The Yoyogi Park (代 々 木 公園 Yoyogi kōen?) Is one of the largest parks in Tokyo, Japan. It is located next to Harajuku Station and Meiji Shrine in Shibuya.

History

The site that is now known as Yoyogi Park was the site of Japan's first power flight, piloted on December 19, 1910 by Captain Yoshitoshi Tokugawa, after which it became a terrain for military parades. During the occupation that followed the Second World War it became the residence of the American officers. It was later used as the main Olympic village for the athletes of the 1964 Olympics and as the place of swimming, trampoline jumps and basketball. The distinctive Yoyogi National Gymnasium building, which hosted the swimming, trampoline jumping and basketball events was designed by Kenzo Tange for the Olympics, and is still in use, but most of the northern area of the gym complex and south of the sanctuary Meiji was opened to the public as an urban park in 1967.

Yoyogi Park is the fourth largest urban park in Tokyo. It is divided into two sections: the park area, with a grove near the spectacular Meiji sanctuary, and a leisure area with a stadium, an outdoor stage and other facilities. With the large open esplanades, the three fountains between 15 and 30 meters high, the small ponds, the landscaped areas and the areas full of trees more like a forest, the Yoyogi Park is the ideal place for any type of activity fresh air.

Given its varied vegetation, the park is also the ideal place to enjoy the flowers and the different colors of nature at any time of the year. Here we can enjoy the beauty of the cherry blossoms in spring, the hydrangeas and lilies in summer, the beautiful yellow leaves of the ginkgo trees in autumn or the daffodils and plums in winter.

The Sake Barrles

Before arriving at the sanctuary we find a classic in many sanctuaries: barrels of sake. And they are not any barrel. The thing is that these barrels had been offered by the sake producers to the emperor of his time. I do not know if all the barrels of sake are as nice or they are because there was an emperor involved.

The important thing is that now they are for posterity and they are very beautiful!

Meiji Shrine

The Meiji Shrine is one of the most important religious centers in Tokyo. On holidays like the New Year more than one million people approach this sanctuary. It is also the seat of many festivities such as the Day of Majority of Age.

The first sanctuary, victim of the American bombings during the Second World War, was built in 1920 in honor of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. The current building dates from 1958.

If you have time, you can also visit their gardens although, honestly, it is not worth paying for them. Although they have more historical value than others like Hama Rikyu or Kyu Shiba Rikyu, they do not come as much to surprise.

Picnic

The atmosphere is cheerful almost every day of the week in Yoyogi Park. In addition to offering the amenities of a typical park, such as spaces for running, picnics and walking the dog, Yoyogi Park is the setting for numerous events and festivals. Due to the small size of the apartments in Tokyo and the noise restrictions, many musicians and artists can not practice in their homes, therefore, they approach the Yoyogi Park. Listen to a jovial cacophony of violins and other instruments.