Tokyo: Shinjuku Gyoen Guide – Cherry Blossoms, Hanami Spots & Perfect for Dates

“Shinjuku Gyoen” is a wonderful space where you can enjoy cherry blossoms in full bloom, a space where your heart is spontaneously dyed in cherry-blossom color by blooming cherry blossoms and a carpet of cherry blossom petals. A Gyoen stroll filled with “cherry blossoms”—one of spring Japan’s wonderful pleasures—and the charm that Shinjuku Gyoen possesses is just right for a pleasant day in March or April. We introduce how to enjoy such “Shinjuku Gyoen.”

Charms of “Shinjuku Gyoen”

A Spot Where You Can Calmly View Beautiful Cherry Blossoms

Shinjuku Gyoen is a cherry blossom viewing spot away from the hustle and bustle of the city, despite being located close to Shinjuku Station. Inside the vast park grounds, over 1,000 cherry trees of about 70 varieties—from early-blooming to late-blooming—are planted, and its major charm is being able to enjoy peak viewing over a long period. Because the lawn plazas are kept spacious, sufficient space can be secured even when spreading out picnic sheets, allowing you to gaze at cherry blossoms relaxingly without worrying about congestion.

Varieties in scenery are also abundant, such as large weeping cherry trees that look great in photos and Somei Yoshino that look picturesque in the Japanese garden. Shinjuku Gyoen is recommended precisely for people who want to do high-quality cherry blossom viewing while avoiding crowds.

No Alcohol Allowed, So It Is Not Noisy

One of the reasons Shinjuku Gyoen is optimal for cherry blossom viewing and strolling is the point that bringing in alcohol is prohibited.

At general cherry blossom viewing spots, loud voices and cluttered atmospheres due to banquets can sometimes be a concern, but at Shinjuku Gyoen there is no such worry. Quiet, calm air is maintained inside the park, allowing families, couples, and people who want to slowly take photos to spend time with peace of mind.

Calmly strolling while gazing at cherry blossoms, spending time leisurely on the lawn—the charm is being able to savor the beauty of nature itself. For people who want to avoid hustle and bustle and feel spring calmly, Shinjuku Gyoen becomes an ideal environment.

Paid Admission, So It Doesn’t Get Overly Crowded

Because Shinjuku Gyoen is a paid national garden, its characteristic is that excessive congestion is less likely to occur compared to parks you can enter casually for free.

Many people visit especially during the cherry blossom season, but with an admission fee set, park visits for banquet purposes and usage by large groups are naturally suppressed, maintaining the park’s calm atmosphere. Having leeway in space even in large lawn areas and the Japanese garden, making photo-taking and strolling easy, is also a delightful point.

An environment is prepared where you can spend time at your own pace, such as relaxingly gazing at cherry blossoms or enjoying a quiet date. Shinjuku Gyoen is recommended precisely for people who want to spend high-quality time without getting tired from crowds.

Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom “Shinjuku Gyoen” Experience Report

March 2023 Cherry Blossom Season (Weekdays)

Shinjuku Gyoen’s Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom, Exceptionally Beautiful in Shinjuku

Boasting a size of 58.3 ha (approx. 180,000 tsubo) and a perimeter of 3.5 km, “Shinjuku Gyoen” is a wonderful space where you can enjoy cherry blossoms in full bloom, a space where your heart is spontaneously dyed in cherry-blossom color by blooming cherry blossoms and a carpet of cherry blossom petals.

Entering the Gyoen, numerous cherry blossoms are in full bloom and beautiful on the wide lawn. In Shinjuku of the great metropolis Tokyo, there is such a wonderful space of cherry blossoms and nature. That, too, is one of the charms of Tokyo, and of Japan.

On a pleasant holiday in March or April, at Shinjuku Gyoen where you can admire cherry blossoms and stroll through the park, eating tea sweets at a tea house inside the Gyoen is the best.

A Day Enjoying Shinjuku Gyoen’s Cherry Blossoms

Shinjuku Gyoen’s cherry blossoms in full bloom, which can be called one of the famous cherry blossom spots, is a world so wonderful that the inside of your heart is filled with cherry blossoms. With the feeling of walking under a roof of cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms spread out overhead in full bloom—cherry blossoms overhead, it is truly a rivalry of cherry blossoms.

The cherry blossom flowers scattered and covering the ground beneath your feet feel as beautiful as a carpet of cherry blossoms adding flavor to the stroll.

Colors bloom vividly, pink cherry blossoms; flowers bloom gorgeously, full-bloom cherry blossoms are beautiful. Shinjuku Gyoen’s cherry blossoms allow you to truly feel the goodness of cherry blossoms in a space enveloped by cherry trees.

Entering “Sendagaya Gate” from “JR Sendagaya Station” is Recommended

Shinjuku Gyoen is in Shinjuku, but caution is required regarding how to go. At Shinjuku Gyoen, there are 3 “gates”: “Shinjuku Gate,” “Okido Gate,” and “Sendagaya Gate.” Shinjuku Gate requires quite a bit of walking from Shinjuku South Exit and is hard to find; Okido Gate is on the opposite side of JR, so entering “Sendagaya Gate” from “JR Sendagaya Station” is 100% overwhelmingly recommended.

