Head over to Ueno Park’s Fountain Square this Chinese New Year’s for spicy lamb skewers, piping hot xiaolongbao and giant gyoza to warm up the weekend. Along with food stalls serving authentic Chinese festival grub, expect to see a wide range of lively performances on stage, from idol shows to folk dancing.
A must-see attraction at the festival is the photo exhibition showcasing the adorable panda family from Ueno Zoo: cub Xiang Xiang and her mother and father, Shin Shin and Li Li. Though the pandas have since been relocated back to China, the memories of their time in Ueno live on through vibrant photographs captured by Takashi Takahiro, creator of the popular ‘Everyday Panda’ blog.