Yoyogi Park (Yoyogi Koen)

The Basics

Yoyogi Park was created for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and turned into a park afterwards. Peruse the 133-acre (54-hectare) park that boasts walking paths, varied greenery, and water features. Yoyogi Park is within walking distance of hip Harajuku district, the tree-lined avenue of Omotesando, and more traditional Meiji Jingu Park and Meiji Shrine, making it easy to add to a larger sightseeing itinerary of this area of Tokyo.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Entrance to the park is free.

• A flea market is occasionally held at the park on Sundays, but its irregularity makes it hard to plan for.

• Be prepared for a weekend crowd, as the Harajuku neighborhood is one of the trendiest and most popular in the city.

How to Get There

Like many places in Tokyo, it’s easiest to get to Yoyogi Park on the JR train. It’s closest to Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line. Be aware that this station gets extremely crowded on weekends.

When to Get There

Yoyogi Park is always open. Go on Sundays to see performers hanging out at the park, including a group dressed as 1950s rockers, dancing to jukebox music just outside the park. In fall, the park's many gingko trees attract crowds flocking to see their flaming orange color.

Visit Meiji Jingu Park

Meiji Shrine is Tokyo’s most important Shinto shrine, and it's close to Yoyogi Park. Consider visiting the two parks on the same day to experience multiple sides of Tokyo. While Yoyogi Park puts on displays of youth culture, Meiji Jingu shows off the more traditional side of Japan. You may even see a traditional Shinto wedding being held at the shrine.

Ways to explore

Set aside as much time as you’d like to stroll the park’s walking paths, taking in the varied greenery and water features. Yoyogi Park is within walking distance of hip Harajuku district, the tree-lined avenue of Omotesando, and more traditional Meiji Jingu Park and Meiji Shrine, making it easy to add to a larger sightseeing itinerary of this area of Tokyo. Take in the park’s sights as part of a Tokyo walking or biking tour, or enjoy it independently. In fine weather, pack a picnic and prepare for some top-notch people-watching.

Accessibility

The park is generally wheelchair accessible, with barrier-free access, paved paths, and accessible restrooms.

Age limits

None

What to pack

Picnic blanket, snacks

What to wear

Season-appropriate clothing for the outdoors, comfortable clothes and shoes, hat

Not allowed

Barbecues, smoking in crowded areas

Amenities

Restrooms, bicycle rental, vending machines, drinking water fountains

Address

Yoyogi Park is located in central Tokyo, between Shinjuku and Shibuya. It’s easiest to get there by public transport and on foot from other nearby attractions.

Driving

Driving in central Tokyo isn’t recommended due to the traffic and difficulty of parking. If you must drive, there are parking lots on the streets around the park.

Public transportation

Yoyogi Park is right beside three stations: the Odayku line’s Yoyogi-Hachiman Station, the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda line’s Yoyogi-koen Station, and the JR Harajuku Station. Be aware that the latter station in particular gets extremely crowded on weekends. The park is a short walk from all stations.

Best times to visit

The park is open 24 hours but visit in the daytime for the most enjoyable experience. Some of the park’s facilities are only open during regular business hours.

Best days to visit

The park is especially busy on weekends, but these are the best days to come to see street performers.

Best months to visit

The park’s gingko tree forest is particularly spectacular from late November to early December.

Special events

Various cultural festivals are held in the park throughout the year, including the Brazil Festival in July, the Thai Expo in August, and the China Festival in September.