What does Ueno mean?

上野Ueno (Upper Field) Many place names in Japan are named after the location of old fields. Ueno (upper field), Shimono (lower field), and Nakano (middle field) are some common ones. Of course, the most famous Ueno is in Tokyo. It’s sometimes called 上野の山 (Ueno Mountain/Hill) and I suspect this elevation (20 meters above sea level) is the source of the name. Continue reading What does Ueno mean?