Ueno Seiyoken Honten
Western food in a corner of Ueno Park, from a restaurant founded in 1872.
piggybackjapan.com
Ueno Seiyoken Honten
SaveWestern food in a corner of Ueno Park, from a restaurant founded in 1872.
Its hayashi rice follows a recipe kept for generations, and some name this house as where the dish began.
MoreWhat kind of place
Ueno Seiyoken opened in 1872, in the early years of Meiji, and the main house still stands in a corner of Ueno Park.
The house stops short of claiming it invented hayashi rice — it says only that it is honored people tell the story, and that it has served the dish from an unchanged recipe for many years.
The building holds two dining rooms, the walk-in Western-food restaurant and the grill with its three private rooms.
It also has banquet halls, some of them looking out on the cherry trees in spring and the red leaves in autumn.
Sources and evidence (16)
- The restaurant was founded in 1872, the fifth year of the Meiji era.source
- Asked whether hayashi rice started at this house, it replies that it is honored people say so, and writes that it has served the dish from an unchanged recipe for many years.source
- It is a 5-minute walk from the Park Exit of JR Ueno Station, 5 minutes from the main exit of Keisei Ueno Station, 5 minutes from Exit 7 of Tokyo Metro Ueno Station, and 8 minutes from Exit A3 of Toei Ueno-okachimachi Station.source
- To reach that lot, take the road alongside Gojo Tenjinsha Shrine off Dobutsuen-dori, where a blue sign marks the turn.source
- There is a changing room on the fourth floor.source
- The building has no ATM, no vending machines and no pay phone.source
- Smoking areas are on the second floor and at the entrance.source
- There is a coat check on the first floor.source
- On allergies and diets such as vegetarian, the restaurant says to feel free to ask.source
- The grill has an anniversary service, with a dessert plate and a commemorative photo.source
- The grill has three private rooms.source
- The banquet halls have free Wi-Fi.source
- Some banquet rooms look out on cherry blossoms and fall color.source
- The main building hosts BEER GARDEN 2026 from July 10 to September 5, 2026, closed Mondays except for July 20.source
- The Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum outlets, Muse, Salon and Muse Art, are on the first and second floors of the museum's central wing, a one-minute walk from the main gate of Ueno Zoo; this describes those outlets, not the main building.source
- The reply that all three outlets are wheelchair accessible refers to the three outlets at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, not to the main building.source
With kidsThe part that matters
This restaurant stands inside Ueno Park itself, five minutes' walk from the Park Exit of JR Ueno Station. The dish to order is hayashi rice, made from a recipe the house says it has not changed in years.
Two dining rooms share the building: the casual Western-food one, through the door at the front left, seats people in the order they arrive, so you can walk in with the family and no booking.
The grill under the same roof does take reservations and has three private rooms, though lunch there starts at 7,000 yen on weekdays and a private room adds 11,000 yen for up to six people.
Nursing and diaper changing are on the fourth floor, so you can feed and change a baby without leaving the building, and the restaurant's own 39-space lot sits right in front, though it can be full when you arrive.
Sources and evidence (4)
- An hour past the 10:30 opening: 20 people ahead, 15 minutes to a table. Tables sit close, and families make it loud.source
- Only one private room sees Kaneiji's bell; booked months ahead. It held 11, and noisy children went unnoticed.source
- The Panda Lunch, an adult's kids' plate: fried prawn, hamburger in demi-glace, tea with an hourglass, a panda pudding.source
- In blossom season the queue ran to 30, but tables turned fast: seated in 20 minutes, asked indoors or terrace.source
By age0-1 / 2-3 / 4-6
- Ages 0-1The summer beer garden is held on the rooftop terrace of the main building and is entirely non-smoking. Children under elementary school age are free, so a baby in arms sits at the same table. You go in through the entrance on the right as you face the building and take the elevator to the fourth floor.The nursing room and the place to change diapers are on the fourth floor; the guide does not say how many there are or whether they are private. The Western-food restaurant takes no reservations and seats guests in the order they arrive. It opens 11:00-17:00 on weekdays, last order 16:00, and 10:30-18:00 on weekends and holidays, last order 17:00, closed Mondays. The beer garden runs July 10 to September 5, 2026, 18:00-21:00 Monday through Saturday and 17:30-20:30 Sundays and holidays, two hours per seating, bookable from two people. There are no vending machines in the building, and the smoking areas are on the second floor and at the entrance.
