Even if you haven’t been to Japan before, your image of Shinjuku is most likely an area in Tokyo that is filled with skyscrapers and crowds. While the stereotype is true, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (新宿御苑) is where you can escape the crowds and adore Japanese and Western-style beautiful gardens. Although it is one of Tokyo’s top tourist and cherry blossom spots, it isn’t a spot where you would be pushed around!
Table of Contents
- About Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden's Free Rest Areas
- What to See in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden?
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden's Landscape Garden (風景式庭園)
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden's Formal Garden (整形式庭園)
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden's Japanese Traditional Garden (日本庭園)
- Taiwanese Pavilion, Kyū-Goryō-Tei (旧御涼亭)
- Former Shinjuku Gatekeepers House (旧新宿門衛所) and Former Ōkido Gatekeepers House (旧大木戸門衛所)
- Shinjuku Gyoen Museum (新宿御苑ミュージアム)
- Tamamo Pond (玉藻池)
- Old Imperial Rest House (Kyū-Gokyū-Sho, 旧洋館御休所)
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden's Greenhouse
- Mother and Child's Forest (母と子の森)
- The Recommended Cafes and Restaurants in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden's Four Seasons
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden's Opening Hours, Admission Fee, and Access Information
- Explore Tokyo's Hidden Gem, Kichijōji
Tips:
☛ In late autumn, stop by Meiji Jingu Gaien (神宮外苑) for the stunning golden-colored Meiji Jingu Gaien Gingko Avenue (明治神宮外苑 いちょう並木).
☛ Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden has free water dispensers. Look for the bottle icon on the park’s map for their locations!
Refer to HERE for Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden’s Seasonal English Maps. The seasonal maps show the flowers that would bloom in a particular season.
About Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden has a ground area of 58 hectares. In the Edo period, it was a vast feudal lord mansion given to Naitō Kiyonari (内藤清成) by Tokugawa Ieyasu as a recognition of his years of contribution. Apparently, Ieyasu said to Kiyonari, “Set off your horse. I will give you the land as big as your horse can get to.”
After the samurai’s world ended, the mansion became the property of the imperial family. In 1872, it was used as an agricultural experimental station. In 1879, it became a property of the imperial family. The mansion underwent a major renovation between 1902 and 1906 and was turned into a palace garden for international diplomacy.
Miraculously, a large part of Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden escaped the ravages of WWII. So, a couple of valuable historical remains are dotted around the garden’s grounds. After the spot was turned into a park and opened to the general public in 1949, the garden became an urban oasis in one of the busiest areas in the world.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden’s Free Rest Areas
Unlike most public facilities in Japan, most restaurants and cafes in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden have a free rest area attached (excluding Starbucks). These rest areas are air-conditioned, which is a lifesaver, especially during a heatwave or on a cold winter day.
So, if you are budget-conscious, the park is one of the best spots for you to visit!
What to See in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden?
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden has three entrances (Shinjuku Gate (新宿門) on the northeast, Ōkido Gate (おおきどもん) on the northwest, and Sendagaya Gate (千駄ヶ谷門) on the south), each is close to at least one of the three gardens in the park.
In addition to the gardens, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden has a couple of historical spots, cafes, and restaurants!
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden’s Landscape Garden (風景式庭園)
Located almost in the center of the park, close to the Ōkido Gate, the Landscape Garden features a vast lawn with the symbolic giant tulip tree, Japanese elm, and Japanese zelkova scattered. At the far end of the grass-formed green carpet are the high-rises that seem to be in a different world. If it is not rainy, you will always find people relaxing and/or picnicking on the well-mowed lawn.
Apparently, the tulip tree here is over 120 years old and is the first tulip tree planted in Japan. It is said that it is the mother tree of the many tulip trees in Tokyo that lined the capital’s streets.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden’s Formal Garden (整形式庭園)
East of the landscape garden is the park’s formal garden. It is where you can adore around 500 roses of 100 species in spring and mid-October to mid-November. On the side of the rose bed are four rows of London planes that create two tree-lined avenues.
The Western-style garden would make you almost think you are in one of the palace gardens in Europe!
Imitation Wooden Bridge (擬木橋)
The bridge crossing the Lower Pond (下の池), south of the Formal Garden, there is an interesting bridge. The railing looks exactly like a trunk. You would almost mistake it that there is a tree that happens to grow in a way to protect pedestrians from falling into the stream.
