Ueno Zoological Gardens

First opened in 1882, these are Japan's most historic (sic) zoological gardens. The zoo has more than 400 species on exhibit from around the world, including giant pandas and aye ayes. Both the gorilla forest and the amphibian reptile house are must-see. ~Tokyo Handy Guide

*Huh? Aye ayes? It's either I didn't know what they were when I looked at them or I missed them... As for the pandas, it's singular, buddy. Or maybe, the other guy was having his holiday like the rest of us.

(Above:) Ueno densha station. (上野電車駅)

(Above:) Entrance to the zoo. The ticket cost a bomb - 600 yen.

(Above:) Yeah, there were lots of people. It was the Golden Week after all!

(Above:) Elephants having a council.

(Above:) The only panda we could see was showing us its back. Aww, it seemed to be so lonely and sulking...

(Above:) One of the two poor polar bears whose fur has lost its pure white colour.

(Above:) I love these kawaii (cute) little prairie dogs!

(Above:) An awkward-looking tapir staring at the curious crowd.

(Above:) Handsome king penguins!

(Above:) Crane.

(Above:) Remember Zazu from the Lion King Disney motion picture? This is a secretary bird.

(Above:) A lazy gorrila sun-bathing.

(Above:) A sagacious-looking but sleepy owl.

(Above:) "Argh! Argh! Irasshaimase! (Translation: Welcome!)

(Above:) Rhinos.

(Above:) Giraffe.

(Above:) Japanese giant salamander.

(Above:) A Galapagos tortoise which is more than 70 years old.

(Above:) "What're you staring at, mister? Haven't you seen someone standing on one leg before?"

(Above:) Well, that was the first time I saw people picnicking in a zoo! Anyway, the place is clean enough, I guess. It didn't stink at all, unlike the zoos in Malaysia!

(Above:) The monorail that connects the eastern and western sides of the park is the first monorail built in Japan.

(Above:) A 70-million-year-old coelacanths fossil.

(Above:) Another 70-million-year-old fossil, ichthyostega.

(Above:) This is the coolest of the three fossils - a 20-year-old fossil taking a picture with a 80-million-year-old achaeopteryx!

- 03, May 2006, Wednesday -