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Abandoned subway station in Tokyo open to the public for a limited time!

Shannon McNaught Nov 16, 2018
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Whether you like trains or really old buildings, you’ll want to check out this limited-time attraction in Tokyo.

Between Ueno Station and Nippori Station on the Yamanote Line, there used to be a subway station on the Keisei Main Line named Hakubutsukan-Doubutsuen Station (try saying that five times fast). Located about 900 meters (0.5 miles) north of Ueno Station on the edge of Ueno Park, within a short distance of Ueno Zoo and the area’s many museums and art galleries, the station stopped operating in 1997 and was officially closed in April 2004.

▼ It looks so artsy.

京成電鉄“博物館動物園駅跡”
何も案内がないのに、みんなｶﾞﾝｶﾞﾝ入って行くｗ
知ってる人だけが入る…からの、それ見た通りすがりの人も｢入って良いんだ💡｣となってるようで、ひっきりなしに見学者が出入りしてます🎵
ﾄﾞｰﾑ下だけだけど、秘密基地感がﾊﾝﾊﾟない(๑˃́ꇴ˂̀๑)！#Bura_bi_now pic.twitter.com/jmQNd4DXGg

— たかしろふみな*ଘ(੭*ˊᵕˋ)੭自称鬱成金はこっち見んな (@kikuhhime) November 4, 2018

It’s been over 21 years since it was open. However, this building will be open to the public for viewing from November 23, 2018 to February 24, 2019. You can check it out between 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The best part: it’s free!

▼ You can purchase a commemorative train ticket and a clear file for 500 yen (US$4.39) inside. There are only 6,000 of them, so get there early!

蒼月民やかつてこの駅を利用していた方には是非ともGETして頂きたい、旧博物館動物園駅の公開記念乗車券！限られた駅窓口にしか売ってなく、6,000部が無くなったら終了の貴重なもの！
500円で乗車券とダブルポケットクリアファイルが買えます。 pic.twitter.com/2zscuTL9Fo

— めんだこ。🐾☕💙 (@y4m2k1_mendako) November 13, 2018

The former Hakubutsukan-Doubutsuen Station was officially recognized by the city of Tokyo as a historic building in April 2018. Before being opened to the public, the station was refurbished a bit to give it a good cleaning while still retaining its Showa-era charm. Its entrance was given a fresh makeover by designer Katsuhiko Hibino.

▼ And there are penguins.

博物館動物園駅のペンギンの絵。子供がみたら泣くよね( ；∀；) pic.twitter.com/yN5BZpfo69

— ろんぐうぇる (@long_well) November 8, 2018

You’ll be able to see the station’s nostalgic ticket counters, staircases, domed ceiling, train tracks, and even some writing left on the walls. The wooden ticket gates will also take you back in time. As a bonus to those of you can read Japanese, you can also read part of a novel on the station’s walls that was written by performer Hitsujiya Shirotama.

▼ These are the stairs that lead to the main ticket gate.

2chまとめ放題 : 【ちかてつ】都心に眠る「地下の廃駅」へようこそ。旧「博物館動物園駅」21年ぶり一般公開 https://t.co/sBtiuFXtPk pic.twitter.com/J10DFNcnf9

— 2chまとめ放題 (@matomehoudai) November 9, 2018

▼ And here are the stairs to the platform.

博物館動物園駅跡。「開いてるよ」と藝大で聞いたので入ってみた。昨年の「現代の写実展」で見たあの絵（何度も対話型鑑賞をした）が蘇りました。 pic.twitter.com/uryyTaXJ5K

— Moeko Saito (@biwacobicch) November 4, 2018

If you’re in the Ueno area this winter, don’t miss this chance to check out a real Tokyo relic!

Station Information
Former Hakubutsukan-doubutsuen Station / 旧博物館動物園駅
Address: Tokyo-to, Taitō-ku, Uenokoen 13-23
東京都台東区上野公園13-23
Open: 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (November 23, 2018-February 24, 2018)

Sources: Esuteru, Danro
Featured image: PR Times