Enjoy viewing autumn foliage around Shinjuku Station, a huge terminal in Tokyo, in 2024!

  • Tokyo
  • Sightseeing
Autumn leaves at Hanazono Shrine
Shinjuku Station is known as the station with the highest number of passengers per day in the world. Although the area around the station is lined with high-rise buildings such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, there are actually many places where you can experience the changing of the seasons. In this issue, we will introduce three places near Shinjuku Station where you can enjoy the autumn leaves: Shinjuku Gyoen, Shinjuku Chuo Park, and Hanazono Shrine.

Shinjuku Gyoen was built as a garden for the imperial family.

From the South Exit of Shinjuku Station, walk along Koshu Kaido Avenue in the east direction for about 10 minutes. After passing through a row of buildings, you will see Shinjuku Gyoen on your right, lined with magnificent trees.

An oasis in the heart of the city

Although Shinjuku Gyoen is one of the most popular tourist spots in Tokyo, its history is very old. It is said to have its roots in the estate of Kiyonari Naito, a vassal of Ieyasu Tokugawa, the first shogun of the Edo shogunate. When the Edo period gave way to the Meiji period (1868-1912), a new experimental station for agricultural technology was established on the site of the estate, and after many changes, the Shinjuku Imperial Garden was created as an imperial garden in 1906. Today, Shinjuku Gyoen is open to the public as one of the "National Parks" along with the Imperial Gardens and Kyoto Gyoen, and is used by many people every day as a valuable place to experience the richness of nature in the heart of the city.
Autumn leaves at Shinjuku Gyoen

Shinjuku Gyoen, with many attractions throughout the year

Shinjuku Gyoen has been selected as one of Japan's "100 Best Places for Cherry Blossoms," and in spring the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, attracting people to the park, which is also a great place to enjoy the autumn leaves from late November to early December. Visitors can enjoy the autumn foliage of various trees at various locations, including maple trees, ginkgo trees, and metasequoia trees with their beautiful conical shapes. There are different types of gardens within the facility, including a "landscape garden," a "formal garden," and a "Japanese garden," so please take your time to appreciate the beautiful scenery created by the gardens and autumn leaves.
Landscape-style garden and autumn leaves
Ministry of the Environment Shinjuku Gyoen

Shinjuku Chuo Park, located near the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

About a 10-minute walk from the west exit of Shinjuku Station, near the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, is Shinjuku Chuo Park. On the west side of Shinjuku Station, there used to be a large facility called the Yodobashi Water Filtration Plant, but when the plant was closed, several high-rise buildings were constructed on the site, and Shinjuku Chuo Park was developed in the midst of the buildings. The park has several facilities, including a children's plaza for parents and children and a multi-purpose sports plaza, and has become a place of relaxation for local residents and workers in the nearby office district.
Shinjuku Chuo Park "Mori of the View
Within the park, visitors can appreciate the plants of each of the four seasons. In spring, the "Takatookohiganzakura" cherry trees from Ina City, Nagano Prefecture, a friendship city of Shinjuku City, are in full bloom, turning the park pink. In summer, visitors can see not only the standard yellow sunflowers, but also a rare type of white sunflower called "White Knight. From early November to mid-December, visitors can enjoy the autumn colors of cherry trees, maple trees, and ginkgo trees, which turn bright red and yellow. The area is easily accessible from Shinjuku Station, so visit when you have a little time to spare or when you want to take a breather.
Autumn leaves in Shinjuku Chuo Park
Shinjuku Central Park official website

Hanazono Shrine, where you can feel a sense of peace

To the north of Shinjuku Station are Shinjuku Kabukicho and Shinjuku Golden Gai, said to be the best entertainment district in Japan, which are now crowded day and night with not only Japanese but also foreigners visiting Japan. Walking toward Shinjuku Golden Gai from the East Exit of Shinjuku Station, you will see Hanazono Shrine along Yasukuni Street, which will make you forget the bustle of the city. Passing through a torii gate between buildings, you will reach a magnificent hall of worship on an approach surrounded by greenery.
Hanazono Shrine worship hall

Ginkgo trees watch over Shinjuku

Hanazono Shrine is a historic shrine that has watched over the development of the area as Shinjuku's chief guardian since before Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Tokugawa shogunate in Edo in 1603. Within the precincts of Hanazono Shrine, there is also "Geino Sengen Shrine," known for its many worshippers in the entertainment industry, and "Itoku Inari Shrine," lined with red torii gates, which are popular for their wide range of benefits. Every year on the day of the rooster in November, the Daidori Matsuri (rooster market) is held to pray for good luck and prosperous business, and the area is crowded with people in search of decorative rakes, which are a good-luck charm. The festival also features the Hanazono Shrine's famous freak show, so be sure to visit. From mid-November to mid-December, the shrine's sacred ginkgo tree turns the shrine grounds yellow, creating a beautiful sight to behold.

Hanazono Jinja Grand Rooster Festival (2024)
First Rooster: November 4 (eve of festival), November 5 (main festival)
Second Rooster: November 16 (eve of festival), November 17 (main festival)
Third Rooster: November 28 (eve of festival), November 29 (main festival)
Gingko, the sacred tree
Hanazono Shrine official website

Let's appreciate the autumn leaves around Shinjuku Station!

Within a 10-minute walk from Shinjuku Station, where many people come and go every day, there is a place filled with nature. Shinjuku Gyoen, an oasis in the heart of the city loved by many, Shinjuku Chuo Park, where you can take a breather in the office district, and Hanazono Shrine, which has watched over Shinjuku's development for many years. The autumn foliage at these three places introduced here is usually at its best from November onward, so be sure to visit them when you come to Shinjuku.

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