Yoyogi Park Guide | Free Tokyo Park Open at All Hours, Access from Harajuku Station and Yoyogi-koen Station, Events at Event Square (October–November 2026), Yoyogi Forest of Lights Illumination, Cycling Center, Toilets and Rules

Overview

Yoyogi Park is a Tokyo metropolitan park in Shibuya City, Tokyo. It is right next to JR Harajuku Station, beside the forest of Meiji Jingu (Meiji Shrine).

• According to the park's official website, it is the 5th largest metropolitan park in Tokyo's 23 wards, with an area of about 544,711 square meters. It opened in 1967.
• Admission is free. The official website says the park is "always open" (there is no closing time). However, the service center inside the park and the paid facilities are closed over the New Year holidays.
• The park is split into two areas by a road. Area A is a wooded forest park, and Area B has Event Square, the Outdoor Stage, the Athletic Field and more. Most of the weekend events are held at Event Square and the Keyaki (zelkova) tree avenue in Area B.

According to the official website, this site was once an army parade ground. After the war, it became land for U.S. military housing (Washington Heights). It was used as the athletes' village for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and then became a park.

Getting there

• The walking times are the ones given on the park's official website.
• JR Yoyogi Station is a different station from the ones in this table. The names are similar, but it is not included in the park's official access information.
• The official website asks visitors to come by train or other public transport on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays, because the roads in front of the park get congested.
• If you use Tokyo Metro stations, you can also use an unlimited-ride subway ticket. For details, see Tokyo Subway Ticket (24, 48 and 72 hours) | Prices, where to buy it and how to use Tokyo's unlimited subway pass.

Park gates

According to the park's official map, the park has entrances including Harajuku Gate, Shibuya Gate, West Gate, Sangubashi Gate, Tomigaya Gate and South Gate.

• Harajuku Gate is near JR Harajuku Station. It is also close to Exit 2 of Tokyo Metro Meiji-jingumae ‘Harajuku’ Station.
• West Gate is near Exit 1 of Yoyogi-koen Station.
• Event Square and the Keyaki (zelkova) tree avenue (Area B) are to the south of Harajuku Gate, across the road.

Around Harajuku Station

This is the West Exit of JR Harajuku Station. It is one of the exits you reach after going through the Omotesando ticket gates, and the sign above the entrance reads 「原宿駅 西口」 (Harajuku Station West Exit).

This is the elevator entrance of Tokyo Metro Meiji-jingumae ‘Harajuku’ Station, at the intersection in front of Harajuku Station.

When the photo was taken, there was a bridge with 「五輪橋」 (Gorin-bashi, "Olympic Bridge") carved on its pillar, next to the intersection in front of the station (the traffic signal sign reads 「神宮橋」 (Jingubashi)). That day, tents were lined up beyond the bridge, and barriers marked 「関係者以外立入禁止」 (Staff only) had been set up.

Highlights

Forest highlights (Area A)

The main highlights listed on the park's official website are as follows.

• Central Field: A large grassy field in the middle of the park.
• Fountain Pond: A pond with a large fountain. However, the fountain, the water corridor and the paths around them are under construction, and some parts are closed. On the list of construction work on the official website, as viewed on October 21, 2026, this work was scheduled to finish "around autumn 2026." To find out whether the work has finished, check the "news" section of the official website.
• Bird Sanctuary: A fenced-off area for wild birds. You cannot go inside.
• Ginkgo tree avenue: A path lined with ginkgo trees.
• Observation Deck: A raised pedestrian bridge, described on the official website as a spot with a good view.
• Olympic Memorial Lodging: A building in the athletes' village of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics where Dutch athletes stayed. It is the only building from the athletes' village still standing. It is at the back on the right after you enter from Harajuku Gate. Since April 9, 2026, it has been operating as a café.

According to the park map, Area A also has the Flower Path, the Rose Garden, the Cherry Garden, the Flower Round and more. The Rose Square (Rose Garden) and the paths around it are also under construction. On the list of construction work on the official website, as viewed on October 21, 2026, this work was also scheduled to finish "around autumn 2026."

Seasonal flowers

The main flowers and trees for each season listed in the official website's "flower viewing information" are as follows.

• The official website does not give the best viewing dates for each year.
• The official photography guidelines list the cherry blossom season, Golden Week and event days as days when the park is expected to be crowded.

Events at Event Square and the Keyaki (zelkova) tree avenue (late October to November 2026)

At Event Square, the Outdoor Stage and the Keyaki (zelkova) tree avenue in Area B, festivals with rows of food stalls and events introducing foreign cultures are held, mainly on weekends. The schedule from October 21 to November 2026, as listed in the "event information" on the park's official website, is as follows.

• Opening hours differ by event and by day. The list on the official website gives the hours for each day. For Shibuya StreetDance Week 2026, the hours were listed as "to be decided."
• Admission fees and what you can buy inside are decided by each event's organizer. They are not given in the park's list.
• Flea markets are not held on fixed dates. The park's official website describes flea markets as one of the kinds of events that organizers hold by renting space in the park. The official lists for October and November 2026 did not include any event named as a flea market.
• The schedule from December onward is posted month by month in the "news" section of the official website.

