Tokyo · Shinjuku / Minato, Tokyo

Meiji Jingu Gaien Course

Facilities at This Course

Course Highlights

• ✓Iconic 300-metre ginkgo tree avenue turns golden yellow every November
• ✓Flat 4 km outer circuit around the sports and cultural facilities
• ✓Adjacent to the National Olympic Stadium (Japan National Stadium)
• ✓Central location between Aoyama, Shinjuku, and Harajuku
• ✓One of Tokyo's most atmospheric autumn running routes

About This Course

Meiji Jingu Gaien (the Outer Garden of Meiji Shrine) is a sports and green area in central Tokyo housing the National Olympic Stadium, various sports facilities, and the famous Icho Namiki — a 300-metre boulevard lined with 146 ginkgo trees that erupt in brilliant golden yellow each mid-November. The 4 km outer running circuit follows the roads encircling the entire Gaien complex, passing beneath the ginkgo avenue, the Jingu Baseball Stadium (home of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows), the Jingu Indoor Pool, and the edge of Aoyama Cemetery. The path is flat and paved throughout, with traffic-controlled crossings at major intersections. The autumn ginkgo season (typically mid-November to early December) is the course's most celebrated time — the combination of golden leaves, the stadium backdrop, and Tokyo's autumn light makes for an unforgettable visual experience. The course is free to run at any time. For longer runs, the circuit can be connected directly to Yoyogi Park to the northwest (via Harajuku) or Shinjuku Gyoen to the north (via Sendagaya) for an extended route of 8–10 km.

Nearby Running Stations

Facilities for changing, storing luggage, and showering before and after your run.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about running Meiji Jingu Gaien Course.