Last month, we had a heavy spring snowfall, and then the cherry blossoms started blooming earlier than usual, and the cherry blossom viewing season flew by. It's already hot these days, but it's a good season for a walk. So, I'd like to introduce you to Shinjuku Gyoen, which is my current favorite place.
Perfect for people who don't like the outdoors
It all started when I visited Shinjuku Gyoen for the first time in over ten years in January this year to take photos to introduce our members. I had completely forgotten that such a nice place existed in Shinjuku. I've been there about four times since then. The other day I took a long lunch and a break to enjoy cherry blossom viewing. It is truly a famous cherry blossom spot. Even though it was a weekday, the large garden was very crowded.
The white double-flowered cherry tree (foreground) is a variety called Shirotae. One of the attractions of Shinjuku Gyoen is the large number of rare cherry trees.
The smell of sakura mochi comes from the white laurel flowers in full bloom!
I'm not the type of person who goes out to be in nature, but I do like to go for walks. I also like to look at the scenery, so if there's a terrace seat at a cafe, I'll sit there. Basically, I want to enjoy the outdoors without having to worry about equipment, muscle pain, bugs, and all that. Shinjuku Gyoen was the ideal place for a lame person like me. But I would also strongly recommend that serious outdoor enthusiasts go there anyway! Because it feels great. So let me tell you about some of the great things about Shinjuku Gyoen.
Basic information before you go out
The opening hours are from 9:00 to 16:30. It is generally closed every Monday. What makes it a little different from other parks is that you have to pay an admission fee (200 yen for adults). You buy a ticket at the entrance and enter through a ticket gate like a train station.
There are three entrance gates, the most common being Shinjuku Gate, located closer to Shinjuku Station. It is thought to be the entrance with the most users. Okido Gate is closer to Yotsuya and has the closest parking lot. If you are going by car, start from here. Finally, there is Sendagaya Gate. It faces a quiet street and has a secluded back entrance atmosphere. If you are going for a stroll and want to walk 20 minutes from Monosas, Sendagaya Gate is a good choice. Either way, it's great that it's easily accessible by train or bus.
For more information, please visit the following website.
Shinjuku Gyoen site
http://www.fng.or.jp/shinjuku/
What to bring to enjoy Gyoen even more
The park is equipped with benches, vending machines, and a rest house, so you can come empty-handed, but a little preparation can really help you get into the picnic mood.
・Clothes that you don't mind lying down in on the grass ・Sneakers or flat shoes ・Picnic sheet ・Books you want to read outdoors, music you want to listen to ・Lunch, snacks, drinks (no alcoholic drinks allowed)
・A map of the park is available at the entrance gate (it's quite large so it's useful to have one)
A map of the park. The spring version shows the locations of the cherry blossoms.
How to spend your time in Goen. Find your favorite place
Released on the lawn
I walk to the center of a large lawn that offers a panoramic view of Shinjuku's skyscrapers.
Stretch out → sit down → lie down → it's spacious → you want to leave everything behind → dazed → deep sleep
A winter weekday. There's no one there. It's spacious.
Feel the Ground ver.1
A Japanese garden dotted with pine trees with strangely shaped branches. Just below the teahouse is a nice grassy slope.
Sit down → The incline is perfect → Lie down → Relax your body → Feel like your whole body is supported by the ground → Feel safe → Sleep soundly
Omura, who was lying next to me , said, "I'm grounded!" I see, it's literally grounded to the earth.
Feel the ground ver.2
What I noticed while walking around Shinjuku Gyoen is that there are very few fences. Apart from a few flower beds, you can walk freely through the grass and the woods. When you leave the path and enter the trees, the feeling on the soles of your shoes suddenly becomes soft and fluffy. This feeling is refreshing. You can walk around feeling the softness and fluffyness.
A forest where wizards might appear, but in Shinjuku Ward
Feel the rainforest
The glass building just inside the Okido Gate is the Great Greenhouse. Surrounded by a thick, humid air that smells like an indoor pool or a public bath, you can look around at the tropical plants.
The Great Greenhouse is located near the Okido Gate. The admission fee is included, so you can just go in.
Bonus: The Garden of Words
Shinjuku Gyoen is also known as the setting for the anime "The Garden of Words" directed by Makoto Shinkai. In particular, the gazebo by the pond is crowded with people who seem to be fans from overseas, even on weekdays. I would like to go there during the rainy season when the garden is covered in greenery, just like in the movie.
It's a 20-minute stroll from Monosas. If you cross Meiji Dori and see a thicket of greenery at the end of a residential area, that's Shinjuku Gyoen. If you've never been inside before, or haven't had the time to venture out into the countryside lately, be sure to give it a try. You're sure to feel a sense of freedom.
FURIHATA Yukari