When we were visiting Tokyo during Cherry Blossom season, we had heard that this park was one of the best places to come to enjoy the last of the season. The sakura had bloomed early this year, and we were hoping we might be in luck to find some trees with a few petals still clinging to the buds when we arrived. Lucky for us the park is home to a variety of different sakura trees which are known to bloom throughout the spring.

Table Of Contents

1. Access
2. Hours and Admission
3. Accessibility
4. History
5. Design of the Gardens
6. French Formal Gardens
7. English Landscape Garden
8. Variety of Sakura Trees
9. Shinjuku Gyoen Throughout the Seasons
10. Greenhouse
11. Where to Eat?
12. Rakuu-tei

Access

The garden has three separate entrances around the park to make it easy to enter from various parts of the city. The largest gate (Shinjuku Gate) is located 10-minutes from the Shinjuku JR station or five minutes from Shinjukugyoenmae Station. The Okido Gate, is located farther east on the north side five minutes from Shinjukugyoenmae Station. There is one last gate (Sendagaya Gate) located on the south side. This gate is accessible from the nearby JR Sendagaya Station.

Hours and Admission

To enter this park, you do need to pay an admission fee. This means the park is much less crowded. Admission costs 500 yen. The gardens are open from 7:00 am if you come in from the Shinjuku Gate. The other two gates only allow access starting at 9:00 am. The park closes at 4:30 pm, with the last admission at 4:00 pm. The park is closed on Mondays for maintenance. During cherry blossom season and chrysanthemum festivals, the gardens remain open 7 days a week due to the overwhelming popularity.

Accessibility

If you require accessible access, exit through Shinjuku Station or Shinjukusanchome Station. These stations do not require walking up to any stairs or escalators. From there, head over to the Shinjuku Gate. Once you pass through the admission gate, you will be provided with a map in the language of your choice. The map is wonderfully clear in identifying wheelchair-friendly areas. Great effort was taken in ensuring the part is friendly for those with disabilities. There are various washrooms in the park which are accessible. The map also points out pathways which are easier to traverse in a wheelchair or any areas of difficult terrains (such as gravel or steeper slopes).

History

Initially, the park wasn’t owned by the city; it was private property. The shōgun bequeathed the land to Lord Naitō, who built a grand garden onto his palace in 1772. Over the years, the gardens passed hands, down from a private residence to an agriculture centre to a public botanical garden in 1879. The garden’s original layout was destroyed during the air raids of WWII. After the war, much effort was taken to restore and rebuilt the park back to its original design.

Design of the Gardens

The Shinjuku Gyoen garden is spread over 58.3 hectares! The gardens were designed in three distinct styles: French formal, English landscape and Japanese traditional. The Japanese Garden is decorated with a series of large reflecting ponds. Connecting the different areas of the garden across the pond are various large stones, gravel pathways and an iconic Japanese bridge.

You’ll find a large structure called the Kyu-Goryotei or the “old palace” in the center of the Japanese garden. This building is, oddly enough, designed in Chinese-style. This is because it was donated by the Japanese residents of Taiwan for the imperial wedding celebrations. Today, it a favourite place for photographs as you look out at the beautiful pond on the other side.

Take a closer look at the pond and see if you can spot some of the carp which are stocked in the water. Carp symbolizes the Japanese fighting spirit due to their hardy nature. You can also see if you can see any of the many turtles, sunbathing on the rocks around the pond.

French Formal Gardens

The Formal French Gardens are dominated by perfect beds of roses surrounded by the Avenue of Sycamore trees. Sycamore trees are native to central, eastern and southern Europe, having been introduced by the Romans. There are eight hundred feet of roses with varieties all originating outside of Japan.

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English Landscape Garden

The English Landscape Garden features this large open lawn surrounded by cherry blossom trees. This area is a favourite for children to run freely and play on the manicured grass.

There are over 20,000 trees to be found inside the park. You can spot tall Himalayan cedars, tulip trees, cypresses, as well as a stock of 1,700 tropical pants inside the greenhouse. Of the 20,000 trees found here, 1,500 of which are Japanese cherry blossom trees.

Variety of Sakura Trees

What makes this park a little different is that there are different varieties of cherry blossom trees. Some areas only have one kind which means there is only one opportunity to see the flowers. Having different species means the trees bloom at different times of the year. This ensures that people can enjoy the season in the park for a more extended period.

