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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
