Ueno Park is one of Japan’s first designated parks that was established by Cabinet decree in 1873 along with Shiba, Asakusa, Fukagawa, and Asukayama Parks.
Ueno Park was once the grounds of Toeizan Kaneiji Temple during the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, the land became government property. It was eventually given to Tokyo City in 1924 by the Imperial Household Ministry.

Ueno Park is renowned as a cherry blossom-viewing destination since the Edo period (1603-1868), and is considered by many to be the ultimate location to enjoy cherry blossoms in Tokyo.  It is also one of Japan's most crowded, noisy and popular spots for cherry blossom parties with more than 1000 trees along the street leading towards the National Museum and around Shinobazu Pond. Ueno Park's blossoms typically open 1-3 days ahead of the blossoms in other spots in the city.

Ueno Station is adjacent to Ueno park.  Get off here and follow the crowd to the park.

Today is the first day of the cherry blossom at the park and there are so many people....

Lined endlessly with about 1,000 cherry trees, Ueno Parks main street is probably the first place that many Japanese people would think of when it comes to a beautiful scene of cherry blossoms in spring.

During the festival, 1000 lanterns, which were originally intended for nighttime security, illuminate the park and invite people to celebrate the arrival of spring under a night sky. The park expects several hundred thousand visitors daily to come for the blossom viewing during the season.

The tradition of admiring the cherry blossoms at night remains a popular spring event, brightened by 1,300 paper lanterns. 

As you look up beautiful cherry blossoms! 

We climbed up above street level looking down at the crowd...

somehow we managed to be at Ueno park on the first of the cherry blossoms.  It has been cold lately so all the flowers are just starting to bloom.

Lots of people everywhere.

Japanese enjoy "Hanami" which is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers and in this case they all here to enjoy the cherry blossoms.

Hanami party mostly consists of having an outdoor party beneath the cherry blossom during daytime or at night.

Lots of picnics!

Whole family enjoying a day out celebrating the arrival of cherry blossoms.

People bring food, drinks, and lots of alcohol.

Everybody seems to enjoy a day in the park.

This a picture of us taking a picture of people taking pictures of the cherry blossom.. LOL!

Why it is so popular?

The nation’s deep-rooted attachment to cherry blossoms because the flowers are deeply symbolic: their short-lived existence taps into a long-held appreciation of the beauty of the fleeting nature of life, as echoed across the nation’s cultural heritage, from tea ceremonies to wabi sabi ceramics. The blossoms also, quite literally, symbolize new beginnings, with April 1 being the first day of both the financial and academic year in Japan.

Plenty of food and drink to go around...

It was around 11:00AM and this guys was so drunk already! Showing his underwear as his friends are laughing...

People dressed in traditional Japanese outfit!

Lots of Food vendors on the premises so we got our lunch here and sat down on the grass to eat.

Equestrian statue of Prince Komatsu Akihito.

Prince Akihito was the seventh son of Prince Fushimi Kuniie. In 1858, he was adopted by Emperor Ninkō as a potential heir to the throne.

Rock'N' roll group.

They are ready to dance rock "n" roll in the park.

At the end of the park is the Tokyo National Museum is a gigantic complex that houses almost 100,000 art objects covering Japanese history from the Jomon period to the 20th century.

Next..Ueno Park-10 days later