Yoyogi Park is Tokyo's equivalent of Central Park — a large, flat area of greenery in the heart of the city where Tokyoites come to picnic, cycle, exercise, play music, and simply sit in the sun. It lacks the formal landscaping of European parks but has a relaxed energy that reflects how the city uses shared outdoor space.
On weekends and holidays the grassy areas fill with amateur bands practising, dance groups rehearsing, families with elaborate picnic spreads, and the occasional cosplayer heading to or from Harajuku. The adjacent Meiji Shrine, in a forested enclave that feels nothing like the city around it, is five minutes' walk. Together they make the best morning walk in Tokyo: temple first, then coffee in Harajuku, then the park.