Yoyogi Park
| Yoyogi Park | |
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| Location | Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan |
| Coordinates | 35°40′19″N 139°41′52″E / 35.671975°N 139.69768536°E |
| Area | 54.1 ha (134 acres) |
| Created | 1967 |
| Public transit access | Harajuku Station, Yoyogi-Koen Station, Meiji-jingumae Station |
Yoyogi Park (代々木公園 Yoyogi kōen?) is a large park in Tokyo, Japan, located adjacent to Harajuku Station and Meiji Shrine in Shibuya.
Yoyogi Park stands on the site from where the first successful powered aircraft flight in Japan took place by Captain Yoshitoshi Tokugawa on 19 December 1910. The area later became an army parade ground. From September 1945, the site housed the military barracks known as the "Washington Heights" for U.S. officers during the Allied occupation of Japan.
In 1964, the area was used for the Tokyo Olympics housing the main athletes village and the Yoyogi National Gymnasium. The distinctive building, which was designed by Kenzo Tange, hosted the swimming and diving, with an annex for the basketball.
In 1967 most of the area north of the gymnasium complex and south of Meiji Shrine was turned into Yoyogi Park.
The park is a popular Tokyo destination. On Sundays, it is especially busy when it is used as a gathering place for Japanese rock music fans, jugglers, comedians, martial arts clubs, cosplayers and other subculture and hobby groups. In spring, thousands of people visit the park to enjoy the cherry blossom during hanami. The landscaped park has picnic areas, bike paths, cycle rentals and public sport courts.
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