Shinjuku Gyoen Guide 2026: Cherry Blossoms, Autumn Leaves, Must-See Spots and Seasonal Gardens

What Are the Must-See Spots in Shinjuku Gyoen? Highlights of Each Area

Shinjuku Gyoen is one of the largest parks in central Tokyo, covering about 58.3 hectares. It is popular for flowers and autumn leaves, and also a great place to stroll and unwind. The scenery changes with each season, and every one has its own beauty. This section introduces the must-see spots so you can plan your visit better.

Greenhouse

The Greenhouse reopened in 2012 after a full rebuild. It covers about 2,750 square meters and displays more than 1,000 tropical and subtropical plants, along with orchids bred in the garden before the war.

The Greenhouse opens at 9:30. It closes at 16:00 from October 1 to March 14 (last entry 15:30), 17:30 from March 15 to June 10 and from August 1 to September 30, and 18:30 from June 11 to July 31. Entry is free once you are inside the park.

Guided tours of the Greenhouse are also held from time to time; check the official website for the latest events.

Japanese Garden

The Japanese Garden is centered on Tamamo Pond, with its ponds, stone bridges and stone lanterns. The Kyu-Goryotei pavilion by the pond is a historic building designated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Every year from November 1 to 15, the Chrysanthemum Exhibition is held in the Japanese Garden, displaying classical varieties such as Edo, Saga, Ise and Higo chrysanthemums.

The Japanese Garden is included in the park admission fee; no separate ticket is needed.

Chrysanthemum Exhibition: November 1 to 15 in the Japanese Garden

Every year from November 1 to 15, Shinjuku Gyoen holds a Chrysanthemum Exhibition in the Japanese Garden. It features Edo chrysanthemums developed in Edo, Saga chrysanthemums from the Saga area of Kyoto, Ise chrysanthemums from Mie, Higo chrysanthemums from Kumamoto, and large round blooms shaped like temari balls. The park stays open on Mondays during the exhibition. Please check the official website’s latest reports for the display details and flower conditions.

Western-Style Pavilion

The Kyu-Yokan Goyusho (Former Western-Style Imperial Resting Pavilion) was built in 1896 (Meiji 29) as a resting place for the imperial family. It was designated an Important Cultural Property in 2001 and is one of the few buildings in the park that survived the wartime air raids.

Whether the interior is open depends on the official announcements, so please check before you go.

The park also has restaurants, cafes and shops where you can rest and refuel during your visit.

Autumn Leaves

In autumn, the maples and ginkgos turn red and yellow and the plane-tree avenue turns golden, making this the park’s highlight of the season.

Autumn color varies from year to year, so check the latest park report on the official website before planning your trip.

The park is open on Mondays during the November 1 to 15 Chrysanthemum Exhibition, so you can see both chrysanthemums and autumn leaves on the same day.

Mother and Child Forest: Nature Classes and Night Exploration

The Mother and Child Forest (Haha to Ko no Mori) is a wooded area in Shinjuku Gyoen. The park uses it as a base for nature classes and a bird nest box project, and also holds evening nature walks on summer nights. Programs and sign-up methods change every year, so please check the events page on the official website. Families who want their children to learn about the park’s ecology can look up the schedule first, then choose a date and time slot for their visit.

Shinjuku Gate

Shinjuku Gyoen has three entrances: Shinjuku Gate, Okido Gate and Sendagaya Gate. The park’s address is 11 Naito-cho, Shinjuku-ku. Shinjuku Gate is about a 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Tokyo Metro Shinjuku-gyoenmae Station and Shinjuku-sanchome Station, and about 10 minutes from the south exit of JR Shinjuku Station.

Okido Gate is about 5 minutes from Exit 2 of Shinjuku-gyoenmae Station; Sendagaya Gate is about 5 minutes each from JR Sendagaya Station and Exit A5 of Kokuritsu-Kyogijo Station on the Oedo Line.

Admission can be paid by cash, credit card, transit IC card, e-wallet and mobile payment.

French Formal Garden and Rose Beds

The formal garden is known for its symmetrical design, lined on both sides with plane trees. The West Bed (54 varieties) and East Bed (52 varieties) in the center hold about 500 rose bushes of roughly 100 varieties.

The roses bloom in spring from about early May to late June, and again in autumn from about mid-October to mid-November.

The formal garden is included in the park admission fee. Please check the official website’s latest reports for flower conditions.