Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

It was absolutely gorgeous walking around the gardens this afternoon. The fall leaves were stunning. We went with some of our cruise friends and we loved the company! We got dinner and street food desserts afterwards. Shinjuku Gyoen was constructed on the site of a private mansion belonging to a “daimyo” (feudal lord) Naito, at the Edo era (1591). The government-managed agricultural experiment station was established in 1872, and after that it became imperial estate, completed in 1906 as an imperial garden. It developed as a palace garden for international diplomacy, re-designated as a national garden after the World War Ⅱ and opened to the public. I loved the modern architecture of the greenhouse, the vibrant colors of the ginkgo trees, the greatness of the dawn redwood, the rows of sycamore, the colors of the maples, the peacefulness of the Japanese garden, and the unique formal garden (who knew yucca, roses, and boxwoods would go so well together!). It was nice to spend the afternoon in this quiet oasis of nature surrounded by a bustling city. Oh, and the girls bought soup from the vending machine. They have hot and cold items in there!