The Japanese, who say that silence is filled with flowers, come here in April for the sight of the cherry trees in blossom, their petals swept along by the northerly wind. Ueno Park (85ha) lovingly maintains its thousand cherry trees, as well as the lotus flowers bobbing on the surface of the waters. With its museums, zoo - where you can see giant pandas and Asian elephants - and shrine in the form of a five-storey pagoda, this park, which is the largest and oldest in Tokyo, really captures the imagination.