🌸 Seasonal Serenity at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

#tokyospots Background Shinjuku Gyoen is a sprawling garden in Tokyo, covering about 58.3 hectares (144 acres), located in the Shinjuku and Shibuya wards. It was once the estate of a feudal lord, then became an imperial garden, and after World War II was made a public national garden.  It blends three styles of garden design: a French Formal Garden, an English Landscape Garden, and a traditional Japanese Garden.  Why It’s Worth Visiting Shinjuku Gyoen offers a tranquil escape from the city with beauty that changes every season. In spring, it’s one of Tokyo’s premier spots for cherry blossoms (hanami), thanks to hundreds of cherry trees blooming in pinks and whites.  Summer brings rose displays and lush green lawns under large trees; autumn colors (maples, oaks) make for excellent foliage views.  There’s also a large greenhouse with over 1,700 tropical and subtropical species, ponds, tea houses, open lawns, and ponds with bridges in the Japanese Garden.  My Impression Walking through Shinjuku Gyoen feels like moving through living paintings. The soft light filtering through cherry blossoms in spring, the gentle rustle of autumn leaves, and the peaceful reflection in the ponds in the Japanese Garden—all of it draws you into moments of calm even when Tokyo buzzes all around. Time seems to stretch here; you want to sit, watch, and let yourself belong to the garden for a while.