Yoyogi Park

History | Layout | Features | Cycling Center | Yoyogi National Stadium
Admission | Access

Yoyogi Park 代々木公園

• One of Tokyo's biggest and most central parks
• Next to Meiji Jingu Shrine
• Free access, and a hive of weekend activity
• Cycling Center with bike hire - and dogs allowed
• Includes Yoyogi National Stadium

Relaxing in Yoyogi Park, Tokyo

Yoyogi Park and the grounds of the adjacent Meiji Shrine form one of the largest, and most easily accessible, expanses of greenery in Tokyo.

Yoyogi Park's 54 hectares (133 acres) contain a variety of landscapes, from sunny lawn with ponds and fountains, to flower gardens, to shady forest groves. Yoyogi Park is dog- and cycle-friendly, has a car park, and with the proliferation of people there to practice, play, picnic, and chill, the people watching is unbeatable.

History of Yoyogi Park

The ground Yoyogi Park occupies was a military drill ground in 1909, and the next year became the site of Japan's first powered flight. It was taken over by the US Army for barracks in 1945, but gained true prominence only in 1964 as the Olympic Village for the athletes of the Tokyo Olympic Games.

It was not until 1967 that Yoyogi Park became a park - presently Tokyo's fourth biggest.

Layout

The center of Yoyogi Park is dominated by the Chuo Hiroba (Central Plaza), a grassy area that includes a large pond with fountains, a clock tower, drinking fountains, and a flower garden. People picnic, throw frisbee, exercise, and sunbathe here.

The wide margin surrounding Central Plaza has a variety of features such as a rose garden (with over 30 varieties), groves of various featured trees, including a sakura (cherry blossom) grove, and a food and drink store. The cherry grove, while small, is beautiful in spring, and the gingko grove in fall.

Airplane Cradle, Yoyogi Park

Features of Yoyogi Park

In the south-west corner of the park is the "Airplane Cradle" area, with its monument to the first ever powered flight in Japan (December 19, 1910) and two bronze busts of its aviators.

A remnant of accommodation from the Olympic Village remains in the south-east corner of the park, and nearby is the "Sample Garden" with trees grown from seeds brought over by the Olympic athletes from their various countries.

Next to the Sample Garden is a large fenced off area of land called the Bird Sanctuary, which also preserves the flora that is said to have typified the area before Tokyo became a city.

On a grisly note, near the West Gate, beside the Park Office, is a monument to the fourteen members of the Daito-juku, a right-wing organization, who committed group suicide at this spot on August 25, 1945, 10 days after Japan's surrender, to atone for Japan's losing the Pacific War.

Around the very outskirts of the park are the tents of the homeless.

Yoyogi Olympic Commemorative Lodging

Yoyogi Park Cycling

The northern part of the park is for cycling. There is a large Yoyogi Park Cycling Center where bicycles can be hired for a modest hourly fee, and a dedicated concrete cycling track - no pedestrians allowed - through beautiful quiet forest. There is also a special Cycling Space for Children. However, you do not have to hire a bike to be able to use the cycling course.

Cycling Center hours: 9am-4pm, closed Mondays (except when Monday is a public holiday, in which case, open Monday but closed Tuesday). Also, closed on rainy days, or when course conditions are otherwise poor.

Very near the cycling area is the Dog Run, where dog owners can take their dogs and let them run free. However, prior inspection by the park office and registration is required

2-1 Yoyogi-kamizono-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0052
Tel. 03 3469 6081
Office hours: 5am-5pm.
Entry, and parking (hourly fee), possible 24 hours a day, 365 days a week.

Yoyogi National Stadium

Yoyogi National Stadium

Yoyogi National Stadium (Kokuritsu Yoyogi Kyogi-jo) is across the road from Yoyogi Park. Yoyogi National Stadium was constructed 1961 to 1964 to stage swimming and diving events for the 1964 Summer Olympics. Yoyogi National Stadium was designed by the famous Japanese architect, Kenzo Tange. Yoyogi National Stadium is as much a venue for music concerts as for sports events.

Yoyogi Park Admission

Free

Yoyogi Park Access - Getting to Yoyogi Park

JR Harajuku Station, Yamanote Line
Yoyogi-koen Station, Chiyoda Subway Line
Yoyogi-hachiman Station, Odakyu Line
Google Map to Yoyogi Park

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