Shinjuku Gyoen Garden

This area was originally the Edo residence of a Naito family daimyo (for lack of an easier explanation, a territorial warrior ruler similar to a European feudal lord). The land was granted by the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu for the family's required home in the new Tokugawa capital. It entered into imperial control shortly after the Meiji Restoration, and became a garden. It was opened to the public in 1906. After incurring significant damage in WW II, it was redesigned and contracted in size in 1949.

Today, its famous for its cherry trees, and also contains an English traditional park garden, a Japanese traditional garden, French formal garden and a greenhouse

We arrived just before opening to find a decent sized line because it's a popular place for Sakura (cherry blossom) viewing.Read more