I visited Café Chameleon inside Ueno Zoo on this day. I ordered the Chameleon Soda for 450 yen. When the cassis ice cream melted, it changed from green to a reddish color. The cassis ice cream was refreshing and delicious, quenching my thirst. Watching the pandas took about 50 minutes due to the long line, but they were very cute. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I visited Ueno Zoo for the first time because I heard they have a night zoo event. I found out that I needed to line up by 6:30 pm to see the pandas, so I gave up and headed straight to the area where they sell beer. I paid the 600 yen entrance fee and thought to myself, "Why did I come here?" I bought two of each craft beer - Lion for 600 yen, Tiger for 600 yen, and Elephant for 1000 yen. I also got a Panda Man for 500 yen and a Panda Bento for 700 yen. The Panda Man was super cute! After drinking for about an hour, I went to the small animal corner to see some adorable animals before heading home (in the pouring rain).

I came to Ueno Zoo to renew my annual pass, mainly for the twin pandas! The cafe inside the zoo has a nice view of the lotus pond this time of year. It opens at 11:30, so I waited while admiring the pond. I wish they would open a bit earlier though. I ordered the almond jelly for 1,200 yen, which was more like panna cotta in taste, but I quite liked it. I also got the soy meat hamburger sandwich for 780 yen, which was surprisingly delicious with a soft texture. The bread was fluffy but cold for some reason, maybe because it's hot this time of year? The soy meat patty was warm though. The side of potatoes was unexpectedly tasty, maybe because they were freshly fried. However, be careful as sparrows, pigeons, and even seagulls come very close and might try to snatch your food. The price seemed high for the almond jelly, but it includes a cup that you can take home, and the receipt mentioned that part of the sales goes to support the zoo, so I feel like I did a little good deed by eating here.

I stopped by the zoo while visiting Ueno Park for the first time in a while. The wait time for the pandas was 60 minutes, which I didn't feel like waiting for, so I decided to skip it and headed to the snack bar to quench my thirst. There are terrace seats next to Shinobazu Pond where you can eat and drink. They had various food menus with a zoo theme, but I wasn't in the mood for a meal or dessert, so I just ordered an iced coffee. The cute animal-patterned cup was adorable.

This is a shop near the panda area in Ueno Zoo. The panda bun (500 yen) looked really cute! However, it was quite small and had very little filling, so it felt a bit expensive. The children were very happy though. The curry (770 yen) was reasonably priced for a tourist spot and tasted delicious.

Today, let's escape from the madness of daily life and go watch some pandas in peace. I went to see them around noon and it was so relaxing. The queue for the panda family was about 40 minutes long. The mother panda, Shin Shin, and her twin cubs, Sen Sen and Kak Kak (Shintaro Ishihara R.I.P), or rather, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei. Xiao Xiao, the younger brother, has a green line as a marker on his body. It was heartwarming to see the mother panda playing with her cubs. We only got to watch for 2 minutes, but it was a precious moment. After that, we saw the father panda, Li Li, who was all alone and we could watch him at our own pace. It was feeding time, so we saw him eating bamboo up close. The eldest daughter, Xiang Xiang, was not available for viewing as she will be returning to China next week. But overall, it was a delightful experience. Now, let's have a light lunch. I found something unique - a panda bento box! I chose the bamboo skin panda bento box (660 yen) and a draft beer (650 yen). What will you have? Maybe the mini pancakes (380 yen) and corn soup (320 yen). The prices were surprisingly reasonable for a zoo run by the city. It's a great facility, and the food was delicious. We enjoyed our meal at the free seating area overlooking the Shinobazu Pond. It was the perfect way to unwind and forget about the stress of work for the past few days. Thank you, pandas, for the wonderful experience!

Today, I went to Ueno Zoo for a special reason. I tried the "Panda Experience Dango" for 250 yen. It's called an experience because the dango that the pandas eat is almost the same, but with added sweetness and moisture. The rice used is from JA Tamba's rice flour. The dango has no filling, just like a regular dango, with a cute panda face and UENO ZOO stamp on it. I also tried the "Bamboo Shoot-filled Panda Bun" for 450 yen, which was adorable and full of character. Lastly, I had the yakisoba for 500 yen, which surprisingly had a good portion size. The chopstick bag was also cute.

The taste was average, but the panda-shaped rice was cute. When you eat the cheek part, you can feel the fluffy texture of the fur, which is also cute. They also have light snacks like fried chicken, so it might be good to have that as a side dish. On the way back, there was a famous place for anmitsu, so having dessert there would be nice. The pandas were so crowded even on a weekday that I couldn't see them.

