I originally wanted to spend time at a place in my area because it was opening day, but I knew it would be too crowded. So at the last minute, I decided to go to a zoo instead and just stop by the other place on my way back.
At first, I planned to visit Ichikawa City Zoo to see Punch-kun in person, but the trip would have taken almost four hours round-trip. I woke up a bit late and felt too lazy to travel that far, so I ended up choosing Ueno Zoo instead.
First stop was Ueno Park. The cherry blossoms were mostly in full bloom, and it was crowded.
Then I went to Ueno Zoo. Fortunately, the crowd was manageable despite it being a weekend with good weather. I really enjoyed exploring the entire area for five hours! My feet were sore, but it felt so rewarding to check off almost every spot on the guide map.
Not all of the animals were available for viewing, but overall, I felt happy and satisfied. My favorites were the prairie dogs, otters, and flamingos.
Walking around, seeing the cherry blossoms in full bloom, sipping iced cocoa under them during short breaks, and checking the guide map to see which areas I hadn’t explored yet - all of it made this solo date feel especially lovely, warm, and memorable.
For such a large zoo, the entrance fee is very affordable. This short trip probably deserves its own thread of stories, so I might share some photos next time (or never, if I forget haha).
If I'm being honest, though, I'm not a big fan of zoos. I've always believed that animals shouldn't be kept in cages and displayed for people's entertainment. At the same time, I can't deny that visiting one can be a way to learn about animals and how we can coexist with them.
Fortunately, I felt that the animals there were well taken care of, as there were clear measures in place to limit stress and ensure their well-being. There was even a cenotaph honoring the animals that have passed at the zoo.
After my five-hour exploration of Ueno Zoo, I headed to Yurakucho for dinner. It was at a Chinese restaurant whose name I've already forgotten. The food was great, though I found it a little pricey.
After that, it was movie number two.
After the movie, I then headed to that area I mentioned previously to check it out briefly before calling it a day, but l ended up going to a cafe and a bookstore and stayed there until closing time.
I’m so happy there’s finally a cinema near my place. I’ve been waiting for this!!!
Day 3 was crazy busy, but I really had a great time.
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