Shinjuku Gyoen through the seasons

What it is

Shinjuku Gyoen was once an imperial garden and is now a national garden a few minutes' walk from one of the busiest stations in the world. It combines a Japanese landscape garden with ponds and teahouses, a formal French garden with roses, and wide English-style lawns. Because it grows many kinds of cherry, early and late, its blossom season is longer than elsewhere in Tokyo. In the first half of November it stages a chrysanthemum exhibition in a style once made for the imperial court, with plants trained into domes and cascades under bamboo shelters. A greenhouse holds tropical plants and orchids.

Before you go

• Alcohol is not allowed, so blossom viewing here is quieter than in the public parks.
• Allow two hours to walk all three garden styles.
• At peak cherry season entry may need a timed reservation. Check before you go.

The flowers you will see

Cherry blossomThe spring-blooming flower of ornamental cherry trees, central to Japan’s hanami customChrysanthemumAutumn-blooming flower with thousands of varieties, cherished in East Asia and beyondRoseWoody perennial plants with showy, often fragrant flowers in many coloursPrunus mumeThe fragrant plum blossom tree that blooms in winter across East AsiaAzaleaShade-loving flowering shrubs with spring blooms and thousands of cultivated forms

Read more

Shinjuku GyoenA vast public garden in central Tokyo known for cherry blossoms and mixed garden styles

More in Tokyo

🇯🇵 Tokyo · Mar to AprCherry blossom season in TokyoAbout a week of pale pink along moats, rivers and parks, and the picnics that go with it. 🇯🇵 Tokyo · All yearOta Market flower auctionJapan's biggest wholesale flower market, where early risers can watch the auction from a gallery. 🇯🇵 Kyoto · Mar to AprPhilosopher's Path in cherry seasonA canal-side walk of about two kilometres in eastern Kyoto, lined with cherry trees. 🇯🇵 Hirosaki · Apr to MayHirosaki Castle cherry blossomA northern castle park with thousands of cherry trees and moats that turn pink with fallen petals. 🇯🇵 Hitachinaka · Apr to OctNemophila hill at Hitachi Seaside ParkA hill by the Pacific covered in small sky-blue flowers in spring and red kochia bushes in autumn. 🇯🇵 Ashikaga · Apr to MayWisteria at Ashikaga Flower ParkVast old wisteria vines trained over trellises, with flower trails hanging to head height.