ABOUT
About this spot
Shinjuku Gyoen is a national garden spanning Shinjuku and Shibuya wards in Tokyo, under the Ministry of the Environment. It covers about 58.3 hectares of green space right beside Shinjuku's skyscrapers and is listed among Japan's 100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots. In the Edo period the site was the secondary residence of the Naito family of Takato Domain in Shinano. In 1879 it became an imperial property as the Shinjuku Botanical Garden, and it opened as Shinjuku Gyoen in 1906. It was opened to the public in 1949, after World War II. The garden combines a Japanese garden centered on Tamamo Pond, an English landscape garden and a French formal garden. Historic buildings include the former Imperial Resting House (Kyu-Yokan Gokyujo, built in 1896 and an Important Cultural Property) and the former Goryotei pavilion (1927). The former Shinjuku Guardhouse and former Okido Guardhouse are also presented as historic buildings. The Greenhouse, with tropical and subtropical plants, was renovated in 2012. About 900 cherry trees of around 70 types bloom in spring, and a chrysanthemum exhibition is held every autumn. The garden is closed on Mondays and over the New Year holidays. Allow one to two hours. Shinjuku Golden Gai and Meiji Jingu are nearby.
Last updated October 22, 2026