Notice of Gas Museum Special Exhibition 'Meiji Ueno Park: Three Faces'

The Gas Museum will hold the 'Meiji Ueno Park: Three Faces' exhibition from Saturday, April 4 to Sunday, June 28, 2026.

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the opening of Ueno Park, we will unravel the history of the hills of Ueno as they transformed from the Edo to the Meiji period. From three aspects—'prayer' such as Kan'ei-ji Temple, 'learning' such as museums and expos, and 'leisure' such as the waterside of Shinobazu Pond—we will introduce the multifaceted charm of Ueno Park using nishiki-e (color woodblock prints) and photographs from that era.
In addition, we will exhibit materials provided by Ueno Seiyoken, tracing the history of Ueno Park as it became a symbol of modern Japan.

[Exhibition Outline]
- Dates: Saturday, April 4 to Sunday, June 28, 2026
- Closed: Mondays (If Monday is a national holiday or a substitute holiday, closed the following day)
- Opening Hours: 10:00 - 17:00
- Venue: Gas Museum, Gas Light Pavilion 2nd Floor Gallery
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.gasmuseum.jp/

[Exhibition Contents]
The hills of Ueno underwent a dramatic transformation from Edo to Meiji.
The hills, lined with the main halls and sub-temples of Kan'ei-ji, one of the shogun family's mortuary temples, and Shinobazu Pond spreading at its base, were places of worship as well as places of recreation for the people of Edo. The Boshin War at the end of the Edo period was a major turning point; the Kan'ei-ji precincts became a battlefield between the Shogitai and the imperial army, resulting in the destruction of buildings including the main hall by fire, and much of the site was placed under the management of the new Meiji government. In 1873, Ueno Hill was designated as Japan's first public park along with Asakusa, Asukayama, Fukagawa, and Shiba. However, unlike other parks, Ueno, under government jurisdiction, also served as a venue for government festivals. Alongside the site's development, the renowned Edo-period restaurant 'Yaozen' and 'Seiyoken (Ueno Seiyoken)', representing Tokyo's Western-style restaurants, set up shop. On May 9, 1876, an opening ceremony was held in the presence of Emperor Meiji. Subsequently, in addition to hosting welcome ceremonies for foreign dignitaries and various expositions, gaslights were illuminated in the park in 1881, and a museum and zoo opened in 1882, making it a space for knowledge and culture. Kan'ei-ji and its sub-temples, which were restored in 1879, and Ueno Toshogu Shrine, which escaped damage, continued to attract worshippers even after becoming a park. On the other hand, things that remained unchanged from the Meiji era onward included the cherry blossoms on Ueno Hill and the waterside of Shinobazu Pond. People visited for recreation according to the seasons, and that bustle can still be felt today.

In this special exhibition, we will introduce Ueno Park in the Meiji era from the following three aspects using nishiki-e and historical photographs:
- 'Space of Prayer': Ueno Toshogu Shrine, Kiyomizu Kannon-do, Kan'ei-ji Tokugawa Shogunate Mausoleum, etc.
- 'Space of Learning': National Industrial Exhibition, museums, zoos, etc.
- 'Space of Leisure': Ueno's cherry blossoms, the waterside of Shinobazu Pond, etc.
Also, we received materials provided by Ueno Seiyoken, which has been in business since the park's opening and served as the reception venue for the opening ceremony...