I often buy katsu sandwiches at Ueno Station, but this time I decided to try something at the zoo. I went in without a plan. I tried the Cafe Chameleon's Bamboo Panda Bento for 660 yen in the west area. The panda is so cute! The portion was big enough to make me want to add more potatoes and yakisoba. The atmosphere with the bamboo was satisfying. It's vinegared rice. It's basically chirashi sushi. The shiitake mushrooms on the panda's ears were delicious.

When you think of Ueno Zoo, you think of pandas! While there are many animals gaining attention lately, pandas are still the star. So why not have a panda-themed lunch? The bamboo panda bento box is delicious with a normal flavor. The panda dumplings are simple in taste but still tasty. The Asian-style fried chicken with cilantro and citrus sauce is refreshing and delicious! I can't wait to come back and have this lunch again.

I visited Ueno Zoo for the first time. The twin pandas can be seen through a lottery system, but Papa Panda Li Li can be seen with a 15-minute wait. I purchased a cute bento box at a nearby shop where Li Li is located. I bought the "Bamboo Panda Bento" for 660 yen (including 8% tax) and the "Twin Panda Tumbler Almond Jelly" for 1000 yen (including 10% tax). I took the bento home. The almond jelly came in a plastic tumbler and was delicious. Opening the bento box was exciting, and it was cute and tasty!

The lottery for viewing the twin pandas was as follows: applied for one week at a time, missed the first time, won the second time, won the third time. Even if you miss, you can still see the older sister Shan Shan and father Li Li. Many people wear all black to prevent reflections as it is mostly viewed through glass. Shan Shan can be seen immediately on the right after entering the main gate, sitting and eating bamboo, looking very cute. Li Li in the west area can be viewed freely without restrictions. I was able to take many cute photos this time, unlike the last time when they were not active. Please excuse the last photo if it offends anyone, but apparently they smell good because they only eat bamboo. The twin pandas were quite different this time, with the active sister Lei Lei turning into part of a tree, while the brother Xiao Xiao was climbing trees and crossing branches. Mother Shin Shin had an incredible appetite as always, eating non-stop. The stand-style shop where I got a cute bento box was open again, and I also enjoyed a melon shaved ice. The shuttle bus that was suspended is now running again, indicating a gradual return to normalcy. There are plenty of free seating areas with tables around the stand-style shops, including a terrace facing Shinobazu Pond. The bento box I had included a panda face made of mushrooms, black beans, and other toppings on a bed of rice, while the shaved ice was melon-flavored. Both were cute and enjoyable. I will definitely visit again.

I love bears, pandas, and bread ◆◆ Kuma Panda ◆◆ I came to see Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei at Ueno Zoo (＾ω＾) They were so cute like dumplings. It's not like Adventure World where you can see them as much as you want, but I saw them perfectly! ※ Viewing of the twins Shanshan and Lele is by lottery. You can only see them for a total of 4 minutes in 4 spots, each for 1 minute. ※ Shan Shan has a 50-minute wait. ※ There is no wait for Li Li and you can see her as much as you want. I thought Ueno's pandas were cute for the first time ♡ I especially felt a different young power from Li Li (the father panda) compared to Yongming and Dan Dan! Li Li can be watched without a fence or time limit, so you can watch him for a long time. His impressive sight of eating bamboo was amazing (*^ω^) At that time, I stopped by here for a break. It's located near the penguins in the west garden. You can enjoy it while looking at Shinobazu Pond ♪ ◆ Shaved Ice 300 yen It's the old-fashioned shaved ice. You can choose from strawberry and melon, but there is quite a little syrup, so the bottom part is pure white. Well, it's 300 yen (laughs) They also have a bento wrapped in bamboo skin (which I had previously). Thank you for the meal.

