The former site of the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Village, the expansive 134-acre Yoyogi Park is one of biggest urban parks in Tokyo.

With so much accessible lawn space, Yoyogi Park is more like what’s known as a park in Western countries than most of Tokyo’s many public city parks.

The vast lawns, large ponds, wide paths, and many trees make this park one of the best and safest places to actively enjoy nature in all of Tokyo.

As very few streets throughout the Tokyo Metropolitan Area offer reliable and respected bike lanes, or safe pedestrian only walkways, this is a great place for safely cycling, running, or fast walking.

Rollerblading here can be a little trickier depending on the current condition of the paved paths. (I’ve experienced good and bad times)

When the weather is warm, but not too hot, this is probably the best place in Tokyo for picnicking or just enjoying fun outdoor activities with friends or family.

As such, the crowds can be impressive on the weekends. Fortunately, this park is usually large enough to accommodate multiple events on the same day.

If you’re visiting Yoyogi Park for the first time, you should give yourself a few hours to explore the nearby Meiji Shrine.

On weekends in general, and Sundays in particular, allow yourself a few hours to take in the many street performers.

Even though you won’t find that many cherry trees here, tons of people still come here to eat and drink during the hanami cherry blossom viewing party season.