Much of Ueno is centered around Ueno Park, a vast green space that’s also home to Japan’s oldest zoo, as well as several major museums, art galleries, and ancient temples and shrines. Ueno Park is one of Tokyo’s most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in the spring.

Right next to Ueno Park is Ueno Station, one of Tokyo’s largest train stations. Conveniently, this links the area with the rest of Tokyo as well as northern Japan.

The streets surrounding Ueno Stations are lined with a plethora of cafes, bars, and restaurants, as well as one of the city's best street markets.

Ueno is easily one of the best places to stay during a trip to Tokyo. In Ueno are some of Tokyo’s best-loved tourist attractions, plus the area is wonderfully located for getting out and seeing the rest of Tokyo.

Elsewhere in Ueno, you can shop for great bargains and souvenirs at Ameya Yokocho (or Ameyoko for short), a bustling street market that’s also a great place to eat. Just north of Ueno Park is the pretty neighborhood of Yanaka, whose winding streets are filled with traditional shops, restaurants, and cute cafes.

Close to Ueno is Akihabara, the home of all things anime, manga, and electronics, which is just a three-minute train ride south of Ueno. To the east of Ueno are two of Tokyo’s biggest attractions, Sensoji Temple and the Tokyo Skytree®, both of which are just a few train stops away from Ueno Station.

In fact, Ueno Station is one of the best-connected stations in Tokyo, making this an ideal base to explore the whole city. Several lines pass through Ueno Station, connecting it with the rest of Tokyo, including the JR Yamanote Line, the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, and the Tokyo Metro Ginza and Hibiya lines.

There are also direct trains between Ueno Station and Narita International Airport via the Keisei Skyliner Express, with the journey taking 45 minutes. Haneda International Airport can be reached from Ueno Station in around 40 minutes with one change at Shinagawa Station.

Ueno Station is also the perfect place to stay if you plan on exploring northern Japan from Tokyo. Shinkansen bullet trains depart from Ueno north to various destinations throughout Japan’s northern Tohoku region.

From hotels to hostels and apartments to ryokans, here are the best places to stay in Ueno. Each of the accommodations below has a rating of 8+ on Booking.com and has excellent reviews.

Less than a minute’s walk from Ueno Station, the 3 star Mitsui Garden Hotel Ueno features chic and contemporary rooms right in the heart of Ueno. The rooms are a good 18 m² in size, which is pretty spacious by Japan standards for a hotel of this style. There’s the option of a buffet breakfast for an extra cost as well as an Italian restaurant onsite.

Languages spoken: Japanese, English and Chinese

The NOUGA Hotel Ueno Tokyo is a relaxing boutique hotel with beautifully furnished modern rooms and common areas. Just a two-minute walk from Ueno Station, the hotel’s rooms range in size from 24 m² and 36 m² for a deluxe twin room. Some rooms come with a kitchenette, making them ideal for couples or small families. There’s the option to include a continental breakfast, plus the hotel also has a restaurant as well as a gym onsite.

Languages spoken: Japanese and English.

Minn Ueno is another modern and stylish hotel that is perfectly located for exploring Ueno and just a five-minute walk from Ueno Station. Ranging from between 35 m² and 50 m² in size, Minn Ueno features a range of large and well thought-out rooms designed to accommodate families and groups of friends. Rooms include a good-sized seating area, a small kitchenette. There’s also a laundry room on site. The icing on the cake is the beautiful wall murals of famous Japanese woodblock prints.

Languages spoken: Japanese, English and Khmer

Opened in 2021, Hotel Aima is a great option for families or a large group of friends traveling together. There are a host of rooms available, from a superior twin to a deluxe family suite, ranging from 26 m² to 41 m² in size. All rooms come with a small kitchenette with a fridge and a microwave as well as a balcony. Just a minute’s walk from Ueno Station, all of the delights of Ueno are on the hotel’s doorstep.

Languages spoken: Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean

The Tosei Hotel Cocone Ueno offers a variety of both Western and Japanese-style rooms with options that would be ideal for solo travelers, couples, or small families. Rooms are a little cozy, ranging from 12 m² for a double room to 16 m² for a quadruple room with two bunk beds, but they are well-stocked with all essential amenities, such as a refrigerator, a kettle, a TV as well as a private bathroom. Just a two-minute walk from Ueno Station, Tosei Hotel Cocone Ueno also has a rooftop terrace with beautiful views across the city towards the Tokyo Skytree®.

Languages spoken: Japanese, English and Chinese

Hotel Sardonyx Ueno is a simple and unfussy hotel that is best suited to couples traveling on a budget or who just need a base to explore Tokyo. The rooms are well stocked with essentials, including a flat-screen TV, a refrigerator and all essential toiletries. Standard rooms are a little on the cozy side at 12 m² but twin rooms have a bit more space at 18 m². A complimentary breakfast is included, served in the hotel’s onsite Italian restaurant, plus there are laundry services available too.

Languages spoken: Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean

Literally a stone’s throw from Ueno Station, Hotel Resol Ueno is a clean, comfortable and modern 3-star hotel that offers excellent value for money. Rooms are around 15 m² but not crowded, and stays include an a la carte breakfast that will set you up for the day. Being less than a minute from Ueno Station means that all of the attractions of Ueno Park and the rest of the area are ready and waiting to be explored as soon as you walk out of the front door.

Languages spoken: Japanese and English

Hotel Emit Ueno is a smart, modern, and functional business hotel. There are two types of rooms, a single or a double room, so this hotel is ideal for solo travelers or couples looking for a great place to stay in Ueno. Rooms are around 10 m² and come with all the essentials and necessities you’re likely to need, including a flat-screen TV, refrigerator, kettle, and free toiletries. A complimentary continental buffet breakfast is included too. Just a six-minute walk from Ueno Station, Hotel Emit Ueno is also two minutes from Inaricho Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line.