Weeping Cherry Tree

The Weeping Cherry tree is the first to bloom in early March. By far, these trees are the most dramatic. Their flowers delicately covering the long tendrils, reaching towards the the ground. 

Somei Cherry Trees

Then there are the Tokyo Cherry or Somei trees. These are most commonly found in Tokyo prefecture and start blooming in early April. This is the most popular species you’ll find all over the city. The variety has only five petals and is pale pink in colour. From afar these flowers almost appear to be white.

Kanzan Cherry Trees

The final kind of tree found in the park is the Kanzan Cherry trees. These are the last to bloom in late April. These are my favourite variety. They are known for their “double blossom.” There are as many as 50 petals on each of these flowers. They are a deep pink colour and have the most fantastic contrast against the bright blue sky. 

Shinjuku Gyoen Throughout the Seasons

Springtime

Springtime is the most popular time to visit the park as this is when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Since the park is so large though even at the busiest times, you never feel too overwhelmed. Bring your picnic blankets and relax here under the precious petals.

Summer

In the summertime, the garden blooms with hydrangeas, one of the most popular seasonal flowers. Also in the summertime, you can wander around the French garden which is covered in an efflorescence of blooming roses!

Fall

Outside of Sakura season, the most popular time to visit is during the park is during the chrysanthemum festival. This festival has been running since 1929 and is a very popular event for the locals. The festival usually runs for two weeks beginning in November, but it depends on the flowers’ blossoming time.

In the Autumn, all the trees change colour and create a magical sunset-toned wave across the sky. The most beautiful of which is the maple trees which have been planted here, which turn a deep autumnal red. The contrast of the red against the rest of the green tree is truly stunning.

Winter

Even in the wintertime, there are plenty of flowers to see. The camellia and the white narcissus are blooming in December and January. And in February, you’ll find the Japanese apricot and witch hazel trees abloom.

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Greenhouse

Right beside the Ookido Gate, you’ll find the large greenhouse. This greenhouse is home to many different tropical plants which bloom all year round. So even if there isn’t anything budding outside, you can always find something to look at in here. The interior feels like a jungle, with wild plants growing up to the ceiling and their leaves hanging down around you. The greenhouse is divided into different regional plants, so you can travel around the world in this one little building.

Where to Eat?

While there are some lovely restaurants in the surrounding area, the best thing to do inside the park brings a picnic! During cherry blossom season, this is called having a “hanami party” or sakura watching party. But it doesn’t need to be springtime to have a picnic. Just head down to your local konbini to pick up a variety of foods, ready to eat, and layout on a blanket to enjoy the beauty of the surroundings. Remember, there is no drinking or bringing in alcohol into this park.

Rakuu-tei

If you haven’t brought any food with you, there are a few different rest houses and cafes dotted throughout the park. These are not always open, so be sure to check with the gate attendant to see which ones are serving customers. The Rakuu-tei (tea house) is a great place to have a cup of traditional macha inside a traditional tea room. This building is located beside the old plum trees in the Japanese garden. Here you can take a moment of relaxation as you enjoy a spot of tea with a seasonal Japanese sweets. The drink set will cost 700 yen, which is steep, but it’s all about the experience. If you’ve never had a tea set inside a garden-side tea room before this is your chance!

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Shinjuku Gyoen is the perfect place to escape to if you feel like the crowded and busy nature of the city is getting to you. Shinjuku is one of the most populated parts of the city and the fact this peaceful oasis is hidden in the middle of it is fantastic. Be sure to pay this place a visit to find a moment of zen in your busy travel schedule.

Happy Travels, Adventurers

The post Discover Tokyo’s Beautiful Shinjuku Gyoen: A Relaxing Urban Oasis first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

Access

The fastest way to access Arashiyama Village is by JR train from Kyoto station. That the JR Sagano Line to Saga-Arashiyama Station. The ride only takes 15 minues and costs 240 yen. If you don’t want to take the JR rail you can access Arashiyama by bus. Bus # 28 takes you directly from Kyoto station to the centre of Arashiyama. Although the ride can take anywhere between 30-60 mins I actually found the ride quite pleseant since you get to see a lot of the countryside and city as you travel from the centre of Kyoto to Arashiyama. This ride will only cost 230 yen.

The streets of Arashiyama are ablaze with old and new technologies. Cars and tourist buses zip about letting people on and off while rickshaws and horse-drawn carriages also plod along the road, a reflection of the modes of transportation seen here during the Edo period. Arashiyama’s iconic river and laid back attitude have drawn visitors here for hundreds of years, and despite a few mod-cons, this little village still feels like stepping back in time.

