Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden: an imperial oasis in the heart of Tokyo

by Simone Ottuzzi - Omotenashi Anime

History and origin

The garden has ancient origins: its land was granted in 1590 by former shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu to a daimyo of the Naitō family as a residence during the Edo period. During the Meiji period it was transformed into an imperial botanical garden and officially opened in May 1906, after renovation by French landscape architect Henri Martinet. Most of the garden was destroyed during WWII bombing raids, but it was restored and reopened to the public in May 1949.

Size, management and accessibility

Shinjuku Gyoen covers about 58.3 hectares (roughly 3.5 km in circumference). It is currently managed by Japan's Ministry of the Environment. It sits between the Shinjuku and Shibuya districts and is an easy walk from Shinjuku Station, Shinjuku-Gyoemmae (Marunouchi Line) or Sendagaya Station (JR Chūō-Sōbu Line).

Layout, styles and flora

The garden is known for the harmonious coexistence of three distinct styles:

• Traditional Japanese garden, with ponds, islets, bridges, pavilions and the Taiwan Pavilion (built to celebrate the wedding of Emperor Showa)
• Formal French-style garden, with precise geometry, trimmed hedges and ornamental flowerbeds
• English landscape garden, with wide lawns surrounded by flowering cherry trees

The park is home to about 20,000 trees, including around 1,500 cherry trees which, being of different varieties, allow for a blooming season that, weather permitting, runs roughly from late March through April. There's also a greenhouse built in the 1950s that houses over 1,700 tropical and subtropical plant species on permanent display.

Seasonal experiences and activities

• Cherry blossom season (hanami): one of the most stunning spots in the city for it. During the season, entry may occasionally require timed-slot reservations, especially at peak times.
• Chrysanthemum Festival: every year, in early November, a themed flower exhibition takes place, an integral part of the garden's tradition.

Hours, fees and rules

Hours vary by season:

• October to mid-March: 9:00 AM–4:30 PM (last entry 4:00 PM)
• Mid-March to end of September (excluding summer months): 9:00 AM–6:00 PM, gates close at 5:30 PM
• July 1 to August 20: 9:00 AM–7:00 PM, closing at 6:30 PM

Closed days:

• Generally Mondays, except during cherry blossom season (late March–late April) and chrysanthemum season (first half of November), when it stays open every day.

Admission:

• Adults: ¥500
• Seniors (65+): ¥250
• Students: ¥250
• Children (up to 15): free

Why visit

Shinjuku Gyoen is a place where history, nature and culture blend together: from the stylized gardens to the vast green expanses, it offers a relaxing experience in every season. It's also famous on the cultural side: it's the setting for Makoto Shinkai's anime "The Garden of Words," which portrays its romantic atmosphere in the rain.

Did you enjoy this article?

Download it here in PDF format.