Take a break from school or work and lay out your picnic blankets, and enjoy the popular Yoyogi Park in Shibuya, Japan! Imagine yourself enjoying the food you brought, taking pictures in the aesthetic scenery, and just relaxing in nature in the middle of the city.
Table of Contents
- Getting to know Yoyogi Koen or Yoyogi Park
- How to make the most of your visit to Yoyogi Park
- Best time to visit Yoyogi Park
- Nearby Yoyogi Park
- Access Yoyogi Koen Park
- Summary
Getting to know Yoyogi Koen or Yoyogi Park
First of all, why is it called Yoyogi? Yoyogi means generations of trees, which explains the abundance of trees around this area and within the park. But it went through several different transformations before it became the park it is known for today.
First, it became the historic site of the first successful powered aircraft flight manned by Yoshitoshi Tokugawa on December 19, 1910. Then it was occupied by the Japanese military as a parade ground before the Second World War. After the end of the Second World War, the Americans built a military residence called Washington Heights, but it was turned into an Olympic Village for the athletes when Japan held the 1964 Summer Olympics. After the Olympics, the whole area was reconstructed to connect Yoyogi Park and Meiji Shrine in 1968, but you can still see the impact of the Olympics on the park and the area due to many remaining structures - this will be discussed later on in the article. Thus this park is brimming with history.
※ Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association, "Yoyogi Park - About this park" ※ The University of Tokyo, "Features"
Yoyogi Park is open all at all times, so it's not strange to see all kinds of people there. A lot of tourists come to this park not only for the park but also for the cosplayers, artists, buskers, and dance crews. And many locals come here to relax and rest under the various types of trees spread throughout the park and just enjoy the seasons. After all, it is one of the biggest parks in Tokyo and easy to access!
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How to make the most of your visit to Yoyogi Park
Of course, you can treat Yoyogi Park as any park you would. Find a nice spot and have a picnic with friends, play badminton, throw around a frisbee, practice an instrument! All as long as it doesn’t bother the people around you.
But as we mentioned above, the park is filled with history, so you can actually find traces of the events listed earlier. You can see the First Flight Monument dedicated to the first powered aircraft flight in the country as well as the Olympic Memorial Dormitory where just one was preserved for history’s sake.
Yoyogi Park has its own bird sanctuary, a dog run, a variety of gardens including cherry blossoms and roses, and large open areas, perfect for bird and flower enthusiasts, dog owners, photographers, vloggers, basically anyone! And Yoyogi Park's central square is complete with a fountain, one of several in the park, which is often featured prominently in photos of the park.
Sports Facilities
After the 1964 Summer Olympics, Yoyogi Park continued to nurture athleticism. While half of Yoyogi Park is full of trees and greens, the other half is where Yoyogi National Gymnasium and other athletic facilities are situated. Its swimming and diving pools were designed by the famous Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, where the 1964 Summer Olympics was held and is the venue for handball for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, as well as badminton and wheelchair rugby for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Paralympics. In addition, you can find specialized facilities like soccer fields, hockey fields, and countless more, and events are held there throughout the year, such as matches for sports of course and concerts. (Fun fact: Britney Spears has performed here!) It has been proposed to be designated an Important Cultural Asset in 2021.
You can reserve the soccer field and track but you have to register ahead of time, apply for the reservation lottery and actually get selected as it’s a quite popular use. It costs a fee to use, so make sure to check that out. The basketball courts are outdoors and public and you can join in on a pick-up game.
※Japan Times, “Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo proposed for cultural asset listing”
Biking and Cycling Course
Of course, why limit yourself when you can cover more ground on a bike? Yoyogi Park provides bicycle lanes for cyclists to use for a better experience of the whole park. Don't have a bike? There are plenty of bicycle rental services, which you can take advantage of. Enjoy your leisure ride in this 134 acres park.
Best time to visit Yoyogi Park
Anytime is a good time for a stroll in Yoyogi Park because it's always open. And you can always find people here. It’s especially more crowded on the weekends, but a good number still visit or pass through the park on a weekday. Weekends are especially busy as there’s an events space where lots of cultural events and markets are held including international ones. And on any given Sunday, you might find a wide range of people enjoying themselves outside, including dance groups. One prominent one that stood out was the Tokyo Rockabilly Club, a group of people spreading their love of rock n roll while sporting leather jackets and slicked back hair. The number of people and events may have dwindled due to the pandemic, but people still pass through. The park was in the news in 2021 when a gigantic realistic looking head was seen floating above the trees. It turns out it was a hot air balloon part of an art exhibit.