Continued from January 2020... We were at Ueno Zoo watching the panda family. Since Shan Shan was taking a nap, we decided to visit the café at the Shinobazu Pond Terrace in the West Garden called "Café Chameleon" for a snack. Chibitsunu: "The main attraction is this, right?" Nunu: "Yes, this, this~" We got the Panda Latte in a panda mug for 1200 yen and the Bamboo Shoot-filled Panda Bun for 400 yen. I really wanted the mug because it has a 2020 design on it. When you line up the front and back of the cup, it forms the numbers 2020. Chibitsunu: "Shan-chan makes so many cute poses~" The illustration of "Monaka Skin" is also cute (no red bean paste inside, just the skin). We can take the mug home, so I added another item to my Shan Shan mug collection. And this cute bun is the Bamboo Shoot-filled Panda Bun. I bought it to snack on later when I get hungry. Nunu: "Shan Shan might be waking up soon." That's right, let's head back to the viewing area. This is our 5th viewing session today. Oh! Shan Shan is walking towards us. Chibitsunu: "I got a close-up shot~" Shan Shan peeked through the door where the keepers come in and out. Maybe asking for food? Nunu: "He's really peeking, isn't he~" Mom Shin Shin was still outside but in a less visible spot, so I couldn't get a good photo. Dad Li Li was in an even less visible spot, so I couldn't take a photo of him. We hurried to line up again for our 6th viewing session. The dinner was all set up in Shan Shan's room, and he looked very satisfied. Chibitsunu: "He's gotten good at eating, hasn't he~" Next door was Dad Li Li. He also came back to the room and was having dinner. Mom Shin Shin's room. She was also eating bamboo and leaves. Nunu: "We can probably make it for one more viewing, let's hurry!" This is our 7th and final viewing session. Shan Shan was still eating. His arms look so strong when viewed from the side. He must have developed those strong arms from climbing towers and wooden structures since he was small. I took a good look at Shan Shan's face as I won't be able to visit for a while. Chibitsunu: "Shan-chan, I'll definitely come see you again!" Dad's room. Li Li's face looks similar to Shan Shan's. They occasionally show expressions that remind me of a parent and child. Lastly, Mom's room. Shin Shin's face also resembles Shan Shan's. That's the connection I felt during this panda viewing. After leaving the zoo, we headed to a restaurant for dinner. This time, we're taking Nunu to our favorite restaurant... to be continued.

☆Family Meal☆ This day was all about family time, so we decided to visit Ueno Zoo! It was a holiday weekend, so the zoo was packed with people and we were exhausted by the time we arrived at "Cafe Chameleon." It's a street-side cafe where you can eat at nearby benches or tables. Because it was lunchtime, there was a long line and we waited for about 15 minutes. [Cafe Chameleon Menu] This time, we tried the "Bamboo Panda Bento (580 yen)." It's a bento box wrapped in bamboo skin. The outer part is mixed rice, while the panda part is white rice, creating a cute visual that kids would love. The mixed rice had a rich flavor with ingredients like shiitake mushrooms, chicken, and fried tofu, giving it a gentle taste. Although the portion was a bit small, it was easy for kids to eat. [Summary] They also have other panda-themed items like "Panda Buns" and "Panda Dumplings." After enjoying our meal, we went to see giraffes, hippos, elephants, and various other animals before heading home.

On November 1, 2019, after finishing my errands in Ueno in a hurry, I had some spare time so I decided to visit Ueno Zoo. It was just past 4 pm, close to closing time, and I was feeling tired from walking, so I decided to take a break before heading home. I ordered fried chicken and iced tea, just like last time, and also got an ice cream. The ice cream was light, but as a fan of wafers, I found the crispy and fragrant wafer surprisingly delicious. The open space outside with a good view added to the experience, making the somewhat cheap ice cream taste even better and soothing my tired body. The only disappointment was the fried chicken, which was cold and tough, probably because it was close to closing time. It was delicious when it was hot last time...

Wow, I'm sorry for being outdated, but when was Shan Shan born!? My son, who is 2 years old, begged me to take him to Ueno Zoo to see the pandas. It was winter and very cold, but we waited in line for over two hours. When we finally got to the pandas, they were lying down with their backs turned. Luckily, my son can still stand on his own, unlike the father and his two-year-old son in front of us who were constantly complaining about being hungry. When they finally reached the pandas, they just passed by, saying they couldn't see them. The dad had been carrying his son for two hours. Amazing. Anyway, in celebration of Shan Shan's birth, there were panda-themed foods. Personally, I thought the panda-shaped bread in a bag was cute. My son ate most of the food. These experiences create memories, right? I visited Ueno Zoo when I was young too, so it's amazing.

This cafe at Ueno Zoo serves simple dishes. I ordered the Panda Bento, Chicken Box, and Yakisoba. The Panda Bento was like a Chinese-style steamed rice dish and was cute and tasty. The Chicken Box had fried chicken, potatoes, and fried chicken pieces. The taste was so-so, especially the potatoes. The Yakisoba, however, was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

