Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden: Amust Visit in Japan

 

If you’ve been to Tokyo, you’ve probably heard about the “jinja gyoen” (Japanese national garden), located just outside the walls of Shinjuku Station. I didn’t know what it was called when I first heard about it, but once I spent some time there and made my way around its various sections, it soon became one of my favorite spots in all of Japan.

What is a jinja gyoen

A jinja gyoen is a traditional Japanese garden or jinja gusa, that is located in a National Park or another park. The most famous one is of course the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, which you can visit several times throughout your stay in Japan. Other jinja gyoen can be found in Ibaraki, Shiga, Settsu, Miyazaki and Musashino. The garden is usually surrounded by a 2km-wide moat and is divided into 17 different sections, including one for children. The canal in front of the park is one of the best places to see the city’s bright lights from a distance. The park is famous for its beautiful cherry trees, which are in full bloom in May and June.

Must Visit in Japan: What to Expect and What to Look Out For

While the atmosphere at the jinja gyoen is incredibly relaxing, it’s not like a normal garden. The official definition of a jinja gyoen is a “journey to the world of nature through human arts and crafts” - therefore, the focus is on flowers, trees, water features and beautiful gardens. Many unique features make a jinja gyoen an amazing place to visit in Japan. Many of them are specific to Tokyo park, but others are universal to all jinja gyoen. The first one is the canal that separates the green areas of the park into two distinct areas. The green areas are meant to be relaxing and you will find benches and photogenic trees here. The other part of the park is that you will see busy streets and traffic just a short distance away.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden: One of the Best places in Tokyo

The Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is one of the most beautiful and popular parks in all of Japan. It is located just outside the walls of Shinjuku Station and receives a lot of foot traffic on weekends and holidays. You can visit it either from the east or the west side of the park and it will give you a completely different view of the garden. The eastern entrance is right next to the park and leads you to an ornate pathway that meanders through the beautiful gardens. The western entrance is a little further away and leads to a smaller children’s area. If you’re lucky enough, you might even see some children playing in the water feature and enjoying a snack or drink from one of the cafes scattered around the park.

The “Man’s World” of Shinjuku Gyoen

Shinjuku Gyoen is a very popular spot with nearby train and subway stations, which means there are bound to be a lot of people there on weekends and holidays. Because of this, it’s a good idea to take it slow and focus on enjoying the gardens as a group. To get a feel for the entire park, start by walking around the eastern side, where the gardens are located. You will see that the eastern gardens are much more extensive than the western, making the western gardens look like a schoolyard. From there, head southwest to where the train or subway station is located and take your time enjoying the gardens there, too.

Conclusion

The Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is one of the most beautiful and popular parks in all of Japan. It is located just outside the walls of Shinjuku Station and receives a lot of foot traffic on weekends and holidays. You can visit it either from the east or the west side of the park and it will give you a completely different view of the garden. The eastern entrance is right next to the park and leads you to an ornate pathway that meanders through the beautiful gardens. The western entrance is a little further away and leads to a small children’s area. If you’re lucky enough, you might even see some children playing in the water feature and enjoying a snack or drink from one of the cafes scattered around the park. So, whether you’re a first-time visitor to Shinjuku or have been many times, the jinja gyoen is a great place to start your tour of Tokyo. With its beautiful gardens, walking paths, and iconic canal, this is one Japanese national park that you won’t be able to leave without visiting at least once.