- Ages 2-3The Western-food restaurant has no private rooms and no buyouts, and takes no reservations; guests are seated in the order they arrive. Private rooms are in the main building's Grill, three of them, at 11,000 yen for up to six people, with lunch from 7,000 yen on weekdays and 9,000 on weekends and holidays. The Grill serves dinner by reservation only and closes Mondays; because of that Monday closure, a Tuesday dinner has to be booked by 16:00 on Sunday. They invite you to ask about allergies and vegetarian needs.
- Ages 4-6A children's menu is offered, for a fee, for banquets and meetings; nothing is stated about one at the Western-food restaurant or the Grill. At the beer garden, junior high school age and up pay the adult rate, elementary school age and under buy a 1,000 yen soft-drink free-refill plan, and children under elementary school age are free. The Grill has an anniversary service with a dessert plate and a commemorative photo. There are 39 parking spaces right in front of the main building, though they may be full or otherwise unavailable.
By weatherRain, heat, cold
- Rainy dayMeals are inside the building. The Western-food restaurant's entrance is on the left side of the front, and it takes no reservations, seating people in the order they arrive. The outdoor part is the beer garden held on the rooftop terrace, entered on the right side of the front and reached by elevator to the fourth floor.
- Hot dayNot checked yet
- Cold dayNot checked yet
Time needed1.5 h
How was it with your kids?
Not greatGreat
Family checks✓ easy for your family
- ElevatorElevator：with conditionsconditions
- Stroller OKStroller friendly：not checked
- RentalStroller rental：not checked
- NursingNursing space：with conditionsconditions
- ChangingDiaper changing table：with conditionsconditions
- Family WCFamily restroom：not checked
- Own foodOutside food allowed：not checked
- EnglishEnglish support：not checked
Tap a mark for details
* Other not checked (10)
Diaper disposal bin, Kids' toilet seat & step stool, Indoor / outdoor, Steps & slope caution, Child switch (rider swap), Official family-friendly certification, Best-fit ages (guide), Crowding (guide), Quietness (guide), Lost-child support
Green = we confirmed it. Gray = not checked yet. Gray with a line through = the place does not have it.
Worth a look before you go
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
An hour past the 10:30 opening: 20 people ahead, 15 minutes to a table. Tables sit close, and families make it loud.
Finally eating at Ueno Seiyoken
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
Only one private room sees Kaneiji's bell; booked months ahead. It held 11, and noisy children went unnoticed.
Ueno Seiyoken Honten Grill
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
The Panda Lunch, an adult's kids' plate: fried prawn, hamburger in demi-glace, tea with an hourglass, a panda pudding.
Eating the Panda Lunch at Ueno Seiyoken
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
In blossom season the queue ran to 30, but tables turned fast: seated in 20 minutes, asked indoors or terrace.
Terrace lunch at Ueno Seiyoken, Ueno
Ueno Seiyoken Honten · Links & reads ▾
＋ Add a link
Save
Where to go next
With a baby (0–1)
- National Museum of Nature and ScienceScience museumStroller friendlyNursing spaceDiaper changing table5 min walkA national museum shown at full size — dinosaur skeletons, a life-size blue whale.
- Tokyo National MuseumNational museumStroller friendlyNursing spaceDiaper changing table5 min walkJapan's oldest museum, six buildings on one site, showing almost only real objects.
- Ueno ParkCity parkStroller friendlyNursing spaceDiaper changing table5 min walkOne of Japan's first public parks, with the zoo and museums inside its grounds.
- Ueno ZooZooStroller friendlyNursing spaceDiaper changing table5 min walkJapan's first zoo, with about 300 species spread over two gardens.
- Ameyoko Shopping StreetMarket streetStroller friendlyDiaper changing table10 min walkA market street of some 400 shops packed into 500 meters between two stations.
- Asakusa Imahan Kokusai Street Head RestaurantSukiyaki & shabu-shabuElevator1.8 kmA sukiyaki and shabu-shabu house in Asakusa since 1895, serving only female black wagyu.
