Ueno Park hosts Peace of Light on 7 November
Published on 11/07/2026 at 12:54 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSLight and heritage in Ueno
- The Ueno Tourism Federation presents Peace of Light at Ueno Park on 7 November 2026.
- Shinobazu Pond hosts the first display, while the Tokyo National Museum provides the second evening backdrop.
- Japan National Tourism Organization records Ueno Park as opening to the public in 1873.
- JR Ueno Station connects the park with Tokyo and the JR Yamanote loop line.
Ueno Park hosts Peace of Light from 6 to 8 November 2026 in Tokyo, with drone displays scheduled for 7 and 8 November. The light and sound festival links Shinobazu Pond with the Tokyo National Museum during a weekend programme organised by the Ueno Tourism Federation.
Peace of Light brings two drone shows to Ueno Park
The festival runs from Friday, 6 November, to Sunday, 8 November, but the drone shows take place on Saturday, 7 November, and Sunday, 8 November. Redcliff, the planner and operator of the displays, identifies Ueno Park in Taito-ku as the venue and the Ueno Tourism Federation as organiser. Taito City and J-WAVE 81.3FM support the festival.
On 7 November, 500 drones are scheduled to fly above the Ueno Park and Shinobazu Pond area. The viewing area is in front of Hasumi Deck, and the programme is titled ONE LINE ART UENO. The official Peace of Light programme gives the start as 7.30pm.
The second display follows on 8 November above the Tokyo National Museum, with 350 drones and the title ART HISTORY UENO. Viewing is arranged at Fountain Square, with a scheduled start at 8pm. The organisers state that the museum grounds are not available for viewing, while weather or safety conditions may alter or cancel a show.
Shinobazu Pond connects the festival with Ueno heritage
The first performance uses the open setting beside Shinobazu Pond, one of the features that gives the park its cultural identity. The second shifts attention towards the Tokyo National Museum, creating a different backdrop within the same historic park. This two-part arrangement makes the festival a route through Ueno rather than a single viewing point.
The programme also marks 10 years since the National Museum of Western Art received UNESCO World Heritage status. The museum is one of the institutions associated with the park, which also contains the Tokyo National Museum, Ueno Zoo and other cultural sites. The festival therefore places a current public event beside buildings and collections that define Ueno as one of Tokyo's major cultural districts.
Ueno Park opened to the public in 1873, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization guide. Its wider grounds include museums, historic religious sites and the pond, giving the November programme several fixed landmarks beyond the aerial performance. The event's themes draw on that mixture of art, history and public space.
Two evenings give Ueno Park different viewing settings
The Saturday display remains close to the water at Shinobazu Pond, while Sunday's formation is positioned above the fountain area beside the museum district. The change matters for visitors because the two nights do not offer the same foreground or viewing location. It also separates the pond setting from the museum-facing finale.
Redcliff describes the 7 November sequence as a continuous line tracing Ueno's story. The 8 November sequence connects art and history through a second line of light. Both programmes use Ueno-related motifs, while the organisers state that no drone show is scheduled for 6 November.
Visiting Ueno Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Peace of Light runs at Ueno Park from 6 to 8 November 2026; the drone displays are scheduled for 7 November at Shinobazu Pond and 8 November at Fountain Square.
- The 7 November viewing area is in front of Hasumi Deck, while the 8 November display is viewed from Fountain Square; entry to the Tokyo National Museum grounds is not permitted for viewing.
- Ueno Park is across from the Park Exit of JR Ueno Station, which is served by the JR Yamanote loop line and other rail services.
- Shinobazu Pond provides the waterside setting for the first show, while the second uses the open space beside the Tokyo National Museum; weather can change the programme.
- 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.
Searching for Ueno Park on social platforms
These links open searches for Ueno Park on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Ueno Park
When does Peace of Light take place at Ueno Park?
The festival takes place from 6 to 8 November 2026. Its drone displays are scheduled for 7 November at Shinobazu Pond and 8 November at Fountain Square.
Where is Ueno Park and how do you get there?
The park is in Taito-ku, Tokyo, across from JR Ueno Station's Park Exit. The station is served by the JR Yamanote loop line and several other rail services.
What is Ueno Park?
Ueno Park is a public cultural park that opened in 1873. It contains Shinobazu Pond, museums, Ueno Zoo and historic religious sites.
