What other travelers are saying about Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Although it was at first a bit shocking to pay to enter a public park, ¥500 or ~$3.50, I must confess it was totally worth it.
This IS the place to come in Springtime to see the blossoming cherry trees but in late summer it was a delightful experience nevertheless, especially on a hot afternoon.
Totally worth it
It’s quiet and serene to visit the National Garden on the long weekend Sunday. We particularly enjoy the tropical garden with many unique flowers and cactus. Also love the wood panels and structure of the museum. Overall a very enjoyable experience that adds to the many wonderful experiences in travelling Japan.
Very beautiful garden in the city. Walkable from hotels and shopping centers. It cost a couple hundred yen to enter but it’s worth it. You’ll never go thirsty because there’s always vending machines at the start and a refreshment cafe. And of course bathrooms, it’s several miles to walk the whole park. It’s not a park because you can’t just eat or bring your dogs and have a picnic on the grass. But there is a place where you have can shave ice and ice cream and that is the refreshment cafe area. It’s so good! The gardens are beautiful and the walk is peaceful. This place is amazingly beautiful and it’s in the city. Probably one of the most beautiful parks in the middle of a city.
The gardens are around a 10 min walk from Shinjuku station. There is an educational centre with a gift shop and cafe at the entrance to the gardens. The cafe has great food and lovely staff. The food is very reasonably priced. The garden cost 500 yen per person for an all-day pass. You can leave the gardens and grab a picnic and come back in. There are also useful lockers, so bring some 100 yen coins. There are a few cafes around the park, so there are plenty of options. The park is beautiful, so well kept and very peaceful. It is so well signposted and plenty of photo opportunities. We saw a lot of bugs and some frogs around the park, so bring your strongest mosquito repellent. I didn't realise and ended up with a severe allergic reaction to the bites and had to go to the hospital in shinjuku, and when I got home. So remember to bring mosquito spray. Don't let this put you off, though, as it is a beautiful garden and a lovely peaceful day in the middle of a very busy city.
A beautiful, tranquil park only steps away from the busyness of the city. I enjoyed taking a slow, long walk there even though the heat of the summer was almost unbearable - but hey, there are lots of trees and shades and there are also clean, convenient built resting places. Some parts of the park is diligently manicured, while the others are wilder. Totally worth a visit if you're in the area.