With a toddler (2–3)
- Asakusa HanayashikiAmusement parkNursing spaceDiaper changing tableElevator2.1 kmA small amusement park, a flower garden in 1853, that calls itself Japan's oldest.
- ASOBono!Indoor playgroundStroller friendlyNursing spaceDiaper changing table2.0 kmAn indoor playground at Tokyo Dome City, its ball pool filled with some 40,000 balls.
- Senso-jiTempleStroller friendlyDiaper changing tableElevator2.2 kmTokyo's oldest temple, approached through a stone-paved shopping street from the great gate.
For sights
- National Museum of Nature and ScienceScience museumStroller friendlyNursing spaceDiaper changing table5 min walkA national museum shown at full size — dinosaur skeletons, a life-size blue whale.
- Tokyo National MuseumNational museumStroller friendlyNursing spaceDiaper changing table5 min walkJapan's oldest museum, six buildings on one site, showing almost only real objects.
- Ueno ZooZooStroller friendlyNursing spaceDiaper changing table5 min walkJapan's first zoo, with about 300 species spread over two gardens.
- Senso-jiTempleStroller friendlyDiaper changing tableElevator2.2 kmTokyo's oldest temple, approached through a stone-paved shopping street from the great gate.
For play
- Ueno ParkCity parkStroller friendlyNursing spaceDiaper changing table5 min walkOne of Japan's first public parks, with the zoo and museums inside its grounds.
- Asakusa HanayashikiAmusement parkNursing spaceDiaper changing tableElevator2.1 kmA small amusement park, a flower garden in 1853, that calls itself Japan's oldest.
- ASOBono!Indoor playgroundStroller friendlyNursing spaceDiaper changing table2.0 kmAn indoor playground at Tokyo Dome City, its ball pool filled with some 40,000 balls.
Where it is
4-58 Uenokoen, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-8715source
Before you go
- A 39-space parking lot for the restaurant sits directly in front of the main building, though it may be full on the day and unavailable.source
- The grill serves dinner by reservation only.source
- Because Monday is the closing day, a reservation for Tuesday dinner has to be made by 4 p.m. on Sunday.source
- The Western-food restaurant in the main building has no private rooms and cannot be booked out.source
- The Western-food restaurant does not take reservations.source
More notes (4)
- The Western-food restaurant seats people in the order they arrive.source
- The Western-food restaurant answers the phone from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.source
- The locations that take reservations online or by phone are the grill in the main building, the restaurant salon at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, the Ginza branch and the Asakusa branch.source
- The beer garden set is 7,000 yen tax included, seats you for two hours with 90 minutes of unlimited drinks, takes bookings from two people up, and is entirely nonsmoking.source
Basics
- Fee：Prices are per restaurant. At Honten Grill, lunch starts at ¥7,000 on weekdays and ¥9,000 on weekends and on holidays, dinner from ¥15,000, and a private room costs ¥11,000 for up to 6 people or ¥22,000 for 7 to 14. No price list is published for Honten Restaurant (Yoshoku). The rooftop Beer Garden, running 10 July to 5 September 2026, is ¥7,000 including a set and 90 minutes of free drinks: from junior high school up you pay the adult price, elementary school children and younger buy a ¥1,000 soft-drink pass, and children below elementary school age are free. (Checked 15 August 2026)source
- Hours：Both restaurants close on Mondays, and open when the Monday is a public holiday. Honten Restaurant (Yoshoku) is open 11:00-17:00 on weekdays (last order 16:00) and 10:30-18:00 on weekends and on holidays (last order 17:00). Honten Grill serves lunch 11:00-15:00 on weekdays (last order 14:00) and 11:00-16:00 on weekends and on holidays (last order 15:00), and dinner 17:00-21:00 (last order 20:00), dinner by reservation only.source2
- Time to allow：1.5 h
- Booking：The building holds two restaurants and they work differently. Honten Restaurant (Yoshoku) takes no reservations at all - you queue and are seated in the order you arrive. Honten Grill does take reservations, and its dinner service is by reservation only; because it closes on Mondays, a Tuesday dinner has to be booked by 16:00 on the Sunday. Across the company, only Honten Grill, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum's Restaurant Salon, the Ginza branch and the Asakusa branch accept reservations online or by phone. DC, JCB, VISA and UC cards are accepted.source23
Basics in detail (13)
Other
- It does not offer lodging.source
Fees
