Must-visit Cherry Blossoms viewing spot, Shinjuku-Gyoen (Shinjuku-ku of Tokyo).

We have introduced you the cherry blossoms forecast for 2015 few days ago, and promised will provide special series based on popular locations for cherry blossoms across Japan. This time we would like to introduce you is Shinjuku-Gyoen where is located in Shinjuku-ku of Tokyo.

Shinjuku-Gyoen is one of the largest park in Tokyo and just a short walk from Shinjuku-Gyoen Station（しんじゅくぎょえんまえ） on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line. It provides a relaxing escape with spacious lawns and tranquil scenery from the busy urban center. We have introduced the place before but we would like to offer you further information for cherry blossoms within the area.

Shinjuku-Gyoen has three entry gates which are Shinjuku Gate, Okido Gate and Sendagaya Gate. This time we will enter by using “Shinjuku Gate” where is located in 3-chome near Shinjuku Station.

The garden spans 58 hectares with a circumference of 3.5 kilometers features Western and Eastern gardens. Visitors are welcome to bring their own sitting mat and enjoy the pack lunch and picnic in the lawns with different fabulous sceneries such as French style garden with Chinese parasol tree and Japanese style gardens.

In this period, you might see a lot of office workers will come here and enjoy their lunch time break near “Shinjuku-Gate”.

This is one of the famous building in Shinjuku-Gyoen “NTT docomo yoyoki building” which makes people think about the Bank of America Tower in New York with similar desgin. This is the famous headquarter of mobile company “NTT docomo”, but it is not open to the public. However, the building is also part of the cherry blossoms scenery.

Let's walk to the Japanese Garden. At here, visitors can see the water reflection of cherry blossoms, which is another beautiful and unforgettable scenery.

At Shinjuku-Gyoen, there are not only “Someiyoshino” cherry blossoms, as well as “Ichiyo” cherry blossoms. The colour of Ichiyo cherry blossoms is in light pink, which is very cute and lovely.

Furthermore, there are also flowers called “Genpeimomo”（ゲンペイモモ）. Although it is not cherry blossoms, but it has various colours from light pink to dark pink which are as beautiful as cherry blossoms.

In addition, we would recommend people who want to viewing cherry blossoms, before you enter Shinjuku-Gyoen, you can buy some food and bento box from B1 of “Isetan” department store where is at Shinjuku-Sanjome Station of Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line. Although the nearest station is “Shinjuku-Gyoenmae Station” and might takes about 10 minute walk, but the food is very worth to try.