【Yoyogi Park Travel Guide】An Urban Oasis to Escape Tokyo’s Bustle

Yoyogi Park is one of Tokyo’s top spots for cherry blossom viewing.
From late March to early April, you can enjoy stunning blooms at their peak.
The three best places to view the blossoms are the Central Plaza, Sakura Garden, and Hill Plaza.
With Somei Yoshino, Satozakura, Yamazakura, and Kohiganzakura, there are Approx. 700 trees in total.
When they’re in full bloom, the view feels like you’re surrounded by a pink curtain.
Weekends during peak bloom get crowded, so visiting on a weekday is recommended.

Yoyogi Park is also a classic spot for autumn foliage.
The best time to see the vibrant fall colors is from late November to early December.
At the Harajuku Gate, enjoy an avenue of 260 ginkgo trees; on the west side of the Fountain Pond, you’ll find 100 Japanese maples and other maples.
Between the zelkova-lined avenue stretching Approx. 300 m to the south of the park and the zelkova trees scattered throughout, the total reaches as many as 1,000 trees.
In a park awash with color, take in the calm atmosphere of autumn.

Central Plaza features a vast grassy field surrounded by a mixed woodland, so you can’t see the buildings around it.
That’s why you can enjoy the wide-open blue sky and greenery—enough to forget you’re in Tokyo.
Nearby, there’s a rose garden with 68 varieties and 700 bushes, plus a hexagonal roofed rest area, so take your time and enjoy the walk.

Panorama Plaza is a wide, open lawn.
A Himalayan cedar stands in the center, creating a relaxing atmosphere.
There are no special facilities, but unique events are held here, such as yoga, disaster-prevention festivals, Mölkky experiences, and walk metrics.
It’s a green-filled area that’s also used for fitness.

This plaza is the closest one to the Harajuku Gate.
It’s planted with flora from around the world, and in early spring, mimosa acacia blooms in bright, vitamin-like colors.
You’ll also find dogwood trees gifted from the United States as a symbol of friendship, adding vibrant color to the area.
In the back of the plaza, a building once used as lodging for Dutch athletes during the Tokyo Olympics remains as the Olympic Memorial Lodge.

Located between the West Gate and South Gate, Hill Plaza is a small grassy hill surrounded by trees.
It’s quieter than the other plazas in the park, making it perfect for a laid-back picnic.
In spring, you can picnic while viewing cherry blossoms.
In June, you can see impressive hydrangeas in blue, purple, pink, white, and pale yellow-green.

These basketball courts were donated by Nike Japan in 2005.
There are two full courts, one on the north side and one on the south side, and anyone can use them freely.
Renovated in 2022, the colorful courts are especially striking.
So many players gather here every day that it’s often called the sacred place of streetball in Japan.

Meiji Jingu Shrine was founded in 1920 as a shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.
It consists of the serene Inner Garden area, home to the main hall and the Imperial Garden, along with the Outer Garden, which features many excellent sports facilities including the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery, and the Meiji Kinenkan, a comprehensive wedding venue.
An artificial forest created by planting Approx. 100,000 trees donated from across Japan has grown into a richly wooded area that feels far removed from the city, with a mysterious atmosphere. It’s also famous as a power spot.

A shopping street stretching Approx. 350 m from Harajuku Station toward Meiji-dori Avenue.
It’s packed with shops selling unique fashion items you won’t easily find elsewhere, and it’s watched worldwide as a trendsetting hub.
It’s crowded every day, especially with younger visitors, and from 11:00am to 6:00pm it becomes a pedestrian-only zone with no vehicle access.
There are also plenty of colorful, cute Harajuku-style sweets shops, so it’s recommended to snack as you stroll between stores.

Located near Meiji Jingu Shrine, the small Shibuya City Yoyogi Pony Park is a rare spot in the heart of the city where you can interact with ponies.
Both adults and children can join “Brushing Time,” held once on weekdays and twice on weekends and holidays, where you can brush a pony, as well as “Carrot Time,” held once on weekdays, where you can feed ponies carrots.

Yoyogi-Uehara attracts people with discerning tastes, and the overall level of restaurants here is high, but this spot stands out as a must-visit, offering dishes that bring out the true essence of each ingredient and deliver a moving experience beyond just “delicious.”
The creative, category-defying cuisine is by owner-chef Shusaku Toba.

A cute cafe where Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and other friends from Charles M. Schulz’s comic “PEANUTS” welcome you.
The theme is “healthy food that makes your day happier.”

Stylish yet open thanks to its large glass windows, this Japanese-modern cafe features an eye-catching original interior wall design inspired by waves.
Along with HACHIYA’s original sencha and hojicha teas, the menu includes sencha lattes, hojicha lattes, and matcha lattes, each carefully whisked one cup at a time with a tea whisk.

Park Hyatt Tokyo is located on floors 39 to 52 of Shinjuku Park Tower, the high-rise building with a distinctive triangular roof near Shinjuku Station and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
With its luxurious lounge, bar, and restaurants, you can relax wherever you go.
There are 177 rooms in total, including 23 suites, all on the 42nd floor or higher—so the views are outstanding.

A convenient high-rise hotel just a 3-minute walk from Shinjuku Station’s South Exit.
It’s located inside the mixed-use Odakyu Southern Tower, a complex high-rise with offices and shops, with four basement floors and 36 floors above ground.
The hotel lobby and front desk are on the 20th floor, 100 m above ground.
There are also distinctive restaurants where you can dine while enjoying city views, so it’s also recommended even if you’re just stopping by for a meal.

Kadoya Hotel is a long-established hotel that has been operating for over half a century in Nishi-Shinjuku.
Its biggest feature is excellent access—Approx. a 3-minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station West Exit, Shinjuku Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line, and Tochomae Station on the Toei Oedo Line.
It’s not only close to the stations; it’s also about a 7-minute walk to Busta Shinjuku, the departure and arrival point for long-distance buses heading across Japan, making it recommended as a sightseeing base even for longer stays.