Continuing from June 2019... We returned to Ueno Zoo from Ueno Ameyoko. Oh! There's a cutout panel of Nunu-chan! Nunu: "Yes, take a picture, take a picture~" Chibi Tsunu: "Both of you! Let's hurry and line up for the panda viewing queue." In the afternoon, Shan Shan was in the small garden. There's a wooden structure here made by the keepers for Shan Shan to play with. It was a New Year's gift, so it's called a New Year's gift. The small white flowers blooming in the front of the garden are dandelions. Despite the name, they are cute flowers, right? Chibi Tsunu: "These flowers are perfect for Shan-chan's image~" Just when we thought Shan Shan had brought the bamboo all the way here to eat, he set up a log like a table and started eating. It's so girly. Nunu: "Shan Shan is so cute~" And now Shan Shan is in a lying down position, completely relaxed. It looks like a stuffed animal. Chibi Tsunu: "I wonder if they'll sell this stuffed animal~" Moving to the larger garden, we found Shan Shan's mother, Shin Shin, having a meal. After Shan Shan started standing on his own, Shan Shan and his mother take turns using the larger garden. In the morning, the mother is in the back garden (non-public area), and in the afternoon, she comes out to this larger garden. Nunu: "Finally got to see the mother~" If you look closely, you'll see a red circular mark on Shin Shin's belly. This is where the milk is. Even though it's been half a year since Shan Shan stopped nursing, the marks of drinking milk are still there. Chibi Tsunu: "She worked hard raising her child~" Shin Shin is sitting like a panda and eating bamboo deliciously. After finishing raising Shan Shan, she can finally enjoy her meals at ease. Next door, father panda Li Li is in the garden. Li Li is having a meal under his favorite tower. He looks so relaxed. We also felt like having something sweet, so let's have a snack here... At Ueno Zoo, we're watching the Shan Shan family. Let's take a break and come to the Ueno Zoo's Cafe Chameleon at the Shinobazu Pond Terrace. Nunu: "Let's take a picture with the lotus pond in the background~" Our goal was this Panda Mug de Panda Latte 2019. We were worried it might be sold out, but luckily, it was still available. Chibi Tsunu: "Shan-chan, who seeks comfort from his mother, is so cute~" The back has a tree-climbing Shan Shan. The illustration of "Monaka" is also cute. (No red bean paste is included, only the skin). We can take the mug home and treasure it. Chibi Tsunu had a cola float. It's getting to be the season where cold drinks are delicious. (Note: This visit was in June). When we come to Ueno Zoo, we always eat our favorite panda dangos. We can't miss out on these. Nunu: "The bonus card has Shin Shin on it~" Nunu had a strawberry shaved ice. Nunu: "I made a quick decision after looking at the menu." After taking a break, let's go for the last panda viewing of the day... Shan Shan was indoors buried in bamboo while having a meal. Pandas spend the night in their rooms, so plenty of bamboo and bamboo grass are prepared in their rooms. Shan Shan has an interesting habit where he often eats the inner nodes of the bamboo first when eating bamboo. Sometimes he eats only the nodes and leaves the bamboo. Nunu: "Shan Shan is a gourmet~" Next door is father Li Li's room. Li Li is eating with a sharp face. Mother Shin Shin is also smiling while eating. Pandas peel off the tough skin of the bamboo to eat only the soft inner part. Shin Shin's belly is full of peeled skins. Chibi Tsunu: "The mother eats so fast~" There's a sign like this on the viewing path ==========

Title: "Snack Stand in the West Area of Ueno Zoo" My friend and I went to Ueno Zoo with tickets we received from a newspaper stand. We visited the East Area in the morning, had lunch outside, and re-entered the zoo. To re-enter, we had to get a re-entry ticket at the office near the exit gate. Since the tickets were only valid for that day, we couldn't use any cheap tricks to come back another day. As soon as we entered the West Area, we saw a snack stand called "Cafe Chameleon" and decided to take a short break there. The menu was not very extensive, with the cheapest item being an ice candy for 200 yen, which is probably around 100 yen in regular market price. Although the ice candy seemed like a good choice as it was a bit hot, we decided to try the "3-Color Yukimi Daifuku" as it seemed more original. It cost 300 yen, so it didn't seem very cheap. Unlike the East Area where soft serve ice cream was sold, the ice cream type of dessert here was the "3-Color Yukimi Daifuku." The bench had a great view, situated right by the Shinobazu Pond, offering an unobstructed view of the surroundings. Despite being in a zoo, there was hardly any animal smell in this area. The "3-Color Yukimi Daifuku" came in three flavors - vanilla, peach-like, and matcha. The peach-like flavor was a bit ambiguous, possibly tasting like peach or a light pink berry flavor. Each flavor was delicious in its own way, with the size being the same as store-bought Yukimi Daifuku. The salted rice cracker was recommended to eat in between bites of the Yukimi Daifuku to enhance the taste experience by contrasting flavors. Overall, the "3-Color Yukimi Daifuku" and salted rice cracker were enjoyable, especially if it's not scorching hot. In the summer, it's recommended to pair them with a drink. The Yukimi Daifuku is wrapped in mochi, so it's less likely to melt and become messy even in the summer heat. The benches at Cafe Chameleon, with outdoor and covered seating options, along with tables, make it a perfect spot for a break.