Yoyogi Park Just Before Spring

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A month ago, I went to Yoyogi Park for a quick hanami because I heard the kawazu cherry blossoms started to bloom.

Tokyo's Yoyogi Park

This isn't my first time being in Yoyogi Park, but my 2nd so I am still not so familiar with this park except that I know I can access it from Harajuku Station. When I exited from the station, I almost got lost because I was so distracted by the big torii gate leading to the Meiji Jingu shrine. Luckily I checked the maps and found that there was no way to get to the park from the shrine.

Torii to Meiji Jingu

I wasn't expecting a lot of people to be in the park but there were lots of people outside the park's premises. I think there was a concert or an event nearby.

Entering Yoyogi Park

When I arrived at around 3:30 PM, many people were going out. I wonder why.

The first thing you'd notice when you arrive were the food stalls. While in the park, I didn't see any more food stalls other than these in the entrance. It's a pretty wide park so if you're planning to stay long, better get something here. I didn't because I was in a hurry and my friends and I would be meeting to eat pancakes in a short while.

Park map

I tried to look down and saw an interesting stuff. It's the map of the park! If you can read Japanese, you'd probably understand but from the colors, I guess you can manage.

Many families and group of friends have spent their afternoon at the park, some were playing with their kids, some were strolling around, and some were taking photos. It was a cloudy day so it wasn't that bad to be outside.

My favorite sight

Looking up, there's my favorite sight. I just love how these trees felt like they're frightening but they weren't. It was still winter at this time, almost spring so there were no leaves yet. I actually don't know this kind of tree, but I'm guessing they will have leaves during spring or summer.

Walking in these

I took too much time following the road which will lead me to an "I don't know, I'm not sure where" place so seeing the cherry blossoms where I'd be heading, I took the shortcut leading there. I was surprised I was stepping on a soft area, probably dried leaves covering a moist land..?

Empty road

The shortcut paid off because I could see the pond now! The pond was near where the kawazu cherry trees were.

Pond

Fountain

I was surprised to see not just one water fountain but 2. There was also a mini wooden bridge.

Waiting to steal food?

Can you spot the birds?

I'm not an expert on birds but I know these black birds will steal your food. I guess they were looking for prey? 😅 Fortunately, I didn't see someone eating at this area although there were quite a few benches to sit on and have a picnic. Maybe that's why these birds were here?

Cuties!

While the crowd was enjoying the pink flowers, we got distracted because of these cuties. There were a lot of them and different kinds, only being walked by one man. They were behaved though, not running and they knew how to greet people. So polite!

Don't they look like tops?

Seems like a bird sanctuary but couldn't find birds

What do you think this is? It's a toilet!

I didn't stay long in the park because it's a long walk back to the station but along the way, I saw some interesting structures: top-like areas for sitting, a toilet that looks like an admin office and the fenced bird sanctuary with no birds in sight. This time, I followed the road because I learned there was another shortcut going back using the road. I didn't know about it earlier. LOL

Pine Tree of Imperial Troop Review

There was also an interesting history stuff here. There was this grand tree that caught my attention.

Apparently this tall pine tree is called the Pine Tree of Imperial Troop Review. I didn't know that Yoyogi Park was once a military parade ground, and this pine tree here was where they would do the imperial salute. You can refer more in the photo above.

Man playing an instrument

In the park, you will see all kinds of people. While I was reading about the pine tree, I had some background music. 😂 A man was playing an instrument nearby. Actually, the first time I came here, there were also people playing different kinds of instruments, mostly wind instruments. It's nice to practice playing here but maybe better if you're good since it's really loud and might disturb other people if you're not that good yet. 😅

Olive garden

The olive garden was quiet but there was a flower bed at the end of this road. On each sides though it seems there were no flowers blooming but just before this arch, you'd find these pretty pink and purple flowers.

Outside the park, I was surprised to find these group of young men in jump ropes. They were just outside the gate which was also a wide space but I was really wondering why they're doing it here instead of inside the park.

And yep, there were doodles I couldn't decipher on the road.

That was the end of my quick exploration to Yoyogi Park. I stayed there for 20-30 minutes because I still had plans after but for sure, there will be a next time and in that time, I'll be staying in the park longer.

Outside Harajuku station, a crowd was gathering. Because I was curious, I joined the crowd and I witnessed a mini concert. Apparently this group's famous in Tiktok but I actually don't know them. Do you know them? It's nice to see them performing in this area though. It's as if Tokyo has come back to life after the pandemic.


Don't forget to check out #WednesdayWalk by @tattoodjay.


Thanks for reading!
See you around! じゃあ、またね!


All photos are taken using my phone unless stated otherwise.