And Yoyogi Park is for sure busy especially in spring and fall. You might want to smell the fresh spring air while jogging or having a hanami (flower viewing) picnic party when all of Yoyogi Park's cherry blossom trees are in full bloom. Or you might want to enjoy the autumn leaves when all of the ginkgo trees are golden and the maple trees an array of colors. They’re great seasons weather-wise, when things are not too hot or cold, and the lighting and scenery is perfect for photos.
Yearly Events
Yoyogi Park caters to residents and tourists, but it's a place of commerce and special events as well.
For example, you will find everything from flea markets, gatherings for different clubs and hobbies, and international food and culture festivals!
Some of the events are annual and of course new events happen every year. Here are some of the past events that have been a hit with park-goers.
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Holiday events like The I Love Ireland Festival for St. Patrick’s Day and the Christmas Market
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International Food and culture festivals like Paella Festival, Brazillian, African, Peruvian, Taiwanese, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Sri Lankan, Thai, Chinese, Afro-American Caribbean, Indian festivals and more!
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Japanese regional festivals like ones for Hokkaido and Okinawa
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Sports events like dance and basketball tournaments and so on
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LGBTQ+ Pride Festival
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Music festivals
And many many more!
Nearby Yoyogi Park
Shops and Food
Yoyogi Park is between Shibuya and Shinjuku near Harajuku, one of the popular areas regarding Japan's fashion and culture. This is your chance to experience the center of Japanese teen's fashion styles by visiting Takeshita Dori or the more high brand experience in Omotesando Hills. If you're looking for some casual shopping for souvenirs and gifts, then head to Daiso Harajuku in Takeshita Dori or Kiddy Land on Cat Street.
If you’re hungry, there’s a few shops around the park selling food and drinks. If you happen to be there on the right day (or plan for it!), Yoyogi Park often has various international food festivals, markets and events. But if there isn’t one that day, you can also find a variety of food options on either side of the park to takeout and bring with you. There’s a variety of fast food spots in and near Harajuku like delicious takoyaki from Gindaco Takoyaki, Afuri ramen, Mexican food at Chilies Mexican Grill, creamy cheese tarts in Pablo Omotesando, rich sesame ice cream in Gomaya Kuki, and many more. On the other side of the park, you’ll find yourself near the small artsy shops, cafes and boutiques of Yoyogi Hachiman, and a range of tasty but slightly more pricey options compared to Harajuku, such as an old-time combo of burgers and fries in Arms Park Side Burger Shop as well as a range of great coffee shops like Little Nap Coffee Stand and Fuglen.
Meiji Jingu Shrine
Yoyogi Park is adjacent to the Meiji Jingu Shrine, so many visitors come to pray and admire the history left by Emperor Meiji during his reign. The entrance to Meiji Shrine is also right by Harajuku Station.
Read all about Meiji Jingu Shrine here: Tokyo’s Historical Site: Meiji Shrine
Access Yoyogi Koen Park
Surprisingly, the best access to Yoyogi Park is NOT Yoyogi Station on the JR Line. If you’re taking the JR or subway, you can get off at Harajuku Station (Yamanote Line) or Meiji Jingumae Station (Chiyoda or Fukutoshin Line). It only takes about a 5 minute walk to the park. (But remember, the park is quite big so it depends on where you’re headed in the park). You could also easily access the park from Yoyogi Koen Station (Chiyoda Line) or Yoyogi Hachiman Station (Odakyu Line) as well and it’s a very short walk from both to the nearest entrance of the park.
Operating Hours & Fees
Yoyogi Park is always free and always open. The facilities such as the gymnasium will have their own fees and hours, however. And even if you’re there at night, make sure that you take care not to cause a disturbance for anyone in the area and note that it’s not very well lit!
Park Rules
Because of the abundance of trees and flowers inside Yoyogi Park, having BBQs (except for the rare very few designated events), lighting fireworks, smoking cigarettes (there are designated areas for smoking), bonfires, and other activities that might cause damage to it are not allowed. It is given that littering is prohibited for the preservation and protection of the surrounding nature. Pets also can’t be brought to the park except to the dog run (which requires registering in advance). Other than that, just always keep in mind respecting other people's privacy and admiring nature without ever disturbing it.
Summary
Yoyogi Koen is the best place to go for both anyone who wants peace of mind or for those who want to socialize with friends and like-minded people. Enjoy its rich history and intercultural events that will surely fill your body with tasty food, good music, knowledge, and good times. This park is connected to Harajuku as well, so be sure to plan your next wardrobe change when going there. Don't want the stuffy and sweaty atmosphere inside the gym? Then you can go exercise in Yoyogi Park where you can enjoy cycling, jogging, dog walks, soccer, hockey, bird-watching, and countless more activities. However, always remember to keep the park clean and safe from any harm. Remember! Yoyogi Koen's name emphasizes that it should be kept as it is so that the future generation could enjoy nature's wonders.
