the enclosures did not simulate natural environments for the animals. I visited on a sweltering day in April and was very sad to see miserable polar bears on display for a huge crowd with little buffer pacing against their backdrop of what looked like plastic 'icebergs'. The attitude of most of the visitors and the way in which the animals were treated seemed to indicate a view of the animals as things rather than living creatures capable of suffering. I loved Japan but will never go back to that zoo and would like to find a way to improve the conditions there.

I left the zoo after visiting the Polar Bear enclosure. The temperature was 35c and the poor old bears looked very distressed.

Well where do i start, Firstly dont try and go there on Mondays as the zoo is shut as we found out. Secondly the main reason for me wanting to go was so that I could see a Panda, however when we got in there was so much more to see. Being an animal lover, it was lovley to see so many different species, some of which i never get to see living in England. The zoo is very large and you can get a very good map when you go in which shows you clearly where things are. There are drinks machines dotted around the place so you dont have to get dehydrated and there are places you can get food as well. They even have a little nick nack shop but the prices in there were quite steep. The Zoo was definatley one of the best bits from my trip to Japan, but i guess that will depend on if you love animals or not. The only sad thing was seeing the gorillas inside their cage as they look so sad. Definately worth a visit :)

i would really like to go there and see the tigers!! it was really helpful to know what others thought about the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo!!

In Ueno zoo, you will find many funny and intersting animal. If you come with your children, they will be very interested in discovering a new world. All animal here, from hippopotamuses to lions, monkeys, bears... are very valuables to discover.

Founded in 1882, the Ueno Zoo is perhaps not the most attractive zoos in the world. The zoo houses over 464 species and the main attraction in the zoo is the giant panda.

Yes - the Monkey house did smell and it was an outside display in January 2006. Imagine in it in June through August. Great value. Well organized - easy to navigate. Glad I went and will be visiting it again in a matter of weeks. Will see you there at the monkey house.

I was expecting Ueno Zoo to be small but was very suprised. It had everything from polar bears to pandas, eagles, gorillas (i could go on). Its very cheap (about 600 Yen) and there is just so much to do , that a whole day flys by. The directions werent too clear compared to the map and i must admit some of the animals looked like they needed a good dinner but none the less its a great experience. On the outskirts of the zoo there is a row boat ride on a lake which you can row your own little boat or just peddle to the back drop of Ueno. Ueno Zoo is one of the tourist attractions you must visit if you go to Japan. The station is near and its cheap compared to other districts in Tokyo (such as Ginza etc).

Great price and various animals(including pandas)to see and a lot to do, I highly recommend the Ueno Zoo. I cant wait to return to tokyo and visit Ueno again.