Yoyogi Forest of Lights illumination

From Friday, November 13, 2026 to Monday, January 11, 2027 (national holiday), the illumination event "ACN presents Yoyogi Forest of Lights" will be held around the park's Cycling Course. It is organized by the Yoyogi Forest of Lights Executive Committee, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government supports it (it is not the organizer).

• Hours are from 17:30 to 22:00, and the last entry is at 21:00.
• You walk along a route of about 1.8 kilometers and see 17 light zones along the way.
• Buy tickets in advance on the ticket sales website. Tickets are not sold at the venue. A ticket can be used only on the entry date you chose when buying it. Once you leave, you cannot re-enter.
• Prices differ depending on the entry date and the age category. Check the ticket information on the official website and the screens of the ticket sales website.
• Children who have not yet started elementary school can enter free of charge. One accompanying adult can bring in up to 2 children who have not yet started elementary school. The adult needs a ticket.
• According to the official website, the event is held on rainy days. It may be canceled on days with snow or stormy weather. There is no baggage storage and there are no coin lockers.

Itinerary

Visiting together with Meiji Jingu

Yoyogi Park is next to the forest of Meiji Jingu (Meiji Shrine). There is also an entrance to Meiji Jingu near Harajuku Station. Many people visit both in one trip.

1. Get off at Harajuku Station or Meiji-jingumae ‘Harajuku’ Station.
2. Visit Meiji Jingu. Worship etiquette and gate opening hours are explained in Meiji Jingu (Meiji Shrine) Guide | Access, Hours, Etiquette & Highlights.
3. Head back toward Harajuku Station and enter Yoyogi Park from Harajuku Gate.
4. After walking through the forest, if it is a weekend, stop by the events at Event Square and the Keyaki (zelkova) tree avenue in Area B.

• The grounds of Meiji Jingu and Yoyogi Park are managed by different organizations and have different rules. For Meiji Jingu's rules, see the Meiji Jingu article.
• If you want a view of Shibuya from high up, also see How to Buy SHIBUYA SKY Tickets | Release Dates, Sell-Outs, Prices by Time Slot, Cancellations, What to Leave Behind for the Rooftop.

Opening hours

Renting a bicycle in the park (Cycling Center)

On the north side of Area A, there is a Cycling Center (pedalico) where you can rent bicycles. With a rented bicycle, you can ride on the park's dedicated Cycling Course (about 2,000 meters).

• According to the official website, you buy a usage ticket from a ticket machine. If you want to rent for longer, buy another usage ticket.
• Bicycles cannot be taken outside the park. Rentals are suspended on rainy days and on days when the course is in poor condition.
• The park map says registration is required to use the service. Check the details at the Cycling Center.
• On Thursday, November 12, 2026, the Cycling Center will be closed all day.
• According to the official website, the Cycling Course is for bicycles only from 9:00 to 17:00. At other times, pedestrians can also use it.
• During the illumination period (November 13, 2026 to January 11, 2027), the Cycling Course cannot be used from 17:00 to 22:00 every day.

Shops and cafés

These are examples of shops in the park listed on the official website and the park map.

• For the hours of DOUTOR PARK CAFE YOYOGI, the park map notes that they "may change."
• There are also Parks Yoyogi shops in front of the Outdoor Stage in Area B and near the hill in Area A.

Good to know

Park rules

The main items listed in the park service center's "prohibited activities in the park" are as follows.

• Using fire (bonfires, cooking, barbecues, fireworks, generators, etc.)
• Putting up tents, tarps, sunshades and similar
• Ball games and sports practice (baseball, soccer, tennis, golf, etc.)
• Skateboards and roller skates
• Drones and radio-controlled models
• Playing musical instruments loudly, or using amplifiers or DJ equipment
• Selling things or doing work such as photography without permission
• Holding events or performances without permission
• Climbing trees, or attaching hammocks or decorations to trees
• Entering the Cycling Course or walking on it during bicycle-only hours (9:00 to 17:00)
• Bringing in or riding motorcycles or Segways
• Leaving belongings unattended
• Taking plants, catching or harming animals, and feeding animals

In addition, the park's notices and the official website also ask for the following.

• Always keep dogs on a leash and take their droppings home. The park also has a dog run that only registered dogs can use.
• Do not smoke except in the designated smoking areas. The locations of the smoking areas are shown on the "smoking area map" on the official website.
• Do not leave litter behind on the ground or elsewhere (park notice).

Toilets

There are toilets in many places in the park. Their locations are shown on the park map on the official website.

The toilets with transparent glass outer walls often seen in search results are not toilets inside Yoyogi Park. They are part of THE TOKYO TOILET in Shibuya City, and there are two toilets of the same design: one in Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park (1-54-1 Tomigaya) and one in Haru-no-Ogawa Community Park (5-68-1 Yoyogi). In both, when you go inside and lock the door, the glass turns opaque.

Other information

• Park conditions and event schedules may change. Before you go, check the "news" section of the park's official website.
• To look up maps and event schedules, you need a mobile data connection on your smartphone. How to choose one is explained in eSIM, SIM Card or Pocket Wi-Fi in Japan: How to Choose | 5 Ways to Get Online Compared, What to Check First, and Airport Pickup.

The illustrations of the park's interior in this article are AI-generated images. Because taking photos for commercial purposes in the park requires permission from the park, they are shown instead of the photos the site operator took inside the park. Details differ from the actual scene.