Cherry blossom
In spring.
Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France — CC BY 2.0 · Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France — CC BY 2.0 · Fg2 — Public domain · Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France — CC BY 2.0 · Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France — CC BY 2.0 · Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France — CC BY 2.0 · Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France — CC BY 2.0 · Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France — CC BY 2.0
A large public garden between Shinjuku and Shibuya. In the Edo period it was the residence of the Naitō family, feudal lords given the land by the shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1590, who completed a garden here in 1772. After the Meiji Restoration it became an experimental agricultural station and, in 1879, an imperial botanical garden. The French landscape architect Henri Martinet of the Versailles horticulture school remodelled it, and it opened in its present form in May 1906 with Emperor Meiji present. Most of it burned in the 1945 air raids; it was rebuilt and is now a national garden run by the Ministry of the Environment. It combines traditional Japanese ponds framed by clipped pines, bridges and stone lanterns, wide lawns, avenues of great trees and a tropical greenhouse. It is one of Tokyo's favourite places for cherry blossom in spring, autumn colours and the November chrysanthemum show, with Shinjuku's towers rising behind. Admission is 500 yen for adults; it usually closes on Mondays (open daily in cherry-blossom season), and hours change with the season, per visitor guides. Alcohol is not allowed inside.
In spring.
Ponds and stone lanterns.
Against Shinjuku's towers.
Between Shinjuku and Shibuya wards
500 yen for adults; it usually closes on Mondays but opens daily in cherry-blossom season, with hours changing by season, per visitor guides.