Apparently, this wooden bridge was constructed in 1905. The building material was purchased from France. The material came with three engineers to teach the Japanese how to build such kind of bridge.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden’s Japanese Traditional Garden (日本庭園)
You will find a Japanese garden between the Shinjuku Gate and Sendagaya Gate. Originally a duck hunting ground, it is now a traditional water strolling garden with various Japanese-style garden features.
The Japanese garden in the southwest is scenic throughout the year. In spring, there are plum and cherry blossoms, and in autumn, there is a chrysanthemum exhibition and fall foliage. In winter, the spot is one of the best places in Tokyo to adore a traditional garden decorated with snow.
Tip: If you want a good photo of the Japanese garden with Docomo Tower as a backdrop, it is best to come before noon or in the early afternoon.
Rakuu-Tei Shinjuku Gyoen Muroya (楽羽亭 新宿御苑 むろや)
Close to the garden’s Upper Pond (上の池) in the Japanese Traditional Garden’s plum grove is a Japanese-style house called Rakuu-tei. Built in the Meiji period for the imperial family members to rest, it was lost in the war in 1945 but restored in 1987.
Previously, Rakuu-Tei was a place where matcha tea and traditional confectionery were served for those who were interested. But it has been renovated into a sushi restaurant.
That said, Japanese sweets are on Muroya’s menu. So, if the Japanese garden has made you crave a Japanese-style tea break, Rakuu-Tei is a great spot to stop by.
Tips:
☛ Vegan sushi was served at Muroya when we visited the garden in 2024.
☛ Remember to stop by the house’s garden for a photo in the traditional setting.
Taiwanese Pavilion, Kyū-Goryō-Tei (旧御涼亭)
Nestled in the west corner of the Japanese Traditional Garden, the Kyū-Goryo-Tei is a Chinese-style pavilion gifted by the Japanese who lived in Taiwan in 1927 to celebrate Emperor Shōwa’s marriage.
The event that led to this marvellous gift was the emperor’s trip to Taiwan in 1923 when he was the crown prince. The Japanese who lived in Taiwan at the time really appreciated him travelling so far to greet them, so fundraising was held. In the end, around 50,000 yen was collected and the Chinese-style pavilion was built in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, one of the imperial family’s properties at the time.
The architect who designed the Taiwanese Pavilion was Moriyama Matsunosuke (森山 松之助). He also designed the Taiwan Presidential Office Building today, which was then Japan’s Taiwan Governor’s Office. The pavilion he built aimed to provide a place for Emperor Shōwa to rest above the water while he took a leisurely stroll in summer.
Not only was the building constructed in the Chinese style, but most wooden building materials were shipped from Taiwan. In addition, the Taiwanese Cedar trees planted close to the Taiwanese Pavilion were gifted together with the building by the Taiwanese Governor at the time.
Tip: Remember to take a photo of this elegant pavilion across the pond for its reflection on the water!
Former Shinjuku Gatekeepers House (旧新宿門衛所) and Former Ōkido Gatekeepers House (旧大木戸門衛所)
The Former Shinjuku Gatekeepers House near the Shinjuku Gate (left IG post below) and the Former Ōkido Gatekeepers House (right IG post below) next to the Ōkido Gate were completed in also in 1927. These houses served as the rest areas and night shift facilities in the past. Their retro appearance and historical value make them one of the popular photo spots in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.
Shinjuku Gyoen Museum (新宿御苑ミュージアム)
The building between Tamamo Pond and the greenhouse is the garden’s museum, completed in December 2022. The exhibition facility was built using plenty of domestic wood, allowing the architecture to blend in well with the surrounding greenery. Through the exhibits and short films, you can learn about Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden’s history and Japanese culture. You will also find a computer graphic of a palace (幻の宮殿) that was planned to be built in the early 20th century but was never built. Plant specimens made from the plants growing in the garden are on display, too.
As a top cherry blossom spot in the Kantō region, different kinds of cherry blossoms has their acrylic specimen blocks in Shinjuku Gyoen Museum. You will be amazed when you see so many varieties of cherry blossoms placed in front of you! Plus, detailed paintings of cherry blossoms drawn in the 20th century can also be found in the cherry blossom corner!
