Bentendo Temple at Shinobazu Pond

This is a popular Buddhist temple among locals. I love seeing the beautiful, bright and colourful hexagonal tower, the architecture was awesome. The temple is located in the middle of Shinobazu Pond, and can be easily seen from Ueno Park. You just need to walk down the stairs and cross the road, next to Ueno Zoo, surrounded by a beautiful lotus pond. It is home to Benzaiten, a Japanese Buddhist goddess, originating from the Hindu Saraswati, the goddess of the arts, knowledge and wisdom. Local people pray to her for success in examination and good fortune. Interestingly, there are a lot of lucky charms sold in the temple, including cute pandas. Panda merchandise is so popular in the Ueno area, you can see them in a lot of places. Worth visiting if you happen to be in Ueno Park. Address: 2 Uenokouen, Taitou-ku, Toukyou-To 110-0007 Ambiance/Facilities: 8/10 Free entrance Rating: 5/5