Shinjuku Gyoen is one of those rare places in Tokyo where the city simply disappears. Spanning 58 hectares just south of Shinjuku Station, the garden was originally a feudal estate during the Edo period, later redesigned as an imperial garden before opening to the public after World War II. Today it is one of the most visited and most loved green spaces in Japan.
What makes Shinjuku Gyoen unique is the breadth of its design. Three distinct garden styles coexist beautifully within the same grounds: a traditional Japanese landscape garden with stone lanterns, koi ponds, and curved bridges; a sweeping English landscape garden with wide open lawns and mature trees; and a formal French garden with geometric planting and symmetrical paths. There is also a large greenhouse with tropical plants and seasonal flower exhibitions.
In spring, the garden becomes one of Tokyo's finest cherry blossom destinations — with over 1,000 trees including rare varieties not commonly found elsewhere. Outside of sakura season, it remains quietly beautiful through every month of the year, from the deep greens of summer to the warm ambers and reds of autumn.