Tamamo Pond (玉藻池)
The pond on the east end of Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is called Tamamo Pond. In the Edo period, it was a part of the mansion’s garden completed in 1772 called Tamagawa-en (玉川園). The pond was made using the water from one of Tokyo’s most important waterways, Tamagawa Jōsui (玉川上水).
When you get there, there might be ducks or even softshell turtles swimming freely in the pond.
Old Imperial Rest House (Kyū-Gokyū-Sho, 旧洋館御休所)
Important: The Old Imperial Rest House is currently under renovation.
The old house near the greenhouse was built in 1896 for the imperial family as a spot for resting. In fact, the greenhouse was a golf course in front of the rest house! The Old Imperial Rest House combined the Japanese architectural style with the Stick style that was popular in the U.S. in the late 19th century.
Apparently, the scale of the rest house was much smaller compared to the current state. Since its completion, at least five renovations have been done to the house. In 1921, a dinning hall was added to the rest house. Since then until Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden was opened to the general public, many lunch and dinner parties held by the imperial families took place here.
In 2001, the rest house was designated as a nationally important cultural property.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden’s Greenhouse
The greenhouse at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden was completed in 1875. Renovated in 2012, it has become an environmentally friendly greenhouse that preserves and exhibits endangered plants. Approximately 2,700 species, mainly tropical and subtropical plants, can be found in the pavilion-like greenhouse.
Tip: If you understand Japanese, visit the greenhouse on the 2nd or the 3rd Wednesday of the month for the greenhouse’s guided tour usually start at 1:30 pm. The tour is held on a first-come-first-serve basis. It has a capacity of 15 people. Refer to official website’s Event Page for more details.
Mother and Child’s Forest (母と子の森)
The forest area between the Shinjuku Gate and the Japanese Traditional Garden was named Mother and Child Forest because it is a spot for city dwellers’ children to learn about nature, similar to an undeveloped woodland area near a rural village. Parents can take their children to explore plants and living creatures that aren’t found in their daily lives.
It usually takes around 30 minutes to tour around the Mother and Child Forest at a slow pace. The promenade is designed like a labyrinth with roads going in all directions. The scenery is so varied that if you stop and look around, you will find something different from where you came from.
The Bald Cypress Forest (Rakuushō no Mori, ラクウショウの森)
The forest is divided into five areas. If you are short of time, we recommend at least visiting the Bald Cypress Forest, especially during the fall foliage season. The Bald Cypress is called Rakuushō in Japanese. The name describes the tree’s leaves falling like a bird’s feather. When the leaves turn red, the scenery created by the Bald Cypress competes with the maple leaves.
In other parts of the year, the Bald Cypress Forest is still worth a visit. The trees here are over 100 years old. What will catch your attention is the cypress knees on the ground. Some think they look like bamboo shoots, but when we were there, many of these aerial roots looked as if brown-colored human arms were sticking out of the soil because the tips looked like fingers!
Why would the Bald Cypress need the Cypress knees? Because the trees were originally from swamps and wetlands in North America. The roots need to be above the water to breathe!
The Bald Cypress Forest is the perfect spot to learn that just like humans have developed ways to encounter challenges, plants also have their ways to adapt to the environment and survive.
The Recommended Cafes and Restaurants in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
SASAYAIORI+ Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (SASAYAIORI+新宿御苑)
The cafe in the Central Rest House (中央休憩所) is SASAYAIORI+ Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, specialising in Japanese sweets. It sells confectionery mostly made by Sasaya Iori (笹屋伊織), a traditional sweets maker in Kyoto with over 300 years of history. The plus sign was added to its name because the cafe aims to try new ideas that go beyond the boundaries of the long-established Japanese sweets shop.
In addition to the premium traditional sweets, SASAYAIORI+ also offers Westernised Japanese sweets, which combine Japanese elements with Western desserts, such as ice cream. In summer, shaved ice is also on the menu.
If you are unsure what to order, how about the most popular dish, Fukkura Dorayaki (福来どら焼)? What are sandwiches by the two castella patty is a scoop of rich matcha ice cream, red bean paste, whipped cream, and mochi rice cakes. It is a plate of heavenly-tasted desserts that will make you smile. Just like its name, with the Fukkura Dorayaki in your mouth, you will surely feel good fortune is coming your way.