Please note that advance reservations are required for entry on weekends and holidays during the cherry blossom season! ( For advance reservations, please check the Official Website – Here )

Shinjuku Gyoen’s merit above all is that an “admission fee” is charged! This is important.

The admission fee is 500 JPY for general adults and is by no means cheap, but it is not an amount that cannot be paid either. Precisely because there is an “admission fee,” people can enjoy the beauty of cherry blossoms with respect and consideration. Many of the visitors come looking forward to the cherry blossoms, and precisely because of that, it is comfortable—such a wonderful famous cherry blossom spot, that is Shinjuku Gyoen.

Bringing alcohol into Shinjuku Gyoen is prohibited. Precisely because there is no alcohol, the Gyoen has become a garden where you can fully enjoy cherry blossoms. Bringing in bento lunches and sheets is OK, so for couples and families, viewing cherry blossoms while eating a delicious lunch on top of the lawn is also good.

Even by mistake, hiding alcohol at the bottom of a backpack to bring it in or putting alcohol in a water bottle to bring it in goes beyond a breach of manners, so please be careful!

Entering Shinjuku Gyoen from Sendagaya Gate, right in front of your eyes a grove of cherry blossoms spreads out all at once, and if you advance your feet further to the center of the Gyoen, there is a lawn area with all-you-can-picnic. Saturdays and Sundays with cherry blossoms in full bloom are packed with everyone who spread out mats in the bento lunch zone, but because it is quite wide, being unable to sit almost never happens. You can enjoy picnicking to your heart’s content.

Beauty of the Japanese Garden and the Pondsides

At Shinjuku Gyoen, ponds line up from “Kami-no-ike” ~ “Naka-no-ike” ~ “Shimo-no-ike,” and you can enjoy collaborations between ponds and cherry blossoms. The ponds and cherry blossoms seen from the pondside or on top of bridges form photogenic compositions.

Collaborations between the Japanese garden and cherry blossoms are also beautiful, and the collaboration with Yoyogi’s famous pointed building (NTT Docomo Building) also becomes one of the unique views seen from Shinjuku Gyoen.

Hydration and Restroom Situation

Things of concern when going to facilities and parks such as Shinjuku Gyoen are the restroom situation and hydration, but “outdoor bottle water refillers” are installed inside the park.

Next to the “outdoor bottle water refiller,” a “tap water you can drink” is also installed. Drinking either is free, but it has charm.

Restrooms are moderately installed inside the park, so basically you won’t be in trouble. The restrooms of Shinjuku Gyoen have been marked with red circles, so please use them as a reference when strolling the park.

Starbucks Has a Long Queue, the Free Area Below Starbucks is Comfortable

There is a long queue for something, but it is the line waiting for Starbucks. The 2nd floor with clear-view glass windows is Starbucks, and if you could enter here and relax, it would be wonderful.

The area below Starbucks is a terrace bench where anyone can sit, and you can use this without entering Starbucks, so taking a breather with tea in hand (PET bottle) or similar is fully sufficient here.

There is a Peculiar Tree Called Cockscomb Coral Tree

At Shinjuku Gyoen where diverse trees line up and diverse flowers bloom, the rivalry between flowers and flowers is also worth seeing, but occasionally you find a “This tree, what tree, curious tree~♪”.

It is a tree called “Cockscomb Coral Tree (Amerikadeigo)”; there are thorns on the branches and petioles, the flowers are red, and the petals are round. It is a tree introduced to Japan around the middle of the Meiji period.

Strolling Path on the Shinjuku Side and Nostrils, Not Flowers, Getting Itchy

The Shinjuku side is a strolling path where you can walk while gazing at trees, with fewer people, making it a strolling path just right for a trekking-feeling walk. Walking through the northern area “Mother and Child’s Forest,” nostrils get itchy, realizing the pollen flying around is no joke.

Σ (๑ °꒳° ๑) Startled!!

Those with hay fever, by all means take measures!

Slowly Enjoying Tea Sweets at the Eatery “Tsuburano”

Once you have enjoyed everything, there is the eatery “Tsuburano,” where you can enjoy light meals, and also take a breather with coffee or matcha and sweets.

Cherry blossom roll cake and matcha eaten while gazing at cherry blossoms are the best. Please spend a wonderful time on a day at Shinjuku Gyoen enjoying Japanese beauty and cherry blossoms. Enjoy a nice time in Shinjuku Gyoen Sakura Garden.

Location and Access of “Shinjuku Gyoen”

Location

The entrances to Shinjuku Gyoen are at 3 places: “Shinjuku Gate,” “Okido Gate,” and “Sendagaya Gate.” The entrance that is close changes depending on which station you get off at.

How to Go from Shinjuku Station to Shinjuku Gate

When going from Shinjuku Station, exit at the South Exit and walk along Koshu-kaido for 7 minutes. Walking straight and crossing the intersection, a large entrance comes into view.

How to Go from Sendagaya Station to Sendagaya Gate

When going from Sendagaya Station, it is about a 4-minute walk after exiting the station. This way lets you go smoothly without getting lost, but Sendagaya Station is served by local trains.

Meiji Jingu is Also Recommended if Enjoying Tokyo

An oasis in metropolitan Tokyo, the power spot Meiji Jingu has many charms besides worship. For those who like the atmosphere of Shinjuku Gyoen, a Meiji Jingu stroll is also recommended.

Deliciousness is Justice