Yoyogi Park

{{Short description|Park in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan}} {{Infobox park | name = Yoyogi Park | image = Tokyo 東京 (51335433586).jpg | image_size = 300 | image_caption = | type = | location = [[Shibuya]], [[Tokyo]], Japan | coordinates = {{Coord|35.671975|139.69768536|region:JP_scale:40000|display=inline}} | area = {{convert|54.1|ha|acre|abbr=on}} | created = 1967 | operator = | visitation_num = | status = | public_transit = [[Harajuku Station]], [[Yoyogi-Koen Station]], [[Meiji-jingumae Station]] }} {{Nihongo|'''Yoyogi Park'''|代々木公園|Yoyogi kōen}} is a park in [[Shibuya]], [[Tokyo]], Japan. It is located adjacent to [[Harajuku Station]] and [[Meiji Shrine]] in [[Yoyogikamizonochō]]. The park is a popular Tokyo destination, especially on Sundays 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.<ref name="Cybriwsky2011"/> 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, public sport courts, and a dog run.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.courtsoftheworld.com/courts/84:Japan/50:Tokyo/91:Yoyogi-Park |title=Profile of the basketball court at Yoyogi Park|website=courtsoftheworld.com}}</ref>

== History == Yoyogi Park stands on the site from where the first successful [[powered flight|powered aircraft flight]] in Japan took place by Captain [[Yoshitoshi Tokugawa]] on 19 December 1910.<ref name="HataIzawa2012">{{cite book|author1=Ikuhiko Hata|author2=Yasuho Izawa|author3=Christopher Shores|title=Japanese Army Fighter Aces: 1931-45|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j0HZay_yOLkC&pg=PA1|access-date=3 December 2012|date=5 April 2012|publisher=Stackpole Books|isbn=978-0-8117-1076-3|page=1}}</ref> The area later became an army parade ground and training area, including gun training, which scared the famous dog [[Hachikō]].<ref name="itoh2017">{{cite book|title=Hachikō: Solving Twenty Mysteries about the Most Famous Dog in Japan |publisher=[[Amazon (company)|Amazon.com]] [[Amazon Kindle|Kindle]] [[E-book]]|last=Itoh|first=Mayumi|date=2017|isbn=978-197-33-8013-9|asin=B078BP7W1N|page=87}}</ref> From September 1945, the site became a U.S. officers housing area known as [[Washington Heights (Tokyo)|Washington Heights]] during the [[Occupation of Japan|Allied occupation of Japan]].<ref name="YamazakiMorris2008">{{cite book|author1=Toyoko Yamazaki|author2=V. Dixon Morris|title=Two Homelands|url=https://archive.org/details/twohomelands00yama|url-access=registration|access-date=3 December 2012|year=2008|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|isbn=978-0-8248-2944-5|page=[https://archive.org/details/twohomelands00yama/page/551 551]}}</ref>

The area was used for the [[1964 Summer Olympics]] housing the main [[Olympic Village]] and the [[Yoyogi National Gymnasium]]. The distinctive building, which was designed by [[Kenzo Tange]], hosted [[Swimming at the 1964 Summer Olympics|swimming]] and [[Diving at the 1964 Summer Olympics|diving]], with an annex for [[Basketball at the 1964 Summer Olympics|basketball]].<ref name="Palmer2009">{{cite book|author=Allison Lee Palmer|title=The A to Z of Architecture|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7rKbblKGVEsC&pg=PA265|access-date=3 December 2012|date=30 September 2009|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-6895-3|page=265}}</ref><ref name="Low2006">{{cite book|author=Morris Low|title=Japan On Display: Photography and the Emperor|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LbstHbS4hDcC&pg=PA106|access-date=3 December 2012|date=30 April 2006|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0-415-37148-3|page=106}}</ref>

In 1967 most of the area north of the gymnasium complex and south of [[Meiji Shrine]] was absorbed by Yoyogi Park.<ref name="Cybriwsky2011">{{cite book|author=Roman A. Cybriwsky|title=Historical Dictionary of Tokyo|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9pePrUSs7kMC&pg=PA275|access-date=3 December 2012|date=1 February 2011|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-7238-7|page=275}}</ref>

Tokyo's failed bid to host the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] included a proposal to redevelop Yoyogi Park. A new volleyball arena was to be built west of the [[Yoyogi National Gymnasium]]. It would have replaced a small stadium with a football and athletics arena.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tokyo-olympics2016.blogspot.com/2009/05/proposed-venues.html |title=Tokyo 2016 Olympics |access-date=2009-10-30 |archive-date=2010-03-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312055516/http://tokyo-olympics2016.blogspot.com/2009/05/proposed-venues.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Yoyogi National Gymnasium later served as the venue for [[handball]] events during the [[2020 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Competition Venue Map|url=https://www.2020games.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/eng/taikaijyunbi/taikai/map/index.html |publisher=Tokyo Metropolitan Government |access-date=17 January 2024}}</ref>

===2014 dengue fever cases=== In 2014, Tokyo experienced one of its worst [[dengue fever]] outbreaks in 100 years and the first recorded cases in 70 years, with nearly 200 confirmed cases.<ref name="OWJ News">{{cite web|title=OWJ News|url=https://onewayjapan.com/News-Tech-And-Science/2015/16-Tokyo-at-War-Against-Dengue-Fever-as-Summer-Approaches.html|publisher=OWJ News|access-date=21 April 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304192437/https://onewayjapan.com/News-Tech-And-Science/2015/16-Tokyo-at-War-Against-Dengue-Fever-as-Summer-Approaches.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first case was reported on August 27, 2014. Using gene sequencing techniques, scientists determined that the outbreak originated in Yoyogi Park. Dozens of visitors to the area contracted the disease, leading to the park's closure on September 4.<ref name="OWJ News"/> No further cases were discovered after September 18, and the park re-opened to the public on October 31.<ref>{{cite web|title=Yoyogi Park set to reopen on receding risk of dengue infection|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/10/30/national/science-health/yoyogi-park-set-reopen-receding-risk-dengue-infection/|date=October 30, 2014|work=[[The Japan Times]]|access-date=May 5, 2015}}</ref>

==Gallery== <gallery> File:Fountain Yoyogipark.JPG|Yoyogi Park fountain File:Yoyogi Park from Hyatt.jpg|Yoyogi Park and [[Meiji Shrine]] as seen from above, 2008 File:Yoyogi dancers.JPG|Yoyogi's [[rockabilly|rockabillies]] dancing in the park on a Sunday in March 2014 File:Yoyogi Park scenes - 2024Nov1.webm|Several scenes in the park, 2024 File:Fallinyoyogipark-nov30-2014.jpg|Autumn in Yoyogi Park, November 2014 </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Commons category-inline}} * [http://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/english/park/detail_03.html#yoyogi Tokyo Metropolitan Parks Guide, Yoyogi Information]

[[Category:Parks and gardens in Tokyo]] [[Category:Urban public parks in Japan]] [[Category:Shibuya]] [[Category:Olympic Parks]]