- At the grill in the main building, a private room costs 11,000 yen for up to 6 people and 22,000 yen for 7 to 14.source
- Lunch at the grill starts at 7,000 yen on weekdays and 9,000 yen on weekends and holidays, and dinner starts at 15,000 yen.source
- Both the grill and the Western-food restaurant in the main building accept DC, JCB, VISA and UC cards.source
- At the beer garden, middle school age and up pay the adult price, elementary school children buy a 1,000 yen unlimited soft drink plan, and children younger than elementary school age are free.source
- The salon at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum has two private rooms, one for 2 to 6 people and one for 5 to 12, at a flat 550 yen per person; this too is not about the main building.source
Hours and closures
- The grill serves lunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays (last order 2 p.m.) and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends and holidays (last order 3 p.m.), and dinner 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (last order 8 p.m.).source
- The grill closes on Mondays but stays open on public holidays.source
- It is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays (last order 4 p.m.) and 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays (last order 5 p.m.), closed Mondays.source
- The beer garden runs 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday (last order 8:30 p.m.) and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Sundays and holidays (last order 8 p.m.).source
Contact
- The address is 4-58 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-8715.
- The phone number for the grill is 03-3821-2180.
- Its entrance is on the left side of the front of the building, and the phone number is 03-3821-2183.
Once you've decided
evidence & sources (4)
- Official: Diaper changing table, Nursing space, Stroller access notes
- Official: Stroller access notes
- Official: Elevator
- Official: main site
Ueno Seiyoken has served Western food in Ueno Park since 1872. Two restaurants share the building: a grill with three private rooms, and a dining room. The hayashi rice follows a recipe unchanged for generations, and some name this house as where the dish began. Banquet rooms face the cherry blossom and the autumn leaves, and in summer the rooftop terrace opens as a beer garden. An elevator reaches the fourth floor, where the nursing room and the changing place are.
| Stroller friendly | Not checked yet | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diaper changing table | Yes | On the 4th floor. The number of tables, and whether they are inside a private room, are not stated. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | seiyoken.co.jp |
| Nursing space | Yes | On the 4th floor, answered together with the diaper-changing place. The number of rooms is not stated. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | seiyoken.co.jp |
| Family restroom | Not checked yet | ||||
| Diaper disposal bin | Not checked yet | ||||
| Kids' toilet seat & step stool | Not checked yet | ||||
| Elevator | Yes | An elevator from the entrance on the right-hand side of the front of the building goes up to the 4th floor, where the rooftop beer terrace, the nursing room and the changing place are. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | seiyoken.co.jp |
| Indoor / outdoor | Not checked yet | ||||
| English support | Not checked yet | ||||
| Outside food allowed | Not checked yet | ||||
| Steps & slope caution | Not checked yet | ||||
| Child switch (rider swap) | Not checked yet | ||||
| Stroller access notesExtra info — guide only | Yes | Five minutes on foot from the Park Exit of JR Ueno station, from the main exit of Keisei Ueno, and from exit 7 of Tokyo Metro Ueno; eight minutes from exit A3 of Ueno-okachimachi. The restaurant's own parking lot is right in front of the building and holds 39 cars - reach it from Dobutsuen-dori, along the road beside Gojo Tenjinja shrine, where a blue sign marks the turn; it can be full. There is a cloakroom on the 1st floor, and no ATM, vending machine or public telephone in the building. Smoking areas are on the 2nd floor and at the entrance. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | seiyoken.co.jpseiyoken.co.jp |
| Official family-friendly certificationExtra info — guide only | Not checked yet | ||||
| Best-fit ages (guide)Extra info — guide only | Not checked yet | ||||
| Crowding (guide)Extra info — guide only | Not checked yet | ||||
| Quietness (guide)Extra info — guide only | Not checked yet | ||||
| Lost-child supportExtra info — guide only | Not checked yet |
Reviews
Reviews