History of the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
During the Edo period, the area where the Shinjuku Gyoen is now located was called the “Naito Shinjuku.” Among the Five Routes that start from Nihonbashi, the Koshu Kaido street had the longest distance from the starting point of Nihonbashi to Takaido, the first post town, so this area was accepted by the shogunate government to establish a new post town. In addition, as this area was the site of a private mansion that was given back to the shogunate by Lord Naito of the Takato Domain in the Shinano Province, Lord Naito’s name and “Shinjuku,” which literally means new post town, was combined to make the name “Naito Shinjuku.”
Eventually, “Naito” was removed from the name and the area started to be called “Shinjuku.” However, the Lord’s name remains in some of the addresses including the Shinjuku Gyoen as “Naito-cho (town).”
In 1872, the Naito Shinjuku Test Site was established in this area to promote modern agriculture in Japan. Afterwards, it became the Shinjuku Imperial Botanical Garden under the control of the Imperial Household Agency, and in 1906, the Shinjuku Gyoen was established as the first imperial garden in Japan.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden Admission Fee
Adults 200 JPY/elementary and junior high school students 50 JPY/infants free of charge
Introduction of the Gates
There are three gates in the Shinjuku Gyoen.
(1) Shinjuku Gate (heading toward Shinjuku Station)
Shinjuku-Sanchome Station Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Fukutoshin Line, Toei Shinjuku Line 5 minutes on foot
>>Click here for the directions on foot from the nearby stations.
(2) Ookido Gate (heading toward Yotsuya Station)
Shinjuku-Gyoemmae Station Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line 5 minutes on foot
>>Click here for the directions on foot from the nearby stations.
(3) Sendagaya Gate (heading toward Yoyogi Station)
Yoyogi Station JR Yamanote Line Line 5 minutes on foot
>>Click here for the directions on foot from the nearby stations.
Highlights Through the Seasons
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Spring
Japanese spring is famous for its cherry blossoms. There are 65 different varieties of cherry blossom of over 1,100 trees including Yaezakura (double-flowered cherry tree) and Somei Yoshino (Yoshino cherry tree).
The flowering season varies depending on the type of cherry trees. You will be able to enjoy the earliest ones from the end of March. This is the time of year when the garden has the most visitors.
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Spring
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Summer
This is the season when the traditional Japanese garden looks beautiful with deepened greens.
You will be greeted with the various colors of the flowers such as azaleas, hydrangeas, and cape jasmines.
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Summer
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Autumn
Autumn flowers such as red spider lilies and fragrant olives bloom and create a magical scenery of nature.
The autumn leaves turn into enthralling colors, and the leaves of trees turn their colors beautifully from early November to the beginning of December, starting with dogwoods.
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Autumn
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Winter
The leaves fall, and the trees withstand the cold winter. Snow falls at times, and you can feel the power of nature. You can enjoy pretty little flowers in winter as well.
Narcissi and winter sweets bloom in December, adonis flowers and winter camellias in January, and Japanese witch hazels and Japanese apricots blossom in February.
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Winter
*The following contents were edited by LIVE JAPAN by researching information disclosed on websites.
Nearby Ramen shop
Description
It is a large garden with an area of 58.3 hectares (about 583,000 sq. meters) and a circumference of 3.5 kilometers. It was built as an Imperial Garden in 1906, and it is now managed by the Japanese government. The garden consists of three styled gardens: an expansive English landscape style, a symmetrically arranged French formal style, and a calm Japanese traditional style. The well-designed garden is said to be the masterpiece of landscape garden in Japan. You can enjoy the scenery every season. About 1,100 cherry trees from 65 species bloom in spring, and the tree leaves change their colors in autumn. The garden has tea house where you can enjoy green powdered tea and Japanese traditional cake. Experiencing a casual tea ceremony (charge) is one of the attractions. Admission Fee:Adult ¥200, Elementary and Junior high school student ¥50, Infant free. It is a five-minute walk from the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line Shinjuku-gyoemmae Station Exit No. 1 or a ten-minute walk from the JR (Japan Railways) Shinjuku Station South Exit.
Bringing alcohol into the garden and drinking it there is prohibited. Using toys, sports equipment and the like is also prohibited in the garden.
Location Information
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- Address
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11 Naito-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0014
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- Nearest Station
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Shinjuku-Gyoemmae Station
・ Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line
Exit 1
5 minutes on foot
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- Phone Number
- 03-3350-0151
Our staff may only be able to communicate in Japanese.
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- Hours
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Tuesday 9:00am - 4:00pm
Wednesday 9:00am - 4:00pm
Thursday 9:00am - 4:00pm
Friday 9:00am - 4:00pm
Saturday 9:00am - 4:00pm
Sunday 9:00am - 4:00pm
*The facility closes at 4:30 p.m., Greenhouse: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (closes at 4:00 p.m.), Information Center (Art Gallery): 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Promenade: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
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- Closed
- Monday