One of Tokyo’s foremost parks, the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (新宿御苑), former residence of the daimyo noble Naito family, is one of the most popular places in Tokyo for cherry blossom viewing. Aside from the cherry trees, the park has over 20,000 varieties of trees and blends French, English and Japanese garden styles. A traditional Japanese teahouse can be found in the center.
If you are just looking for an area to enjoy the cherry blossoms by foot, this landscape garden is a great option. The park closes in the evening and alcohol is restricted, so while it may not be your best bet for a hanami party, it is certainly more ideal for a relaxing stroll. With more than 65 varieties of cherry trees, the window of opportunity to see some trees in full bloom is longer here than in many other parks in Tokyo.
| 5 min. from Shinjuku-Gyoemmae Sta. |
| 9:00am-4:30pm, Last entry: 4:00pm |
| Holidays: Mondays (or the following Tuesday when a National Holiday falls on a Monday), Dec 29-Jan 3 |
| Website: ShinjukuGyoen National Garden |
| Other Notes: Please note that drinking alcohol in the park and bringing in sports/play equipment is prohibited. |
