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Parks & gardens

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

新宿御苑

Shinjuku · near Shinjuku-gyoenmae Station (Marunouchi Line) / Shinjuku Station

One of Tokyo's largest and most beautiful gardens, blending expansive English landscape lawns, a formal French garden and a traditional Japanese garden with ponds, plus a large greenhouse. Vast open lawns make it a rare central-Tokyo spot where kids can freely picnic and run.

Why children love it: Huge grassy lawns for running and picnicking, big ponds, a tropical greenhouse, and gorgeous cherry blossoms in spring.

Honest drawbacks: Modest admission (unlike free parks); no ball games/bikes/alcohol; peak sakura weekends require advance reservation and are very busy.

Best for
Babies (0–1), Toddlers (2–4), Primary (5–11), Teens (12–17)
Time to allow
3h
Opening hours
Roughly 09:00-18:00 (extended to 18:00/19:00 in peak seasons; last entry 30 min before close)
Price
Adults ¥500; seniors 65+ and high-schoolers ¥250; junior-high and younger free.
Booking
Usually walk-in
English
★★★☆☆
Indoor / weather
outdoor
Confidence
Verified
Seasonal — check your dates. Cherry blossoms ~late Mar-late Apr 2026. Advance reservation required to enter 10:00-16:00 on the busiest sakura dates (e.g. Mar 28, 29 and Apr 5, 2026).

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