In the same way that New York’s Central Park showcases natural beauty with cityscape backdrops, Shinjuku Gyoen delivers a similar vibe.
Located in the heart of Tokyo’s major city of Shinjuku, the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is home to a beautiful display of thoroughly kempt trees, bushes, flowers, and ponds. For just 500 yen (3.70 USD), you get full access to the park’s many walking trails, natural attractions, and its unique semi-outdoor Starbucks café.
Crystal clear ponds
One of the most well-maintained ponds I’ve seen in Japan would have to be those around Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. Even though I was there on a gloomy day, you could still see the crystal clear reflection of the surrounding trees and bushes on the surface of the water.
Golden autumn leaves
During the autumn season, you’ll have an even more colorful experience at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.
Large trees are covered in golden brown leaves while small bushes and shrubs take on ruby-red shades. Depending on the day, you may be lucky enough to see the autumn leaves blowing off the branches into the wind.
Walking along the trails in the golden winds of autumn foliage can be a truly epic experience.
Awesome picnic areas
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden offers plenty of wide open spaces for fun family activities. Whether you’re keen on a picnic or to throw a baseball around, you’ll find plenty of room available as the park seldom gets too crowded (with the exception of cherry blossom season).
The grass is kept clean and cushiony all throughout the park so you don’t have to worry about getting a bad spot. There are also plenty of grass spots and park benches near the ponds which could make for a romantic getaway.
Cool city backdrop
Of course, I wouldn’t be comparing Shinjuku Gyoen to America’s Central Park if not for the amazing background of skyscrapers and apartment buildings surrounding the park.
Specifically, you will notice the iconic Docomo Yoyogi Building towering over the entire National Park all the way from the neighboring city of Shibuya.
As the fourth-tallest building in Tokyo, its design was inspired by the Empire State Building which ultimately adds to the whole “Central Park vibe” of Shinjuku Gyoen.
Serene walking trails
If you decide to visit Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, be sure to walk along the entire walking trail and get your money’s worth! It only takes about an hour to cover the whole area and complete a circuit back to the entrance, so it’s really worth doing.
Whether you decide to go at it alone or walk with a friend, you’ll have an awesome time walking through the park’s natural beauty while enjoying the “Central Park vibe” of the surrounding buildings.
Don’t worry about getting tired either, because there are plenty of park benches, picnic areas, vending machines, and even a Starbucks to help you refresh along the way!
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!