Languages spoken: Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean

The 3-star Sotetsu Fresa Inn Ueno-Okachimachi hotel is located right in the thick of the action. Both Ueno Park and Ameyoko market are just a few minute’s walk away and everything you could ever need is right outside the hotel. Nicely laid out rooms are between 9 and 10 m² but bright and comfortable and kitted out with a flat-screen TV, a refrigerator, and an air purifier. Two metro stations are on the hotel’s doorstep - Ueno-Okachimachi Station on the Toei Oedo Line subway and Ueno-Hirokoji Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line. JR Okachimachi Station is also just a three-minute walk away, one stop south of Ueno Station on the JR Yamanote and JR Keihin-Tohoku lines. Ueno Station is an 8-minute walk away.

Languages spoken: Japanese, English, Chinese.

Just a three-minute walk from JR Ueno Station, Mimaru Tokyo Ueno East offers a range of apartment-style hotel rooms that comfortably fit larger groups of travelers. The beautifully styled standard apartment rooms are 40 m² in size and can cater for up to four guests, while the option of larger connecting rooms can fit up to eight people at 78 m². All rooms feature separate sleeping and dining areas, as well as a kitchenette complete with refrigerator, microwave and a stove. Ideal for families, kids will love the Pokemon room, extensively kitted out and decorated with characters from one of Japan’s most famous entertainment franchises.

MONday Apart Premium Ueno is a modern apartment hotel offering a range of fabulous rooms to suit couples, families and larger groups traveling to Tokyo. The rooms at MONday Apart Premium Ueno are beautifully designed and spacious - the universal room for two guests is 30 m² while the largest suite for up to 6 guests is 60 m². All rooms come with a kitchen, a washing machine and dryer, a dining area as well as spacious beds. Located in the north of Ueno, MONday Apart Premium Ueno is a six-minute walk from Ueno Station.

Languages spoken: Japanese

Located closer to the heart of Ueno, MONday Apart Ueno Shinokachimachi is another wonderfully designed apartment-style hotel. Offering a range of room sizes in both Western and Japanese styles, MONday Apart Ueno Shinokachimachi is ideal for larger groups looking for a bigger space that can be a home-from-home in Tokyo. Rooms range in size from 34m² to 42m², and feature a kitchen, a dining area, as well as a washing machine and dryer. A seven-minute walk to Ueno Station, MONday Apart Ueno Shinokachimachi is also just two minutes from Shinokachimachi Station for the Toei Oedo Line and the Tsukuba Express. Inaricho Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line is a five-minute walk.

Languages spoken: Japanese

Less than a minute from Ueno Station, Grids Tokyo Ueno Hotel&Hostel offers a choice of private rooms or single beds in a hostel-style dormitory for those looking for a great place to stay in Ueno on a budget. There is a range of private rooms that sleep four, five or six guests which are ideal for families or groups of travelers looking for a shared accommodation without breaking the bank. Private rooms come with a bathroom as well as essentials such as a TV, fresh towels, and a hairdryer. Mixed or female-only dormitories consist of rooms of between five and six bunk beds with reading lights, plug sockets and a privacy curtain, plus a shared bathroom.

Languages spoken: Japanese and English

Tokyo Ueno Youth Hostel offers a wide range of rooms that are ideal for single travelers right up to groups of six. All rooms come with air conditioning as well as a private bathroom, plus there are laundry facilities on-site too. There’s also a shared lounge and kitchen with a refrigerator and cooking facilities that guests are free to use. Tokyo Ueno Youth Hostel is around a 15-minute walk from Ueno Station. However, JR Okachimachi Station, which is one stop south of Ueno Station, is just a five-minute walk away. Yushima Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line is less than a minute away, while Ueno-Hirokoji Station and Ueno-Okachimachi Stations are also both a five-minute walk.

Languages spoken: Japanese and English

At the Gran Customa Ueno, private capsules are separated into male and female floors. All capsules come with plug sockets, a flat-screen TV, and an alarm clock. Extras such as electric blankets, hairdryers and even tablets can be rented from Reception free of charge. There are shared bathrooms as well as communal areas with microwaves as well as an on-site restaurant. The Gran Customa Ueno also has a wellness spa, which includes a sauna and a Japanese-style public bath. Right in the center of Ueno, it’s only a two-minute walk from Gran Customa Ueno to Ueno Station.

Languages spoken: Japanese and English

If you’d prefer to stay in typical Japanese accommodation in Ueno then Ryokan Katsutaro is the perfect place for you. Located on a peaceful residential street just north of Ueno Park, at Ryokan Katsutaro you can experience traditional Japanese hospitality and plenty of old-world charm. Rooms are laid out with tatami mats and futons for an authentic stay in a Japanese ryokan. You’ll also find mod cons such as air conditioning and free Wi-Fi as well as on-site laundry facilities too. Ueno Station is around a 15-minute walk away through Ueno Park, though Nezu Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line is just a five-minute walk.

Languages spoken: Japanese and English

With so much to see and do, Ueno is a great destination all year round. There are certain events that might make you decide to visit Ueno at certain times of the year, however.

The biggest draw is undoubtedly the chance to see the cherry blossoms in bloom in Ueno Park each spring. Ueno Park is one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in Tokyo and the beautiful sakura always draws a huge crowd every year.

Ueno is also a great place to stay if you want to enjoy the Sanja Matsuri festival that takes place nearby in Asakusa in May each year. One of the biggest festivals in Tokyo, the event sees 100 portable shrines paraded through the streets around Sensoji Temple over the course of three days, attracting nearly two million people in the process.