All About Shinjuku Gyoen

By cryotosensei | travelinJapan | 14 Oct 2022

All about Shinjuku Gyoen

What is Shinjuku Gyoen?

As can be inferred from its name, Shinjuku Gyoen is a stone’s throw away from bustling Shinjuku. Hence, it is great for you to engross yourself in nature and take a breather from the busyness of urban life. It boasts a varied and illustrious history:

Was constructed on the private residence of a feudal lord (“daimyo”) called Natio during the Edo era
Was converted to an agricultural experiment station that was under the jurisdiction of the government in 1872
Was then repurposed to be an imperial garden in 1906
After World War II, it was re-designated as a national garden and opened to the public
This means that the layout of Shinjuku Gyoen has been faithfully preserved since 1906, harking back to architectural practices from the Meiji era

Why you should go there?

At a massive 144 acres, it’s one of the biggest nature sanctuaries in Tokyo
Showcases three unique styles: French formal garden, English landscaping garden and Japanese traditional garden. It straddles East and West in one expansive space, so you will have fun soaking in the vibes of these distinctly different gardens
Displays different picturesque scenes throughout the year: bright sakura in spring, vivid hues of green in summer, colourful leaf spectacle in fall and snowscapes in winter

How to get there?

Alight at either Shinjuku Station, Sendagaya Station or Shinjuku Gyoemmae Station and reach Shinjuku Gyoen on foot
If you alight at Shinjuku Station, use the Southeast Exit. It will take about ten minutes for you to reach the Shinjuku Gyoen on foot.

What to do there?

Visit Shinjuku Gyoen for spectacular seasonal sights. More will be discussed later
Enjoy tea at the teahouses located inside the Japanese Garden
Visit the greenhouse that has a diversity of natural habitats, ranging from pond to tropical and subtropical to desert areas. The greenhouse will attract nature lovers with its mesmerising collection of rare and endangered plants. Architectural fans will admire the intricate design as it is a faithful reproduction of an old Western-style greenhouse built in the 19th century.
Visit the Taiwan Pavilion located inside The Japanese Garden. It was donated by the Japanese people in Taiwan to commemorate the marriage of then crown prince Hirohito.
Explore the majesty of each of the gardens!

Shinjuku Gyoen in spring

Be dazzled by the sight of canopies of cherry blossoms vying for your attention. The garden has more than 12 different kinds of cherry blossom trees, so feast your eyes on these delicate beauties. You should also not miss out on the chance to have a picnic with your travel mates at the English Garden as this is where more than 400 somei yoshino trees will blossom

Shinjuku Gyoen in Summer

If you visit this garden in June and July, you will get to admire colorful hydrangeas. Roses in the French Garden will also blossom during this period.

Shinjuku Gyoen in Autumn

The garden is dotted with ginkgo, sycamore and cherry trees, all of which will show off their red, yellow and orange sides in autumn
But that’s not all. The garden is also famous for its annual chrysanthemum show that lasts from November 1st to 15th. Chrysanthemums are known as the imperial flower, so you can rest assured that they will be painstakingly arranged so as to bring about the optimal visual impact

Shinjuku Gyoen in Winter