Shinjuku Gyoen National Park will give guests a pleasant and refreshing respite from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis. Once the park belonged to the feudal ruler, and later became the property of the emperor. Here he rested and received visitors. There are many green places in Tokyo - Yoyogi Park, the Imperial Palace, various temples and shrines, but none of them can compare with Shinjuku Gyoen. This vast park of almost 60 hectares is rightfully considered one of the wonders of Tokyo.
 |
| Shinjuku Gyoen Park |
How to get there
Shinjuku Gyoen Park has three exits that can be reached from Shinjuku, Sendagaya or Shinjuku Gyoen Mae stations.
To get to the main gate, exit the southeast exit of Shinjuku Station near the Flag Mall. From there, the park is very close - about ten minutes on foot.
 |
| Shinjuku Gyoen Park |
Three dissimilar images
The park has three separate gardens created in completely different styles - English, French and Japanese.
The French garden is considered the most romantic. It has a lot of flowers, especially roses. This part of the park is very popular in autumn when the flowers bloom and the leaves of the trees change color. An English garden is a vast lawn surrounded by cherry trees.
The Japanese garden is an integral part of the original park. There are several large ponds, along which islands connected by graceful bridges are scattered. Among the neatly trimmed trees and bushes, several arbors are hidden. This is a true piece of garden art. The garden becomes especially charming in autumn and spring.
Memories of the Emperor
Initially, there was a garden of the private residence of the daimyo Naito, a Japanese feudal lord of the Edo period (1603–1867). In 1906, the Meiji government transferred the garden to the Emperor.
During World War II, the park was almost completely destroyed by bombing. It was later restored and opened to the public.
The park retained its connection with the imperial family. Emperor Showa (1901–1989) made Shinjuku Gyoen, which was an important part of his childhood, a national park. The state funeral ceremony of the emperor's funeral on February 24, 1989 was also held here.
 |
| Shinjuku Gyoen Park |
Hanami season
There is no better place for hanami (cherry blossom viewing tradition) in Tokyo in the spring than Shinjuku Gyoen. About one and a half thousand sakura trees grow here, which every spring paint the park in all shades of pink. Grab everything you need for a traditional picnic and join the others. The hanami tradition retains the true spirit of Japan.
Please note that alcohol is not allowed here. For this reason, the park is very popular with families with children.
Jungle under glass
The Taiwan Pavilion is a real Chinese building that the Japanese living in Taiwan presented as a gift to Emperor Hirohito on his wedding day.
The greenhouse of Shinjuku Gyoen Park looks like a jungle enclosed in a huge glass box. Orchids grow inside, various unusual subtropical plants, endangered species, large trees. There are even several ponds and waterfalls. The greenhouse is divided into zones of the tropics, ponds and jungle.
Perpetuate fragile beauty
The full-length anime Garden of Fine Words, directed by Makoto Shinkai and released in 2013, was "filmed" in Shinjuku Gyoen Park. The director was driven by the desire to perpetuate the beauty of the park in case of a natural disaster. Makoto was very impressed by the 2011 Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.
The basis for many scenes of the cartoon were photographs taken by Shinkai. The main action of the anime takes place in a pagoda in Shinjuku Gyoen. Fans of the director's work will certainly want to take memorable photos here.