Pandas in Ueno

The pandas are back at Ueno.  Ri Ri and Shin Shin arrived at Ueno Zoo in February 2011.  Shin Shin was a little shy and kept her back to the crowd.  Ri Ri was a little more accommodating, but slept soundly in the January afternoon sun.

A more accommodating and slightly more photogenic panda was on display outside the main entrance to the zoo.

A short distance away from this mail box, you'll find the famous panda yaki.

Panda Yaki Cakes - Panda Taiyaki?

I guess these are a variation of the Taiyaki, but panda shaped instead of fish shaped.  I've seen similar custard filled ones in the shape of bears.

They were hot and delicious.  Our children love Anpan so the taste and texture of these treats were not foreign to them.

The cool thing was that the machine that makes the cakes is located in the store and is visible through the windows of the shop.