Tokyo stroll | Stroll around Ueno Park-Japan’s first theme park

Today’s Stroll　Ueno Park
In the Edo period (1603-1868), the entire 16,000 square meter site around Ueno Station was the precincts of Toeizan Kan’eiji Temple, the family temple of the Tokugawa family, where many halls and temples were built.The temple was named Toeizan in contrast to Hieizan, the base of the Tendai sect in the west, and its temple name was set to Kan’eiji because it was built in the Kan’ei era, as opposed to Enryakuji, which was built in the Enryaku era.
Toeizan Kan’eiji Temple was placed on Uenoyama, which is the “devil’s gate” when viewed from Edo Castle, just as Hieizan was placed at the “devil’s gate” of Kyoto.The idea of a theme park for the common people of Edo (now Tokyo), which was modeled after Kyoto using the technique of “mitate,” came to an end with the Battle of Ueno.

Today’s route

A.Ueno Station,” where the entire area was the precincts of ,” Kaneiji Temple”
B.”Shinobazu Pond”, designed to look like Lake Biwa.
C.”Shinobazu Pond Bentendo Hall”, which resembles Chikubu Island in Lake Biwa.
D.”Kiyomizu Kannon-do”, the main hall built in the same stage style as in Kyoto.
E.”Hanazono Inari Shrine”, a quiet cave shrine
F.Power spot for students preparing for exams “Ueno Daibutsu, Pakoda”
G.”The five-story pagoda of Ueno Toshogu” (formerly Kaneiji Temple), a typical example of early Edo-period pagoda architecture
H.The project modeled after Mount Hiei began with the “Kaneiji Nemoto Chudo”, the family temple of the Tokugawa family.
I.The plan to emulate Hieizan ended with the “Kaneiji Kaizando “.

 A.JR Ueno Station

 B.Shinobazu Pond

Shinobazuno Pond is a natural pond of about 110,000 square meters located at the southern end of the Ueno Onshi Park grounds. It is divided into three sections: the Lotus Pond, where lotus leaves cover the surface of the water, the Boat Pond, where you can rent a boat and relax on the pond, and the Cormorant Pond.

C.Shinobazu Pond, Brntenshodo Hall

Shinobazunoike Bentendo Hall was built by Priest Tenkai, the founder of Kan’eiji Temple, to represent Lake Biwa and the island as Chikubu Island.

The present Shinobazunoike Bentendo Hall was rebuilt in 1958 after being destroyed by fire in an air raid.

D.Kiyomizu Kannon Hall

Built in 1631 by priest Tenkai, founder of Kan’eiji Temple, in imitation of Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto. In 1694, it was moved to its present location along with the construction of Kan’eiji’s Nemoto Chudo. It is the oldest building with a definite date of construction still existing in the mountains of Ueno.

It is built in the same stage style as Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto, and houses the “Moon Pine” depicted in Hiroshige’s ukiyoe woodblock prints and included in the 100 Famous Views of Edo.

E.Hanazono Inari Shrine

It is said that when Priest Tenkai founded Kan’eiji Temple, he felt pity for the foxes that had lost their habitat, so he created a cave and built a shrine there to enshrine them.

After passing through the stone torii gate, you will see a series of red torii gates of the Inari Shrine, and after passing through the torii gate, you will see the main shrine and the guardian foxes of a mother fox holding her cub. The main shrine and a mother fox guardian holding a baby fox are located at the back of the shrine.

F.The Great Buddha of Ueno

After the first Daibutsu was built in 1631, it was destroyed many times by earthquakes and fires. During World War II, the body of the statue was donated to the government due to the Metal Offering Order, and only the face remained at Kan’eiji.

In 1972, the 50th anniversary of the Great Kanto Earthquake, the face of the Buddha returned to Mount Daibutsu and took its present form. The temple has become a power spot for praying for success in entrance examinations, as it is said that “you cannot fall any further.

Pacoda (Chedi)

The pagoda was built in 1967 by the Ueno Tourist Association with the wish to rebuild the Great Buddha. A Yakushi Nyorai, a Gekko Bosatsu, and a Nikko Bosatsu are enshrined inside. These three statues of Yakushi used to be the main deities of the Yakushi Hall in the precincts of Ueno Toshogu Shrine until the end of the Edo period.

G.Five-story pagoda of Ueno Toshogu Shrine (formerly Kan’eiji Temple)

The five-story pagoda was built as a pagoda of Ueno Toshogu Shrine in 1631 (Kan’ei 8), but was burned down eight years later by a fire started by a cherry blossom viewing party. The existing pagoda was rebuilt shortly after that. Later, due to the “Shinto-Buddhist Separation Order” by the Meiji government, the pagoda was not allowed to be used as a shrine and came under the control of Kan’eiji Temple. 1958 (Showa 33), the pagoda was donated by “Kan’eiji Temple” to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and is now located in the zoo. It is designated as an important cultural property of

H.Kaneiji Nemoto Chudo Hall

The main hall of Kan’eiji Temple, although it is now 1/10th the size of the temple it once was.

The temple was named Toeizan because it was the center of the Tendai sect in the east, as opposed to Hieizan in the west. Toeizan was founded in 1625 by priest Tenkai, who received devotion from Tokugawa Ieyasu, Hidetada, and Iemitsu, and the main hall is the Nemoto Chudo, built in 1698. The main hall was built in 1698. It used to stand at the present location of the large fountain in Ueno Park, but it was destroyed by fire during the Ueno War at the end of the Edo period. It was moved to the present location and reconstructed.

I.Kaizando Hall of Kaneiji Temple (Ryo-Daishi)

The temple is called “Ryo-Daishi” because it enshrines both Jigen Daishi Tenkai, the founder of Toeizan, and Jigen Daishi Ryogen Daishi, who was revered by Tenkai.

After being ordered to restore Hieizan Enryakuji Temple, which had been burned down by Nobunaga, Monk Tenkai rebuilt many halls, including the current Nemoto Chudo. Since then, Monk Tenkai’s dream of building Mount Hiei in Edo (present-day Tokyo) was fulfilled when the old Shogunate forces were defeated in the Ueno War, a battle between the new government forces and the old Shogunate forces at the end of the Edo period, which marked the end of Kan’eiji’s prosperity.

Bullet holes from the attack by the government forces during the Ueno War can still be seen on the gate.

Review of the route

Access to Ueno Park

JR Ueno Station : 7-1 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0005

Parking around Ueno Park

Stroll Ueno Park Official Website

Please check the website for opening hours.

Ueno Park : Official Website
Kiyomizu Kannon Hall : Official Website
Ueno Toshogu Shrine : Official Website

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