Yoyogi Park

Yoyogi Park

Drummers in the park

The Yoyogi Park ( Japanese 代々木公園 , Yoyogi kōen ) is a large public park in the district of Shibuya in Tokyo .

history

The area of ​​the Yoyogi Park is part of a larger area that was initially owned by the Daimyō Katō Kiyomasa in the Bakufu period , then as a secondary area in the possession of the Ii clan . After the Meiji Restoration, it fell to the state, which used it as a training ground for the military. The northeast part was then used for the construction of the Meiji Shrine . Between the Meiji Shrine and the Yoyogi Park is the "Old Garden" ( 旧 御苑 , Kyū-gyoen ), which the Empress valued. Today the garden, whose creek valley is fed by the “Kiyomasa spring”, is open to the public and famous for its irises in all shades of color.

After the Second World War, the "Washington Heights" were created on the edge of the current park for the American occupation troops as residential quarters. Then the site was used for the 1964 Olympics until it finally became a public park. Newly laid out at the time, the park has a large number of tree species that have now grown to over 30 m. Among them are trees brought by countries participating in the Olympic Games. In 1990 three fountains (15-20 m) were created.

A memorial commemorates the first powered flight in Japan, which took place here in 1910. Other memorial stones commemorate the Olympic Games, the 1915 celebrations for Meiji-Tennō's wife , Shōken-kōtaigō, who died the previous year , and the 14 members of a right-wing group who jointly committed seppuku at the 1945 surrender .

In the 1980s, the park was a meeting place for the "bamboo shoot clan" ( 竹 の 子 族 , take-no-ko zoku ) and is still a popular meeting place for music and dance troupes.

Characteristics

• Carrier: Tokyo Prefecture.
• Opening: October 20, 1967
• Area: 540,529.00 m², including 200,689 m² of lawn
• Tree population: 10,400 trees 12,200 m² bushland
• Main tree species: Sawara , oleander, keyaki , Himalayan cedar, kinmokusei , rhododendron, ginkgo, cherry (Somei Yoshino), enju , pine, oak.

• Facilities: Olympic village and various sports facilities of Kenzō Tange , combined in the southern area, including the Yoyogi multi-purpose hall
• Access: JR Harajuku , Chiyoda Yoyogikōen Line

Remarks

1. ↑ Quercus serrata and Quercus acutissima

literature

• Tōkyō-to (Ed.): Yoyogi kōen , in: Toritsu kōen gaido, 1995.
• Hayashi R. et al. a .: Shibuya-ku no rekishi . Meisho Shuppan, 1973.

Web links

Commons : Yoyogi Park  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 35 ° 40 ′ 15 ″  N , 139 ° 41 ′ 48 ″  E