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54 comments
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Yung sa last tlga eh. May pamini show hehe

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Yeah, complete costume and todo perform 😅

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wow! Such a wonderful walk you had sis! I'm glad you enjoyed every bit of it. will those trees(with no leaves) bloom later too?

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I am actually not sure, probably but they're not cherry blossoms. 😊

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Very happy in a beautiful place lots of dazzling cherry blossom. Thank you.happy day.

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Thank you! It was beautiful indeed even without the leaves of most trees.

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I love your pics <3

You have an artistic / abstract eye. I do that as well. Focus on the details and frame them in my head when I see them :)

Original and interesting photographs. 👏

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Thank you so much! You’re the first to say I have an artistic eye. I thought I’m not good enough 😅

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I've been to Meiji Jingu twice just to spend my time in the park and take photos. I had a good time during the autumn season because of the colorful trees.

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My first time there was during Autumn too! There were many beautiful trees indeed.

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I forgot the name of the park I went inside, I paid about 600 yen.

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Hmmm, probably Shinjuku Gyoen? Or Tachikawa Showa Memorial Park? Those 2 are the only parks I know that have to pay an entrance fee.

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It's just within Meiji Jingu. I have it in some photos, the name of the garden.

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Oh really? Hmm, maybe it's a Japanese garden. Japanese gardens usually have an entrance fee. I haven't explored the whole park yet so when I find it, I'll let you know 😅

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O, yeah I think it's a Japanese garden.

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Such a beautiful park for a walk, that dog walker sure has his hands full with so many cute dogs

Thanks for joining the Wednesday, its always fun for me to visit the walks from all around the world, getting a feel for communities where people live and what they see on their daily walks

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I can’t imagine what would happen when all those dogs will start running around 😅

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LOL I thought the same they would drag him away I think

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Manually curated by EwkaW from the @qurator Team. Keep up the good work!

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Witty walks! This is really a beautiful place for walking. Crowd are enjoying street performance.I always stop by to enjoy this kind of performances. The on road performance by tiktokers has made the city live again for sure.
Thanks for sharing wittyzel it.

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I was actually so surprised to see them do a mini concert just outside the station. Tokyo has indeed started to move again after being quiet during the pandemic. It’s nice to see these kinds of performances again.

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Japan was already way up on my to-do list and now this, pancakes?!?

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(Edited)

Hope you'll come soon! And in a good timing 😅

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Hiya, @ybanezkim26 here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Daily Travel Digest #1826.

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(Edited)

What a lovely park! I'd think twice about bringing food tho, the birds might still them from me hahahaha

It's nice to have some background music while knowing more about the huge tree.

I wonder if this park is good for a break up scene? Would you recommend this park to someone who wants to be alone and just cry?

The place looks serene and quiet. The comfort room indeed looks like an admin office or a townhouse of some sort hahaha

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I think it's fine. Why break up scene? LOL But yes, I think it's fine especially when there are musicians practicing everywhere. Adds to the drama. It's pretty wide so if you stay in one place, for sure no one will see you cry, unless you stay in a place closer to other people.
The park is really serene and quiet in most areas. You can find peace here.
The toilet doesn't look like one, right? As mentioned by Jiji, it looks like a barn.

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Cute doggieess!! 😍💕

That toilet looks like a full blown barn already, wahah! So cool! ✨🔥

Cool photography of the branches, Witty! ✨😍

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You wouldn't really think it's a toilet because it looks like a barn.
Thank you jiji!

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I have been to that park and the most beautiful thing is spring when the sakura bloom! In the background you can see some, it would have been nice if you uploaded some of those, they are my mother's favorite tree species! Greetings

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(Edited)

Beautiful park @wittyzell and I bet it will be lovelier once the cherry blossoms fully blooms. Balik ka dyan ha when it does and show us how magnificent they look when they do. ( No pressure oiii, hahaha )

!PIZZA

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HAhaha! No pressure pala ha hahaha
Let's see if I can be here when it's blooming season. 😅 (Actually it's already in bloom now, it's just the weather this weekend is not cooperating. It's going to be raining the entire weekend huhu)

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Oh and also, don't you dare forget tagging me ha @wittyzell ( another no pressure thingy of course ) 😉LOLs

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I am having a great time reading your blogs while exploring Japan. What a great place indeed!☺️

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Thank you! I'm also having a great time here 😊

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I'm not an expert on birds but I know these black birds will steal your food.

It's remind me about an incident while I was in a tour. There 2 birds snatched food from my friend and I was impressed how they snatched it.

That place is looking beautiful and various kind of activities of people make that place more enjoyable.
I think you enjoyed there very much.

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:) Aloha!

that's an awesome gate! and all the inu! so cute!!

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I love that picture of the Grand tree. It is indeed very unique looking. Oh that dog handler a handful there. Very do disciplined dogs for sure

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That grand tree was really captivating!

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