The Meiji Shrine is on the wooded grounds of this quiet, green and leafy park. A pocket of serenity in the middle of busy Tokyo, Yoyogi isn’t manicured like many of Tokyo’s parks and gardens but looks like the kind of place you can have a bit of a run around in, or walk and sit on the grass – which you’re most welcome to do. Not all of the park is forest, there are grassy, picnic-y sections as well.

Sundays the park gets a bit livelier, as the meeting place for local musicians and marital arts groups. Some of them bring speaker systems so it can sound a bit like a battle of the bands. It’s also popular with cyclists and has a fenced in section where you’re allowed to take your dog off its leash – one of the few places in Tokyo un-tethered dogs are allowed.

For the ultimate contrast from the park and the shrine, you can exit the park by Harajuku Station a mass of commercial colour and youth culture

Written by  Kat Mackintosh.

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