Ueno Park hosts Soene Akari Park from 30 October

Ueno Park hosts Soene Akari Park from 30 October 2026, bringing an energy exhibition and a green-energy light-up to the fountain area in Tokyo. The event runs through 3 November 2026 and gives visitors a current reason to include the park in an autumn visit to Japan.

Soene Akari Park brings energy exhibits to Ueno

Soene Akari Park is centred on the theme of next-generation energy and light. The official event site describes an exhibition intended to deepen understanding of new energy, alongside illumination using electricity from renewable sources.

The programme is being presented by the Soene Akari Park executive committee. The official schedule places the event at the Ueno Park fountain area from 30 October to 3 November 2026. NHK also reported on 30 October that the renewable-energy illumination had begun at the park in Tokyo.

The site lists lighting designer Motoko Ishii as producer. It also names the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, known as NEDO, among the organisations connected with the event. The display therefore links a public park setting with information about energy generation and lighting rather than offering only a seasonal decoration.

Ueno Park’s public history frames the light event

Ueno Park was established in 1873, at the start of the Meiji era, as one of Japan’s first public parks. In 1924, administration passed to the city, and the official name Ueno Onshi Park reflected that transfer as an imperial gift.

The park occupies a cultural district in Taito City with museums, the Ueno Zoo, temples and shrines. The Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum of Western Art and Ueno Toshogu Shrine are among the named facilities and landmarks associated with the area.

That setting gives the event a specific connection to the park’s history. The fountain area is not an isolated exhibition hall: it sits within a public landscape that developed from former Kan’ei-ji temple grounds into a civic and cultural centre. The light-up adds a temporary energy display to a place already shaped by museums, religious buildings and public space.

The fountain area connects energy displays with Ueno’s museums

The event site identifies the fountain area as its venue and lists cooperation from several nearby cultural institutions. These include the Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum of Nature and Science, the National Museum of Western Art and the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum.

For visitors, the arrangement makes the event one stop within a larger museum and heritage district. The park also contains historic structures, including Ueno Toshogu Shrine and a five-storey pagoda, while Shinobazu Pond lies to the south of the main park route.

Visiting Ueno Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Soene Akari Park takes place from 30 October to 3 November 2026 at the fountain area of Ueno Park.
• The event combines an energy exhibition with a renewable-energy light-up; severe weather may lead to changes or cancellation of part of the display.
• The venue is a short walk from JR Ueno Station’s Park Exit and is also accessible from Ueno Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza and Hibiya lines, according to the organiser.
• Ueno Park is a large public landscape containing museums, temples, shrines, a zoo and Shinobazu Pond, so the event area forms part of a wider walking visit.
• The official language is Japanese and the national currency is the yen.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Ueno Park

When does Soene Akari Park take place at Ueno Park?

Soene Akari Park runs from 30 October to 3 November 2026 at the park’s fountain area in Tokyo.

What is Soene Akari Park?

It is a light event combining an exhibition about next-generation energy with illumination using renewable electricity.

Where is Ueno Park and how do you get there?

Ueno Park is in Taito City, Tokyo. The fountain area is reached from JR Ueno Station’s Park Exit, with Tokyo Metro and Keisei Ueno stations also nearby.