Togetsukyo Bridge

Togetsukyo Bridge is Arashiyama’s most popular landmark and one of the first things you see when you come into the city. Also known as the “Moon Crossing Bridge,” it was first built in the 10th century, but its current incarnation is a reconstruction from the 1930s. Cherry blossom trees run up and down the river’s edge, and during the spring time, the blooms draw thousands of people to this site. With the mountains in the background and the river running across, this spot is incredibly picturesque.

Hozu River Pleasure Boats

Beside the Hozu River, you can rent a “pleasure” boat. These boats will take you up and down, allowing you to see houses and landscapes only accessible from the water’s edge. The Hozu River is part of the Katsura River and begins in the mountains near Kameoka, a town north-west of Kyoto City. It snakes into the Arashiyama and surrounds the edges of the city. You’ll see, standing on the bridge, getting their photos taken, dozen of women dressed in stunning silk kimonos. Their hair and accessories match their outfit, and the dazzling embroidery on the kimonos sparkled in the sunlight. The boat trips usually last about two hours and can seat about 25 people. The boats depart on the hour from March 10 to November 30. The group boat costs 4,100 yen ($38 USD) for adults and 2,700 ($25 USD) yen for children.

Bicycle Rentals

One of the best ways to explore Arashiyama is on bike. It’s such a peaceful, breezy village and cruising around on a bike gets you around quickly but also allows you to hop on and off to stop into stores and restaurants along the way. On these bikes you can cycle through rural areas, past farming fields and thatched roof houses. A wonderful way to explore the countryside. The best place to find bicycle rentals is at Hankyu Arashiyama Station. Bicycle rental at this shop costs 900 yen per day. On weekdays, they offer special prices of 500 yen for two hours and 700 yen for four hours. Renting at the station is great since it’s most likely where you’ll arrive and depart, making it easy to drop off your bike once you’re ready to head home.

Kimono Rental

Kimonos are one of the most formal pieces of clothing many Japanese women own, and there are often not a lot of opportunities to wear them. But when travelling to these picturesque villages and historic towns, many women opts to wear their kimonos to both have a chance to dress in such an elegant fashion and feel a part of the historical look and feel of the city. The perfect place to rent a kimono if you’re looking to experience a bit of traditional Japanese culture is at Fuji Arashiyama. They might not be the cheapest, but the service and quality you’ll receive make it worth your while.

Renting a kimono is something which you want to get right. Doing it on the cheap just won’t create the same traditional experience you’re looking for. A one day rental for a 7 piece kimono set costs 3500 yen ($32 USD). You have total control of the colours and pattern of the kimono but the staff is great at helping coordinate your outfit and dress you up for a day out on the town.

Saga-Arashiyama

The primary place to do your shopping is on Saga-Arashiyama. This street in Arashiyama is constantly crowded with school children on break with their class, large tour groups and Westerners gawking at sweet shops creating art from spun sugar. Rickshaws run up and down the roads, getting honked at by locals trying to get back home in a hurry. The shops lining the street range from restaurants, cafes, sweet shops, ice cream vendors, kimonos designers and more.

Pick a Paper Fortune

Along one street we found colourful little-rolled fortunes sitting outside a beautifully decorated house. All you had to do was slip a coin into the container and take out a fortune. Fortunes on the go.

Sample Senbei

One of the more traditional snacks along the street are Senbei. Senbei are Japanese rice crackers which come in a variety of flavours. Senbei are usually eaten with green tea and sometimes offered as snack when visiting a guest house. We stopped to snack on a few different varieties. We sample both some sweet and savoury options. They were snappy and fresh, hot from the grill. The charcoal from the grill gave them a rich, smoky flavour turning a few simple ingredients into a complex dish. The most famous flavours are nori (seaweed), soy nut, soy sauce and red chilli.

Kotokikityaya

Stop off at Kotokikityaya right at the entrance to Saga-Arashiyama to taste their authentic cherry mochi. With a beautiful view of the river, in a traditional tea-house setting, there isn’t a more perfect way to start your morning or have an afternoon snack. Be sure to pair your cherry mochi with a powdered green tea to complete the meal.

