Spending a Healing Time with Dogs at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo

If you ask me whether there’s a place in the heart of Tokyo where you can quietly relax and observe the interaction between people and nature, I would say without hesitation: Yoyogi Park. Located just a few steps away from Harajuku, it’s about a 3-minute walk from JR Yamanote Line’s "Harajuku Station" or Tokyo Metro’s "Meiji-Jingumae Station." Stepping into the park feels like entering another world. Expansive lawns, straight rows of trees, joggers, children blowing bubbles, couples daydreaming on picnic mats—every corner is filled with the rhythm of life. My favorite moment is when the afternoon sunlight filters through the leaves, creating a perfectly warm ambiance. When tired, I sit on a bench, watching people pass by, doing nothing yet feeling fulfilled. If you’re a dog lover, you must visit the park’s dog park (ドッグラン), located near the NHK Broadcasting Center, about a 5-minute walk away. It’s a fenced area designed for furry friends to run and play freely. Although I don’t own a dog, just watching Shiba Inus and Corgis running around and greeting each other from the outside fills me with joy and heals my soul completely. There are no crowded tourist spots or must-see photo ops here, but it’s a place that makes you want to return again and again. Yoyogi Park is not just Tokyo’s green lung; it’s a sanctuary where travelers can temporarily shed their fatigue and breathe quietly.