JPN: Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (Part 1)

11 Naitomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Daily: 7.00am - 4.00pm (winter) or 5.30pm (spring/fall) or 6.30pm (summer)

Shinjuku Gyoen is a large national park under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Environment of Japan that covers an area of 58.3 hectares. Spanning across the present Shinjuku and Shibuya wards of Tokyo, it was originally the residence of a feudal lord known as Lord Naito of Tsuruga during the Edo period.

From Hotel Listel Shinjuku, it took my BFF and me about 10 minutes to reach Shinjuku Gate, which is one of the three entrance gates to the park, by foot.

You can find many varieties of cherry blossoms at the park.


Each of us paid ¥500 (~S$6.50) for the admission ticket.


Near the entrance is Café Hananoki where you can get some refreshments.


It's said that the park has got more than 20,000 trees, including approximately 1,500 sakura (lit. cherry blossom) trees.

Following Meiji Restoration in 1868, the premise was transferred from the feudal lord
to the Empire of Japan and converted into an experimental agricultural centre. 


Would those hanging stuff turn to fruits or flowers?


Way too pretty! <3

We explored the serene Mother and Child's Forest.

In Japanese, it's called Haha To Ko No Mori.


Such a big fly!


I hope you're not disgusted by those fungi clusters.


That information panel summarises the ecosystem of the forest.

A section of the park is dedicated to Japanese traditional garden.



Despite it being a sunny morning, the wind was pretty strong and chilly.


"Feed me, hooman!"

Enjoy the following photos of flowers.


"A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms." ~ Zen Shin


Don't you love the various shades of pink and red?


Still too early to bloom, little one~
There's a rest house that also sells various food items and souvenirs.



We saw a Taiwanese pavilion from a distance, but we didn't go there.



We moved on to an English landscape garden, which had numerous sakura trees too.



I suppose it'd be nice to sit down and read a book under that tree.


Lovely green, pink and white~


The current configuration of Shinjuku Gyoen was completed in 1906. Even though it was almost completely destroyed during World War II, the park was rebuilt and reopened in 1949 as a public park.



I've always enjoyed looking at networks of branches.


Here's a photo of me. Cheers! :D

Part 2 shall cover other interesting parts of the park, including its amazing greenhouse. 

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