Starbucks Coffee Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (スターバックス コーヒー 新宿御苑店)
Like other Starbucks Coffee branches around the world, the branch in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is a stylish building that perfectly fits into the surroundings. The main building material is wood sourced within Japan. With the greenery visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows, sitting on a window seat feels like relaxing in nature.
The cozy cafe also has a lovely outdoor seating area. Overlooking the vast garden, it is where you can enjoy a cup of coffee while soaking in the peaceful atmosphere.
Tip: Starbucks Coffee Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is also one of the best spots to adore the cherry blossoms in the vast park!
Shinjuku Gyoen Anon Shouten-tei (新宿御苑 あのん)
Close to the Japanese Traditional Garden is the traditional-style cafe, Shouten-tei. The cafe that focus on offering red bean paste sweets is a branch of Kyoto Gion Anon (京都祇園あのん).
The signatory dish is the Anpo-ne (あんぽーね). A new type of Japanese sweet that combines homemade red bean paste with slightly sour mascarpone cheese cream and wraps it in crispy monaka.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden’s Four Seasons
There are around 10,000 vegetation in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. Because of the 1,100 cherry trees of 65 varieties, early spring is Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden’s peak season.
With rows of cherry trees lining the pathways, the garden’s cherry blossom scenery was chosen as one of Japan’s Top 100 Cherry Blossom spots.
The cherry blossom season at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden can start as early as mid-February, and last till April. Of course, the season peaks when the Yoshino Cherry Blossom blooms in late March. It is when a sea of delicate pink and white flowers cover the garden’s ground, making it a photographer’s paradise.
Summer in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
- Wisteria: From late April to early May
- Roses: From early May to late June
Autumn in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
From the 1st to the 15th of November, many also visit the garden for the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden Chrysanthemum Festival (新宿御苑菊花壇展) held in the Japanese garden. Different types of chrysanthemums are brought to the garden and arranged to create elegant displays under the bamboo-made shelter called Uwaya (上屋家). While the fall foliage season wouldn’t have arrived at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden yet, when the exhibition is on, visit the garden, walk along the winding paths, and adore the artwork created by the stunning flowers.
If you love the fall foliage, visit Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden between late November and early December. Some plants’ color change from mid-October.
Winter in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
You can enjoy daffodils from mid-December to March, and about 300 plum blossoms in early March.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden’s Opening Hours, Admission Fee, and Access Information
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is open from Tuesday to Sunday at 9 am. The last admission varies depending on the season and ranges from 4 pm to 6:30 pm.
- The Greenhouse opens at 9:30 am. The last admission to the Greenhouse ranges from 3:30 pm to 6 pm.
- The garden is closed from the 29th of December to the 3rd of March.
- The garden is open on Mondays between the 25th of March to the 24th of April and the first half of the January.
- The admission fee is
- 500 yen for adults
- 250 yen for elderly 65 years old and older and senior high school and university school students
- Shinjuku Gate (新宿門) is a 5-minute walk from exit no. 1 of Tokyo Metro’s Shinjuku-Gyoemmae Station (新宿御苑前駅) or exit C1, C5, or E5 of Tokyo Metro’s Shinjuku-sanchome Station (新宿三丁目駅).
- The gate is a 10-minute walk from the south exit of Shinjuku Station (新宿駅).
- Ōkido Gate (おおきどもん) is a 5-minute walk from exit no. 2 of Tokyo Metro’s Shinjuku-Gyoemmae Station (新宿御苑前駅).
- Sendagaya Gate (千駄ヶ谷門) is a 5-minute walk from JR Sendagaya Station (千駄ヶ谷駅) or exit A5 of Toei Subway’s Kokuritsu-Kyogijo Station (国立競技場駅).
Explore Tokyo’s Hidden Gem, Kichijōji
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden wouldn’t take you the entire day. So, what to do after visiting the park? We recommend visiting Kichijōji, a few stations away from Shinjuku.
While Kichijōji is in Tokyo, it still has its own vibe! Hidden in the urban jungle are many unique cafés and shops! We are sure you will be pleasantly surprised by the neighborhood that was voted “The Most Desirable Area to Live” in Tokyo!
Refer to our Kichijōji article for more information!
