The best times to visit Tokyo's most beautiful garden, month by month.
Shinjuku Gyoen is 58 hectares of former Imperial garden in the very centre of Tokyo. The fact that something this large, quiet, and seasonally distinct exists 12 minutes' walk from the hotel feels like a small miracle.
Late March to mid-April is cherry blossom season. Beyond the usual Somei-Yoshino, the garden has many late varieties — yae-zakura, shidare-zakura — so the bloom window stretches longer than most spots in Tokyo.
May is for azaleas, June for hydrangeas, July and August for shaded walks under green canopy, September for red spider lilies, November for the chrysanthemum exhibition, December for autumn leaves and bare-branch silhouettes.
Entry is ¥500. Open 9:00 to 17:00. Weekends get busy — visit weekday mornings for the calmest experience.
IGO Journal
Stories from the neighbourhood — food, culture, and the rhythm of Shin-Okubo life. Have a suggestion? Drop us a line at [email protected].
