Ueno boasts numerous pharmacies, with approximately 20 located around the station area. Among them, the well-known Japanese chain Matsumoto Kiyoshi has eight outlets.

Particularly notable is the Ueno Hirokoji branch, situated at a street corner, spanning two floors and catering specifically to foreign visitors with a wide array of popular products and multilingual staff.

Additionally, the Echikafit Ueno store, opened on December 14, 2017, is located within Ueno Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line. This compact shop primarily sells health products and cosmetics, offering a comprehensive selection and operating until 10 p.m. on weekdays, making it convenient for a quick stop before returning to your hotel. However, please note that this store does not provide tax-free services, so plan accordingly!

Another commonly seen large chain pharmacy in Ueno is located in Ameyoko Shopping Street, with two branches near JR Yamanote Line's Ueno-okachimachi Station. Both branches offer tax-free services and boast a diverse range of products including medicine, cosmetics, daily necessities, and snacks. As you approach, you'll notice baskets filled with discounted items, often featuring remarkable deals that are worth keeping an eye on. Occasionally, you'll even find staff members warmly greeting visitors in multiple languages at the entrance.

After browsing through the pharmacies, many people would think of Niki no Kashi in Ameyoko Shopping Street as the go-to spot for buying biscuits, snacks, or souvenirs for friends and family. Located in a lane within Ameyoko Shopping Street, near JR Yamanote Line's Ueno-okachimachi Station, its large red signboard is hard to miss. Inside, you'll find shelves filled with candies, cookies, snacks for pairing with drinks, an entire section dedicated to Japanese tea, and a food preparation area beloved by homemakers. Offering around 5,000 products, whether in loose packaging or bulk, nearly all kinds of souvenirs can be found here at prices cheaper than regular supermarkets or convenience stores. Moreover, you can even enjoy tax exemption with minimum spending. Given the vast selection, it's not an exaggeration to say that you could easily spend half a day here.

Many people enjoy exploring Japanese supermarkets. The following introduces Gyomu Super, originally catering to businesses for bulk purchases, but now open to the general public due to its affordable prices, sparking considerable interest. With approximately 1,050 branches nationwide (as of December 2023), Ueno hosts two of them. Among them, the Ueno Hirokoji branch is conveniently located near Tokyo Metro's Ueno Hirokoji Station, and not far from JR Okachimachi Station or Ueno Station, with its late hours attracting an increasing number of foreign tourists for shopping. Upon entering, besides fresh produce and dry goods, a wide range of frozen foods, vegetables, cakes, and desserts are found in the large freezer section. Moreover, specialty imported or halal-certified ingredients are readily available, ensuring both professionalism and quality, making shopping here a breeze and worry-free.

At the eastern side of JR Okachimachi Station lies Takeya, a must-visit destination in Ueno not only for Taiwanese tourists but also for visitors from China and Thailand. It's renowned as one of Tokyo's largest comprehensive discount stores, featuring seven sections including Building A, Building B, Women's Building, Furniture Building, Interior Decoration & Miscellaneous Goods Building, among others. Among them, the purple-colored Building A, serving as the core of Takeya, is particularly popular among foreign tourists. The first floor houses a food market, the second floor offers health foods and pharmaceuticals, the third and fourth floors sell domestic and international luxury watches, the sixth floor features kitchenware, and the seventh and eighth floors host a variety of large and small home appliances. It's an ideal destination for shopping-oriented travelers to Japan, offering a wide range of products for daily life needs—almost everything you need can be found here.

Don Quijote, open 24/7, always bustling with shoppers and excitement. Whether you visit during the day or night, it's a treasure trove waiting to be explored. The Ueno branch, just a short distance from the station, spans five floors (B1 to 4F) offering everything from cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, health foods, clothing, branded discounted items, to electronics. Don't forget to check out Don Quijote's own brand, featuring over 2,000 meticulously curated items ranging from food to daily necessities, clothing, and household appliances. Not only are they affordable, but they also guarantee quality, making them perfect for both gifting and personal use.

Yodobashi Multimedia Ueno Store is one of Japan's large chain 3C electronics retailers. As soon as you exit JR Ueno Station or enter Ameyoko Shopping Street, you'll spot this massive electronics store. It's divided into two sections: Store 1 and Store 2. Store 1, spanning B1 to 7F, primarily offers a wide range of large and small household appliances, cameras, and computers. Store 2 consists of three floors and mainly focuses on mobile phones and hobbyist items. With a comprehensive selection, it's advisable to reserve items online beforehand and pick them up at the designated store to save time and hassle, especially if you're concerned about language barriers. Conveniently located near the underground passage connecting JR, Keisei, and Tokyo Metro lines, you needn't worry about getting wet on rainy days when walking from the station!

After reading the above, you'll know exactly where to start when you next visit Ueno! With its extensive and diverse shopping district offering quality goods at reasonable prices, along with convenient living amenities, choosing Ueno as your travel base, especially for first-time visitors to Tokyo, is highly recommended. Explore slowly and uncover even more surprises that await you.

(*Please note that the information provided is accurate as of 2019 and was updated in December 2023. For the latest updates, please check the official website.)