Field guide
Running in Tokyo: routes in official parks
Plan your running in Tokyo with this guide to official parks. Information on the Imperial Palace outer garden, Yoyogi Park, and Komazawa Olympic Park.
For a run in central Tokyo with a historic setting, the Imperial Palace outer garden provides a popular route. The grounds are landscaped and feature moats and stone walls.
For runs in larger green spaces, Yoyogi Park is a forest park known for an open sky. Komazawa Olympic Park is a former Olympic venue with numerous athletic facilities.
| Place | Distance (official) | Hours | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial Palace outer garden (Kokyo Gaien) | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Yoyogi Park | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Meiji Jingu Gaien | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Komazawa Olympic Park | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
Imperial Palace outer garden (Kokyo Gaien)
The grounds around the Imperial Palace offer a route through a significant historic area. Runners will pass moats, gates, and stone walls from the former Edo Castle.
Jogging is permitted, but all other sports activities are prohibited. Groups of more than 20 people require a permit for jogging. Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is not allowed anywhere in the park.
- Type of place
- park
- Location
- central Tokyo
- Permit for group jogging/marathons
- Required for groups of over 20 people
- Plant rules
- Prohibited to collect or damage any plants
- Wildlife rules
- Prohibited to catch or kill any birds, fish or animals
- Dangerous materials
- Prohibited to carry dangerous materials or instruments
- Sports activities
- Prohibited to use play equipment and all sports activities except jogging or marathons
- Smoking rules
- Prohibited to smoke, including e-cigarettes
Source: env.go.jp (env.go.jp). Official page, checked Oct 21, 2026.
Yoyogi Park
Yoyogi Park is the fifth largest metropolitan park in the 23 wards and is described as a forest park. It contains an athletic field and a cycling center. Entry to the park is free, though some facilities have a charge.
The park is a 3 minute walk from Harajuku station. While parking is available, using public transportation is recommended on weekends and holidays due to congestion.
- Type of park
- Forest park where you can see the widest sky in the city
- Park size ranking
- Fifth largest among Tokyo Metropolitan Parks in the 23 wards
- Entry fee
- Free (some facilities are charged)
- Parking availability
- Available (65 spaces)
- Parking hours
- 24 hours
- Parking fee (standard car)
- 800 yen for up to 1 hour, 400 yen for every 30 minutes thereafter. Maximum 12-hour charge after entry: 3,200 yen
- Motorcycle parking
- Not available
- Transit access (JR)
- JR Yamanote Line 'Harajuku' station, 3 minutes walk
Source: 代々木公園｜公園へ行こう！ (tokyo-park.or.jp). Official page, checked Oct 21, 2026.
Meiji Jingu Gaien
Meiji Jingu Gaien is accessible from several train and subway stations. It is an approximate 15 minute walk from Shinanomachi Station, Sendagaya Station, Gaienmae Station, and National Stadium Station.
- Expressway exit
- "Gaien exit" on Metropolitan Expressway Route No.4
- JR Line access
- Shinanomachi Station (JR Chuo/Sobu Line)
- JR Line access
- Sendagaya Station (JR Chuo/Sobu Line)
- Tokyo Metro access
- Gaienmae Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
- Toei Subway access
- National Stadium Station (Toei Subway Oedo Line)
- Walk time from nearest stations
- approx. 15 minutes
Source: MEIJIJINGU GAIEN｜Access (meijijingugaien.jp). Official page, checked Oct 21, 2026.
Komazawa Olympic Park
This park was a venue for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and contains many athletic facilities. The park area is 413,573.09 square meters. It is a 15 minute walk from Komazawa-Daigaku Station. The park is located in Setagaya Ward, where smoking is prohibited on all roads and in parks outside of designated areas.
- Type of place
- This park was the second venue for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, where sports like wrestling and volleyball were held. After the games, it was opened to the public as a park and is cherished as a sports park where greenery and numerous athletic facilities are in harmony.
- Entry fee
- Free (some facilities are charged)
- Parking fee (car)
- Up to 1 hour 400 yen, thereafter 200 yen every 30 minutes. Maximum 12-hour charge after entry 1600 yen.
- Transit access (train)
- Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line 'Komazawa-Daigaku Station', 15 minutes walk.
- Dog rules
- Dogs must be on a leash. Owners must take pet waste home.
- Park area
- 413,573.09 square meters
- Safety equipment
- AEDs are installed in park facilities.
Source: 駒沢オリンピック公園｜公園へ行こう！ (tokyo-park.or.jp). Official page, checked Oct 21, 2026.
Before you go
- If running in a group of over 20 people at the Imperial Palace outer garden, a permit is required.
- Parking is available for a fee at Yoyogi Park and Komazawa Olympic Park. Public transport is the recommended way to access Yoyogi Park on weekends.
- Dogs must be on a leash in Yoyogi Park and Komazawa Olympic Park.
- Smoking is prohibited in the Imperial Palace outer garden and in all parks in Setagaya Ward, which includes Komazawa Olympic Park.
- At the Imperial Palace outer garden, only jogging is permitted. Other sports and the use of play equipment are not allowed.
- Entry to the main parks is free, but be aware that some specific athletic facilities inside may have separate charges.
More cities: City running and hiking guides.