Shinjuku Gyoen became an Imperial Garden in 1906 (Meiji 39) and was opened to the public as a national park in 1949.
I visited in March and received the winter brochure.
As you enter through the Ōkido Gate, you’ll find a large greenhouse.
Pinecones and spider lilies (Higanbana)?
It was called Ōbenigōkan (Calliandra haematocephala).
The greenhouse is spacious, and tropical plants are thriving beautifully.
The towering buildings rising up give a strong sense of the city atmosphere.
新軸御苑のシンボルタワーの様に映り込んでいるのは、NTTドコモ代々木ビルです。
I had breakfast at the café inside the Information Center, called "NATIONAL PARKS CAFE Under the Tree."
The homemade panini is delicious.
This is the imperfect vegetable spice curry. The vegetables are perfectly fine and taste delicious.
A teahouse, perhaps?
Once again, the NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building makes an appearance. It truly stands as a symbolic building.
The view from the Kyu-Goryotei Pavilion.
A tree dressed like it’s in military uniform. Its camouflage pattern is truly impressive.
The former gatehouses (the Old Shinjuku Gate Guardhouse and the Old Ōkido Gate Guardhouse).
These gatehouses were built in 1927 (Showa 2). Their appearance evokes a sense of history.
Summary
Shinjuku Gyoen is a spacious, nature-filled park where you can relax both physically and mentally, even in the busy and crowded environment of Shinjuku. With dining options available, it's a place where you can spend a leisurely day.
Time spent here: 4 hours.
