Yoyogi Park | Tokyo

When we last visited Japan in 2008, Yoyogi Park was the place to be on Sunday. There were food stands, cosplaying Harajuku girls, and dozens of young bands playing music. Since then, some things have changed. The Harajuku girls no longer seem to pose for tourists on the bridge between Yoyogi and Harajuku, the bands were nowhere to be seen, and the food stands had dwindled to a single takoyaki stand (battered and fried octopus balls). While we were a little disappointed that we couldn't relive our old experiences, there's always something new and exciting going on in Tokyo...

Upon entering the park we encountered the “famous” rockabilly dancers. An odd, but amusing spectacle. We did come across a group wearing masks with instruments, but they seemed to be engaging in some sort of performance art, rather than coherent music.

A group of Japanese ESL students asked to interview me for a video they were working on. I was asked to list the seasons in English, and then in French. The purpose of the video wasn't entirely clear (given the language barrier) but it seemed like a scavenger hunt of sorts.

I loved our first experience at Yoyogi Park and, for years, recommended it to everyone who we knew heading to Tokyo. Despite the changes, I think it will always be a good place to spend a Sunday afternoon. - Alex