People Watching on a Typical Sunday at Tokyo’s Yoyogi Park

Japan = Cute.
Japan = Cosplay.
Japan = Rockabilly?

A Sunday stroll through Tokyo’s Yoyogi Park is unlike a visit to any park anywhere else in the world. Sure you can find couples enjoying the day quietly on blankets, dad’s playing catch with their children, hippies whipping about frisbees in many parks… but there’s so much more on show at Yoyogi Park. I’d go so far as to say it’s a must visit for any traveler to Japan as it offers a unique glimpse into the wackiness that can only be found in Japan

There’s not much to say about Yoyogi Park. It’s a park. It’s super easy to access. Just head for the Harajuku Station and/or Meiji Shrine in Shibuya. Enter the park and enjoy the wonderful sights. Including:

Rockabillies
I’d heard of these guys before coming, but nothing quite gets you ready. They mill about in these tough looking groups, combing their hair and generally looking tough sitting in front of their large amplifiers. Then suddenly, without warning they crank the tunes… and start to dance. Most are completely lost in their own little world while dancing too. It honestly doesn’t seem to be about the performance as much as loving this music.

This guy has it figured out in my book. All the other “teams” or “gangs” were just large groupings of guys. This older guy in the red jacket had a large group of ladies in poodle skirts

Normal Looking Musicians Who Actually Only Have 2 Teeth (sorry I don’t have a picture of the teeth & how long does it take to get the hair teased up like that?)

Performance Athletes

Cute, Dressed up Dogs

Creepy Obama Magicians

Cosplay (unfortunately not as many as I’d heard about and they’re all super whiny and annoying…”don’t take my picture” most were saying. Well, why did you come, fully costumed, to a location known to all tourists as THE spot to come see freaks in costumes? I mean really, if you don’t want people gawking at you I’m sure there are tons of local locations foreigners wouldn’t ogle you at.)

Daddy Issues

And my personal favorite. A pervy old cowboy guy who’s questioning why I’m wanting to take their picture… umm, because you’re a pervy old Japanese guy dressed up as a Cowboy with a gaggle of costumed schoolgirls?

Seriously, visit Yoyogi Park. There’s much more on offer in way of people watching and it’s a very relaxing area of Tokyo. I would have snapped away till my camera broke, but tried to only take pictures of people who gave me a nod or smile as if to say it’s OK to shoot (rather than the other tourists jamming cameras in everyone’s faces… some people just want a day with their tuxedo-clad poodle at the park LOL).

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