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Shinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo

Cherry trees in full bloom around a pond in Shinjuku Gyoen with the NTT Docomo Yoyogi tower behind
Photo: Kakidai, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
¥500; over-65s and students ¥250; under 15 free
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Hours
From 9:00; Oct–14 Mar until 16:30, spring and Aug–Sep until 18:00, 11 Jun–31 Jul until 19:00; closed Mon
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
1 h 30 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Winter hours
1 Oct–14 Mar: 9:00–16:30, last entry 16:00
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Summer hours
Until 18:00; 11 June–31 July until 19:00
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Closed
Mondays (if a holiday, the next weekday)
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Open daily
25 March–24 April and 1–15 November
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Getting there
Shinjuku-gyoemmae station (Marunouchi) or 10 minutes from Shinjuku
Coordinates
35.68717, 139.71064YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

58.3 hagarden area, with a 3.5 km perimeter
Sourceen.wikipedia
1906the year the garden opened in its present layout
Sourceen.wikipedia
3 stylesFrench formal, English landscape and Japanese gardens
Sourceen.wikipedia
1772the Naito family completed a garden here in the Edo period
Sourceen.wikipedia
Versaillesthe layout was by Henri Martinet of Versailles
Sourceen.wikipedia
¥500adult entry; under-15s free
Sourcefng.or.jp
Mondayclosing day, except in the spring and autumn seasons
Sourcefng.or.jp
Sakuraone of Tokyo's top cherry-blossom spots
Sourcetravel guides

What is Shinjuku Gyoen?

Shinjuku Gyoen is a 58.3-hectare national garden between Shinjuku and Shibuya. In the Edo period it was the estate of the Naito family, and later an imperial botanical garden. It opened in its present form in May 1906, laid out by Henri Martinet of Versailles.

The garden combines three styles: a French formal garden with plane-tree avenues, an English landscape garden with broad lawns and a traditional Japanese garden with ponds, bridges and a teahouse. There's also a large greenhouse of tropical plants. In spring it's one of Tokyo's best places for cherry blossom, and in autumn for red maples.

How the garden works

There are three gates: Shinjuku (closest to Shinjuku station), Okido and Sendagaya. According to the official site, entry is ¥500 for adults and ¥250 for over-65s and students, with under-15s free. The garden opens at 9:00; closing time depends on the season: 16:30 from 1 October to 14 March, 18:00 in spring and August–September, and 19:00 from 11 June to 31 July.

The greenhouse keeps shorter hours — from 9:30, closing half an hour before the garden. Inside there's a café, a teahouse serving matcha, and plenty of benches on the lawns — people come here to relax and picnic, without alcohol.

What to see

  • The Japanese garden with ponds and a teahouse.
  • The English landscape garden with its lawns.
  • The French formal garden with a plane-tree avenue.
  • The greenhouse of tropical plants.
  • Cherry blossom in spring and red maples in autumn.
  • Views of Shinjuku's skyscrapers above the trees.

How to get to Shinjuku Gyoen

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On foot

More tips

  1. Shinjuku-gyoemmae station (Marunouchi line) — about 5 minutes to the Shinjuku gate.
  2. From Shinjuku station — southeast exit, about 10 minutes on foot.
  3. Sendagaya station (JR Chuo-Sobu line) — about 5 minutes to the Sendagaya gate.
  4. Kokuritsu-Kyogijo station (Oedo line) — about 5 minutes to the Sendagaya gate.
  5. From Haneda airport — train or limousine bus to Shinjuku, about 40–60 minutes.

Spring or autumn

Springyou are hereCherry blossom25 March–24 AprilVery heavyArrive at opening
AutumnRed maples1–15 NovemberHeavyWeekday mornings

How long do you need?

Allow 1.5–2 hours for the garden, about 2.5 hours with the greenhouse and teahouse. It's the best escape from busy Shinjuku: just 10 minutes from the station, and quiet inside.

In the evening, head up the free observatory of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in West Shinjuku. Anime fans know the garden from Makoto Shinkai's film 'The Garden of Words'.

Is Shinjuku Gyoen worth visiting?

Yes: it's one of Tokyo's most beautiful gardens, with three styles in one, and entry is just ¥500.

The YesGo take: in cherry-blossom season it's very crowded, with long queues at the gates. Arrive at opening, remember the Monday closure and the 16:30 winter closing time, and leave alcohol at home.

Before you go: checklist

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Tokyo gardens and parks: compare and choose

Gardens, parks and historic sites in Tokyo rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Tokyo Imperial Palace621 h 30 minfree3.8 km
Hamarikyu Gardens361 h¥300; over-65s ¥1505.7 km
Shinjuku Gyoenyou are here331 h 30 min¥500; under 15 free—

Shinjuku in a day

Shinjuku Gyoen in the afternoon, the free Tokyo Metropolitan Government observatory in the evening, then Kabukicho. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. Shinjuku Gyoenyou are here1 h 30 min · ¥500; under 15 free
  2. 30 min walk from the previous stopTokyo Metropolitan Government Building45 min · free
  3. 20 min walk from the previous stopKabukicho1 h · free

3 places · about 4 h 5 min with walks · 50 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Kabukicho

Tokyo, Japan

1 h · free · 20 min walk

Meiji Jingu

Tokyo, Japan

1 h · free; Gyoen garden paid · 28 min walk

Takeshita Street

Tokyo, Japan

45 min · free · 32 min walk

How to do it right

  • Closed on Mondays — except in blossom seasons.
  • In winter it closes at 16:30.
  • No alcohol allowed.
  • In sakura season, arrive at opening.
  • Evening: the Government Building observatory.

Questions

How much is entry to Shinjuku Gyoen?

¥500 for adults, ¥250 for seniors and students, free under 15.

When is the garden closed?

On Mondays and from 29 December to 3 January; it opens daily in the blossom seasons.

What are the opening hours?

From 9:00; it closes at 16:30 from October to mid-March, and at 18:00–19:00 in spring and summer.

Can you drink alcohol?

No, the garden's rules ban alcohol.

How do I get there?

Shinjuku-gyoemmae station (Marunouchi line), or 10 minutes on foot from Shinjuku.

When do the cherry trees bloom?

Usually late March to mid-April; the garden opens daily then.

How long do you need?

1.5–2 hours, about 2.5 hours with the greenhouse.

What's nearby?

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government observatory and Kabukicho.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • National Gardens Association (fng.or.jp/shinjuku/en) — prices, seasonal hours, closing days, open-daily periods (official, checked 09.11.2026)
  • English Wikipedia: Shinjuku Gyo-en — area, history, garden styles, Henri Martinet
  • Travel guides — cherry blossom, gates, alcohol rules (unofficial)
  • Wikidata Q776863 — coordinates
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 09.11.2026 ·
How we checkedPrices, seasonal hours, closing days and open-daily periods are from the National Gardens Association's official site. The area, history and garden styles are from Wikipedia; we don't cover the garden's 20th-century history. The alcohol ban and gate names are from guides and the garden's site. Journey times are from guides.

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