“Saturday Night at the Zoo” will be held
event
April 29, 2026 (Updated May 11, 2026)
As a new initiative to enhance the appeal of Ueno Zoo, we will be offering "Saturday Night Zoo," a limited-time, advance-registration-only evening opening event where visitors can enjoy the unique atmosphere of the zoo at night. Please take this opportunity to experience a new way to enjoy the zoo, which shows a different side of itself than during the daytime.
Held on four consecutive Saturdays from late May to mid-June 2026.
Limited to 1,000 per session. Applications start at 10:00 AM on May 1 (Fri).
Date and Time
May 23 (Sat), 30 (Sat), June 6 (Sat), 13 (Sat), 2026, 6:00 PM–9:00 PM (Last entry 8:00 PM)
Capacity
Advance reservation required, limited to 1,000 people per day
Admission fee
Category | Admission fee |
|---|---|
General | 600円 |
65 years or older | 300円 |
Junior high school students | 200円 |
Junior high school students residing or attending school in Tokyo | Free (please bring student ID or proof) An online ticket (free) for “Saturday Night at the Zoo” is required |
Up to 6th grade elementary school students | free An online ticket (free) for “Saturday Night at the Zoo” is required |
Physical Disability Certificate, Love Certificate, Rehabilitation Certificate, Mental Disability Welfare Visitors with welfare certificates | Free with presentation of certificate Free for the holder and one accompanying person An online ticket (free) is required for both the holder and accompanying person |
How to apply
Applications will be accepted as follows. Online only.No on-site sales.
Target date (visit date) | Application start date/time |
|---|---|
May 23 (Sat) | May 1 (Fri) 10:00 AM |
May 30 (Sat) | May 8 (Fri) 10:00 AM |
June 6 (Sat) | May 15 (Fri) 10:00 AM |
June 13 (Sat) | May 22 (Fri) 10:00 AM |
Precautions
Animals and exhibits available
6:00 PM–8:00 PM
Animals and Exhibition Facilities | remarks |
|---|---|
Vivarium (Vivarium) | Last admission to indoor facility: 7:30 PM |
American Flamingo | Enclosures will be set up due to breeding season. |
African Penguin | ── |
Shoebill | Shoebills may not always be visible as they move freely indoors and outdoors. |
Children's Zoo STEP | Last admission to “Step Building”: 7:30 PM Some animals, such as chickens, may not be visible. |
Special programs
1 Light-up Zoo (free participation)
Decorations such as holographic animal origami and illuminations will line the path from Bentenmon Gate to the Children’s Zoo.
2 Animal Guide Tour (advance reservation required)
Quietly observe giraffes, black rhinos, hippos, and pygmy hippos indoors with staff.
Next to the giraffe enclosure
Please make a reservation when applying for the online ticket. Reservations cannot be made after purchase.
6:15 PM, 6:30 PM, 6:45 PM, 7:00 PM
Duration: 20 minutes. Reception starts 10 minutes before each session.
20 people each time
3 Step and Discover! What’s This Sound? (free participation)
Step on the mat and hear a sound—guess what it is!
6:00 PM–8:30 PM
West Garden, near Petit Chameleon
Anyone can participate. Please come during reception hours.
4 Try Riding the Future Car! (advance reservation required)
Ride the autonomous social cart SC-1 and experience mixed reality.
Panda Forest
*The reception area is located at Event Map 4★
Please make a reservation when applying for the online ticket. Reservations cannot be made after purchase.
① 18:15 - 18:35
② 18:35 - 18:55
③ 18:55 - 19:15
④ 19:15 - 19:35
⑤ 19:35 - 19:55
⑥ 19:55 - 20:15
⑦ 8:15 PM - 8:30 PM
Each session: 3 groups *Only session 7 (8:15 PM - 8:30 PM) is limited to 2 groups.
Up to 4 people per group application
Approximately 4 minutes per ride
Please note that depending on the operating conditions, there may be a slight delay before you can board.
• Boarding is on a per-group basis. We will not guide multiple different groups simultaneously.
- Within the limits of one group (total of 4 people), it is possible to ride with people other than the person who made the reservation and holds the online ticket for "Saturday Night Zoo" on that day (such as friends).
Please ensure that everyone in your party is present and arrive at the reception area (Event Map 4★) within the designated reception time. Please refrain from soliciting passengers from the general public within the park.
