Shinjuku Gyoen, Shibuya: what to see and when to go

Shinjuku Gyoen is a 58.3-hectare public garden in Tokyo, Japan, blending Japanese, French Formal, and English Landscape styles. Famous for its cherry blossoms, it features over 20,000 trees, a greenhouse with tropical species, and is a popular spot for seasonal flower viewing.

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Home to over 1,500 cherry trees with blossoms from late March to late April
Blends Japanese, French Formal, and English Landscape garden styles
Features a greenhouse with over 1,700 tropical and subtropical plant species
Covers 58.3 hectares in central Tokyo
Open to the public since 1949 after wartime reconstruction

What is Shinjuku Gyoen?

Shinjuku Gyoen is a large garden in the heart of Tokyo, covering over 58 hectares. It combines three distinct styles: a formal French garden, an English landscape area, and a traditional Japanese garden with a tea house. The grounds are home to more than 20,000 trees, including around 1,500 cherry trees that attract crowds during blossom season. There is also a greenhouse with over 1,700 species of tropical and subtropical plants. Visitors find wide lawns, tree-lined avenues, ponds, and seasonal flower displays.

The history of Shinjuku Gyoen

The site began as the residence of the Naitō family, given to them in 1590 by shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu. The first garden was completed in 1772. After the Meiji Restoration, it became an agricultural experiment station, then a botanical garden in 1879. The present landscape was designed by Henry Martinet and opened in 1906 as an imperial garden. Damaged in World War II, it was rebuilt and reopened to the public in 1949. It is now managed by Japan's Ministry of the Environment.

What there is to see

The garden is divided into three main areas: French Formal, English Landscape, and Japanese traditional. The cherry trees bloom from late March to late April, with different varieties flowering in succession. The greenhouse, built in the 1950s, displays tropical and subtropical plants year-round. The garden is entered through three gates and is open daily except Mondays, with extended hours during cherry blossom and chrysanthemum seasons.

When to go

Shinjuku Gyoen is especially popular in spring for hanami, the Japanese custom of viewing cherry blossoms. Large crowds gather to see the trees in bloom. In autumn, the garden is also open for chrysanthemum displays. The grounds are used for strolls, picnics, and seasonal flower viewing. The garden has also hosted important events, such as the state funeral rites of Emperor Hirohito in 1989.

Parts and collections

The garden features several types of cherry trees, including Weeping Cherry (Shidare), Somei (Tokyo Cherry), and Kanzan, each blooming at different times in spring. Other notable trees are Himalayan cedars, tulip trees, cypresses, and plane trees. The greenhouse houses a wide range of tropical and subtropical species.

Why Shinjuku Gyoen matters

Shinjuku Gyoen is a well-known hanami spot in Tokyo, drawing visitors for cherry blossom viewing each spring. Its blend of Western and Japanese garden styles reflects Japan's history of cultural exchange. The garden appears in Japanese literature and film, including Yasunari Kawabata's novel 'The Sound of the Mountain' and the anime film 'The Garden of Words.'

Plan a visit

🇯🇵 Tokyo · Feb to NovShinjuku Gyoen through the seasonsA large former imperial garden in central Tokyo with a long cherry season and an autumn chrysanthemum show.

Questions people ask about Shinjuku Gyoen

Where is Shinjuku Gyoen located?

Shinjuku Gyoen is in the Shinjuku and Shibuya districts of central Tokyo, Japan. It is easily accessible by several train and subway lines, with entrances near Shinjuku-gyoemmae and Sendagaya stations.

What is Shinjuku Gyoen known for?

The garden is famous for its cherry blossom trees, which attract many visitors during spring for hanami, or flower viewing. It also features a mix of Japanese, French, and English garden styles and a large greenhouse.

When is the best time to visit Shinjuku Gyoen?

The most popular times are during cherry blossom season from late March to late April, and in early November for chrysanthemum displays. The garden is open year-round except Mondays, with extended hours in these seasons.

What kinds of plants can be seen in the garden?

Visitors can see over 20,000 trees, including various cherry trees, Himalayan cedars, tulip trees, cypresses, and plane trees. The greenhouse displays more than 1,700 species of tropical and subtropical plants.

What is the history of Shinjuku Gyoen?

The site was originally a feudal lord's residence, became an experimental agricultural station, then a botanical garden, and was redesigned as an imperial garden in 1906. After being damaged in World War II, it reopened to the public in 1949.

Good reading and sources

Official websiteOfficial site

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Shinjuku Gyo-en", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes. Opening times, prices and bloom dates change: check with the place before you travel. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Shalimar Bagh: ANSAR AHMAD, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Yadavindra Gardens: Giridhar Appaji Nag Y, CC BY 2.0, source

Chashme Shahi: Amitraina at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source

Rikugi-en: 京浜にけ, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands: 663highland, CC BY 2.5, source

Shinjuku Gyoen: Kakidai, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Makino Botanical Garden: 663highland, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Alhambra: Jebulon, CC0, source

Nunobiki Herb Garden: 663highland, CC BY 2.5, source

Shinjuku Gyoen