Uguisudani

Uguisudani hasn’t yet established much tourist spot street cred, but it has some memorable qualities. The area’s small train stop along the Yamanote line actually sits at the north end of a huge tourist destination: Ueno Park.

For seasonal exploration, this is a good stop to catch some cherry blossoms in the spring. Instead of Ueno itself, Uguisudani station is an alternative disembarking point to check out blossoms.

All types of art

Because it’s right next to the Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Uguisudani Music Campus, the neighborhood houses all types of creatives whose disciplines are offered by these universities. Unsurprisingly, that’s given it the reputation as a hotspot for free entertainment. In the evening, grab a drink from the local konbini (convenience store) and try to catch some musicians and street performers.

Uguisudani is also home to the Tokyo University Art Museum. This museum houses an impressive 28,000 pieces created by famous artists, craftsmen, university faculty and even current students.

Also located here is the Japanese National Museum. This elegant building is home to a collection of Japanese artistic treasures including artwork and antiquities from Japan and several other Asian countries.

A little love

The Ueno area is not without its underground.

That might be why — on the north side of the station — things could get a little risqué if you decide to pop over to one of the many “love hotels.” And, yes, “love” in the name means the hotel is on the explicit side. That can range from the room simply including condoms on the nightstand to, well, more active amenities, depending on the hotel.