Yoyogi Park, Tokyo | Japan is Nippon

A 54-hectare wooded park steps from Harajuku Station, right by Shibuya, with about 500 cherry trees in spring, golden ginkgo in autumn and relaxed weekends.

Aerial view of the forest of Yoyogi Park and Meiji Shrine among Tokyo buildings — Photo: jonny-mt, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Open grove with fallen leaves and people relaxing in Yoyogi Park — Photo: Tomi Mäkitalo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

From army parade ground to Olympic village to park

Yoyogi Park is a metropolitan park in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo. It started life as the Yoyogi Parade Ground (renpeijo, a training ground for soldiers) of the former Imperial Japanese Army. After the Second World War it became Washington Heights, a housing area for the US military, and for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics it served as the athletes' village. It opened as a park on 20 October 1967.

At about 54 hectares, it is the fifth largest of the metropolitan parks in Tokyo's 23 wards. A main road splits it in two: Area A, the wooded park, and Area B, with an athletics stadium and an outdoor stage. One of the buildings from the Olympic days, the Olympic Memorial Lodge, has been used as a café since April 2024.

A forest in the city, and flowers through the seasons

The trees that have grown since the park opened join up with the forest of Meiji Jingu shrine next door to create deep greenery. Just a few minutes' walk from the crowds of Harajuku and Shibuya, you suddenly feel as if you have stepped into a quiet forest.

In spring about 500 cherry trees bloom, including the Somei Yoshino variety. They flower one after another, from the early Kawazu-zakura in late February to the yaezakura (cherries with many layers of petals) in April, so the hanami season here is a long one. In autumn the park's avenue of ginkgo trees turns yellow, usually at its best from late November to mid-December.

Area A also has a fountain pond with three fountains, a bird sanctuary for wild birds, and a dog run (a fenced area where dogs can play off the lead).

Getting there and spending time

The nearest stations are Harajuku Station on the JR Yamanote Line and Yoyogi-koen Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, both about a 3-minute walk away. You can also walk from Yoyogi-Hachiman Station on the Odakyu Line or Meiji-jingumae (Harajuku) Station on the Tokyo Metro. It is easy to combine with Meiji Jingu and Takeshita Street in Harajuku.

The park is always open and entry is free. On weekends and public holidays, food trucks sometimes set up. Area B has an outdoor stage where all sorts of events are held, so check the schedule on the official website before you go.

Tips

During cherry blossom season, open flames are banned, as is saving a spot by leaving a picnic sheet unattended. Stay out of areas roped off to protect the tree roots.
Roads around the park get busy at weekends, and the official website recommends coming by public transport.
The autumn leaves change in turn, first the zelkova, then the ginkgo, then the Japanese maples, so you can enjoy autumn colour here for more than a month.