Shinjuku Garden

We enjoyed strolling through the Shinjuku Garden, a large garden park that was once an imperial retreat. It was really refreshing with its greenery, soothing with the birds and cicades instead of the honking traffic, and calming without many people. The garden offered three styles of gardens: French with a promenade, symmetrical line of sycamore trees, and a rose bed; English with an extensive lawn; and Japanese with two teahouses and a pond. There was also a very nice, modern greenhouse with tropical plants and a waterfall. For such a beautiful park on a Sunday afternoon, it was surprisingly quiet with a few people playing frisbee or resting on blankets on the lawn. This one is our favorite park so far. Much rejuvenated, we ventured out into the urban jungle and browsed several department stores. We bought fresh bread from one of the bakeries and sushi for dinner.

Shinjuku Garden

 

overview

 

roses in the French garden

umbrellas always on hand

 

grove of cherry trees

expansive lawn at the English garden

 

picturesque Japanese garden

willow trees at the Japanese garden

modern greenhouse