Depending on when you make your online ticket reservation, the allocated slots may already be filled.
Please be sure to check your purchase confirmation email or your My Page purchase details to confirm that "Try riding in a future shopping cart" is listed after you apply.
5. Shoebill Quiz (No reservation required. *A lottery will be held on the day of the event.)
Join the shoebill quiz and learn more about this fascinating bird!
[Important] Notice of Change in Participation Method
This event was originally planned to be open to first-come, first-served applicants. However, due to the difficulty in ensuring safety if there are a large number of participants, we will be changing to a lottery system. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to those who had already planned to participate on a first-come, first-served basis, and we appreciate your understanding.
① Please come to the lottery reception area in front of West Garden Rest Area (free rest area) during the lottery reception hours (7:00 PM to 7:10 PM). Due to the limited space at the lottery venue, only one representative from your group should participate in the lottery.
*The representative can be up to 4 people per group.
② A lottery will be held for those who have already registered, and the results will be announced immediately.
③ We will give winning tickets to approximately 60 winners.
*We will ask the first winner for the number of participants (up to 4 people per group).
*The lottery will end once the number of applicants reaches the capacity (approximately 60 people).
④ If you have been selected, please come to the reception area in front of West Garden Rest Area (free rest area). Reception will begin at 7:50 PM.
Lottery registration time: 7:00 PM - 7:10 PM
Lottery registration location: In front of West Garden rest area (free rest area)
The winners will meet at the reception desk in front of West Garden Rest Area (free rest area).
Winners' Meeting Time: Winners should arrive at the reception by 7:50 PM. Reception will begin at 7:50 PM.
Quiz time: 8:00 PM - 8:30 PM
The quiz will be held at West Garden Rest Area (free rest area).
6 Enjoy Shinobazu Pond at Dusk! (free participation)
Enjoy the night view of Shinobazu Pond from the bridge.
No event scheduled.
On Isoppu Bridge
6:00 PM–9:00 PM
Dining facilities & gift shop
A Food Truck Marche
6:00 PM–9:00 PM
Last order for food and drinks is 8:45 PM.
Under Isoppu Bridge
Exhibiting Organizations | Main Products | Opening dates | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
May | June | ||||
23rd | 30th | 6th | 13th | ||
Grid Auto Custom | Beef tongue skewers / Canned beer, etc. | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ |
Tonaoya | Hamburgers and other | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ |
Llama | Fresh lemonade / Crepes / Shaved ice | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ |
Seiyoken | Curry bread and others | ○ | ○ | ○ | |
TOKYO ZOO KITCHEN (Tokyo Zoological Park Society) | Zoo Curry/Yakitori | ○ | ○ | ○ | |
Isa Coffee | Coffee and others | ○ | |||
Coffee Runta | Coffee and others | ○ | ○ | ○ | |
u3doco | Mackerel sandwich / Craft beer | ○ | |||
26K Brewery | Craft beer | ○ | |||
Cucina Daino | Fresh pasta and other | ○ | ○ | ||
Komemaru | Rice burgers and more | ○ | |||
B Animal Goods Marche
6:00 PM–9:00 PM
In front of Petit Chameleon (gift shop)
In case of rain: West Garden Rest Area (free rest area)
Exhibiting Organizations | Main Products | Opening dates | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
May | June | ||||
23rd | 30th | 6th | 13th | ||
Petite chameleon (Ueno Zoo) | Shoebill and Pallas' Cat cat merchandise, etc. | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ |
Tiger and Elephant Conservation Fund | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | |
komakkou64 (コマッコウ64) | ○ | ○ | |||
Taihei Electric Co., Ltd. | ○ | ○ | |||
Ginpei's Tail | ○ | ○ | ○ | ||
TOKYO ZOO SHOP (Tokyo Zoological Park Society) | ○ | ||||
WWF Japan | ○ | ○ | |||
satoyuki | ○ | ○ | |||
Kakota workshop | ○ | ||||
Event Map
1 Light-up Zoo
2 Animal Guide Tour
3 Step and Discover! What’s This Sound?
4 Try Riding the Future Car!
5 Shoebill Quiz
6 Enjoy Shinobazu Pond at Dusk!
A Food Truck Marche
B Animal Goods Marche