Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

"A serene and expansive garden in Tokyo, providing a tranquil escape with its beautiful landscapes and diverse plant life." - Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeare

"Visitors love to share snapshots of the beautiful scenes, with 713,595 posts on Instagram and 4,550 TikTok tags — showing off the cherry blossoms in spring and the fields that turn into sprawling sheets of silk in the winter." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"A magical trip to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo and Kyoto, with shopping, dining, and traditional hot springs."

"Fancy a stroll in a Japanese garden? Get that and more at Shinjuku Gyoen. In addition to native, traditional gardens, the 144-acre park pockets French Formal and English Landscape gardens, all of which are worth the modest entrance fee. Landmarks are stunning and impossible to forget, like a Taiwan Pavilion perched along a serene pond. Formerly an imperial garden, it became a national garden after World War II—so you can trust that this precious plot is always beautifully maintained. Don’t miss cherry blossom season." - Anna Chittenden, Melinda Joe

"The Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is a gorgeous park that's just a short walk from Shinjuku Station. There are several gardens within the space, including a formal French one, an English landscape garden, and a traditional Japanese design. While the admission fee is nominal (about $2), it helps assure that it is surprisingly quiet, with fewer visitors than parks open to the public for free. If the weather is good, consider picking up a bento from nearby Takashimaya's depachika . Convenience stores sell plastic "blue sheets" for impromptu picnics. The only downside to this park is that it is alcohol-free; if you want to drink sake at your picnic, head down the road to Yoyogi Park."