A Green Miracle in the City! "Shinjuku Gyoen" – Tokyo's Secret Garden Beautiful in All Four Seasons, Perfect for Cherry Blossom Viewing, Summer Cooling, and Soul Healing All at Once

Address: 11 Naitocho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo (11 Naitocho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan) Atmosphere/Facilities: The park covers a vast area, divided into a Japanese garden, a French formal garden, and an English landscape garden, lush with greenery and diverse flowers. It features benches, restrooms, vending machines, and a visitor center, as well as a greenhouse and a tea house. The environment is clean and quiet, ideal for walking, flower viewing, picnicking, and relaxing. Smoking and drinking are prohibited inside to maintain a natural and peaceful atmosphere. Admission Fee: Adult ticket ¥500 / Free for high school students and younger (Suica cards or online tickets can be used for entry) ⸻ Highlights: • Different scenery in every season: cherry blossoms in spring, greenery in summer, autumn leaves in fall, and plum blossoms in winter • A rare large green space in the city center, within walking distance of the bustling Shinjuku area • The greenhouse showcases tropical plants and rare flowers • A blend of Japanese garden, French garden, and English lawn, offering diverse landscapes • A filming location for animations like "The Garden of Words," making it a pilgrimage spot for culture lovers Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) A healing oasis in the city, Tokyo’s most worthwhile secret spot for a peaceful stroll! ⸻ [Review] Tokyo is a city that always makes you want to rush forward, but hidden within this pace is a place where you can slow down and take a deep breath—Shinjuku Gyoen. I entered Shinjuku Gyoen on a slightly cool morning. Coming out of Shinjuku Sanchome subway station, crossing a few streets and tall buildings, the noisy urban feeling suddenly gave way to a quiet, expansive garden that makes you want to lower your voice. The entrance was orderly; after scanning the QR code to enter, I saw a wide tree-lined path with sunlight filtering through the leaves, and even the dust in the air seemed to slow down. Originally an imperial garden, Shinjuku Gyoen later became a national park open to the public, divided into three main themes: Japanese garden, French formal garden, and English lawn garden. My first stop was the Japanese garden. Walking around the pond, the autumn leaves reflected on the water, and the maple trees seemed to bow to visitors. Wooden bridges, stone lanterns, and carefully trimmed landscaping created picturesque scenes at every step, making me want to take more photos. Next, I went to the French formal garden, where straight lines and symmetrical arrangements gave a European palace vibe; the rose garden is especially beautiful in spring and summer. Even if not in full bloom, you can still feel the romance and order in the design. The English garden is the best place to sit down for a picnic or just relax, with large lawns, scattered trees, and swan-shaped clouds floating in the sky—a rare spot in Tokyo where you can "lie down and watch the sky." I must mention the greenhouse. It houses tropical plants from around the world, such as orchids, banana trees, and cacti, making it suitable for visiting rain or shine. Walking through the humid glasshouse feels like entering another world. What touched me most was that despite being located in Shinjuku, Tokyo’s busiest district, Shinjuku Gyoen maintains such tranquility and quality. Everyone speaks softly, no running or loud noises. There are many visitors, but order is excellent. Even better, the admission fee is only 500 yen, which is very cost-effective compared to other tourist spots—you pay little but gain a vast sense of peace. For animation or photography enthusiasts, Shinjuku Gyoen is also a famous filming location. Makoto Shinkai’s animation "The Garden of Words" was shot here—the bench, the corridor, the rainy encounter all really exist. You’ll find the real garden warmer and more peaceful than the animation. Before leaving, I sat on a bench by the lawn, watching a father and son chasing fallen leaves in the distance and a few girls in kimonos taking selfies by the pond, feeling an inexplicable warmth in my heart. Shinjuku Gyoen doesn’t want you to just glance through it; it hopes you will "slow down" and fully experience another side of Tokyo with all your senses. Shinjuku Gyoen Cherry Blossom Spot