Akahime Kimono Shop

What I was looking for while we were shopping was a vintage kimono. I had passed up on a few kimonos in Tokyo, but they all were too new and didn’t have the kind of character I was looking for. There were a range of clothing shops in Arashiyama for kimonos. Some were by exclusive designers, others were the ubiquitous silk version you see in every tourist shop. Akahime Kimono Shop is by far the best option if you’re looking for a tradition kimono at a great price!

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These kimonos were so well taken care of and felt brand new. Their designs ranged from traditional to more modern. You could find some handcrafted and one off designs here at competitive prices. The sweet woman who owned the shop helped me try on a few different options to find my perfect look and fit. I found a white and neon robe from the 1980’s that had some real unique designs that made it stand out from the other traditional ones. I loved it and got to pair it with a classic obi – all for just $25 USD.

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The Chiri-Men Craft Museum

This is my favourite handmade craft store in Arashiyama. Here you can find a myriad of different products all made from a weaving technique called Chirimen. The crafter used cloth or silk and “wrinkles” the fabrics into all different things like small toys, birds, dolls, purses and even these darling “hanging hina” dolls, where are good luck charms hung from the ceiling. The different items symbolized on the chain represent the kinds of things you are praying for, like health, children or wealth.

Sagano Romantic Train Station

Along these backstreets, you might come across one of the vintage train stations which service the Sagano Romantic Train route. The station’s columns are wrapped in bamboo shaped plexiglass, but the remainder of the outdoor structure is reminiscent of train stations from the 1920s.

Kimono forest

Behind the station, you can find the Kimono forest. The forest is made up of cylinder-shaped pillars which contained within them various textile used in the design of traditional Japanese Kimonos. There are about 600 different pillars with 32 different patterns inside. Walk around to see if you can spot them all! The best time of day to see this exhibit is at dusk since the columns all light up and form a glowing pathway.

Footbath of Arashiyama Onsen Station

As this is the mid point in your journey, it seems fitting that it’s time for a little rest. Take a break at the Footbath of Arashiyama Onsen Station where you can grab a ticket for 200 yeh to soak your tired feet in this natural hot spring. It’s a great way to rest and recharge to keep your enegery up for the rest of the day.

Unagi Hirokawa

If you’re looking for somewhere to eat lunch, there really is no better place than Unagi Hirokawa. This place gets busy so it’s best to arrive early or be willing to wait, and trust me, it’s worth the wait. On busy weekends, they often sell out of food before 1pm so don’t dilly dally! This place is most famous for their incredible unagi, or barbeque eel. It’s delicately charred on the grill and then slathered in a sweet and savoury sauce. This eel is fatty, tender and FRESH!

Saga-Toriimoto

Away from the main street, and down a narrow alleyway, you’ll find Saga-Toriimoto. The houses along this road all are in the style of the Meiji Period (1868-1912) and have been preserved by the city and the owners. It is a living museum of Japanese architecture. Some of the houses have been converted into restaurants and shops so be sure to poke your head inside to get a chance to see the interior of these hundred-year-old houses.

Walking through these tiny, side streets and peering into front yards and back porches were left like were on a Japanese secret garden tour of our own making.

Nisonin Temple

If you’re visiting during the summer or the fall, you’ll want to make a stop at Nisonin Temple. Nisonin Temple is a small hillside temple where you can be amazed at firey fall foliae or the stunning blooms of purple and blue hydrengas in the summer. Take a stroll in the temple’s cemetery, where you can find some of Japan’s emperors and nobles buried here.

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Rakushisha Residence

If you find yourself strolling along the backstreets of Arashiyama be sure to search out the Rakushisha Residence. This thatched roof hut once belonged to the 17th-century haiku poet Mukai Kyorai. He is one of Japan’s greatest poets, and the house is like a piece plucked out of time. You can imagine him inside there, writing out a poem on the cold, tatami floor.

Tenryu-ji Temple

Tenryu-ji Temple is probably the most visited temple in Arashiyama. The original temple was built in 1339 but due to fires and wars over the years the buildings standing here today are modern reconstructions from 1912. The gardens however, withstood the test of time and are the very same as they were when they were originally designed in 1339. It is perhaps for this reason that they are one of the Top 5 Zen temples in all of Kyoto! Admission is 500 yen (and extra 300 if you want to enter of the buildings, and if a great place to explore to study the incredible nature of Japanese Zen gardens.

Like so many travellers before us, we reminisced about the magical town we left behind as we walked back to our hotel. Although this is a great list to get you started, don’t try to rush around and just check off things on a list. Exploring, getting lost and stumbling upon hidden gems is the best part about travelling!

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