Adventure with Tigger-Pooh: Autumn Holiday in Japan (10th-24th Nov): Shinjuku-gyoen (新宿御苑）

We went to Shinjuku Gyoen twice while we were in Tokyo. This was yet another place I'd NEVER been. I heard so much about it, yet, never went. Actually, it was a lovely park, trees, flowers, ponds, grass, and green house with exotic plants. It was in the middle of Tokyo, easily accessible, and perfect for picnic. When we went, twice, it was lovely and warm, families, friends, and even group of people doing a yoga class there.

It was funny to watch so many people, including myself (^_-), taking photos of trees and plants, and I saw why English people stereo typed Japanese with cameras. But, but, but, I must say, I saw Germans and French people doing that too, AND, Koreans and Chinese! We are not the only nation love taking photos.

It was a bigger place than what I expected, also well looked after. approximately 10 mins from JR Shinjuku station (新宿駅), or Sendagaya (千駄ヶ谷駅). We walked from our favo tube, marunouch line Shinjukugyoen-mae (丸ノ内線新宿御苑前), only took us 5 mins or so, and easy enough to find. To be honest, I didn't have a slight foggiest where we were going, but I saw trees across road from the tube station.

First place caught our nose and eyes were curry house on the corner. Smelt fantastic, I had to stop and smelt it for a few minutes before we carried on walking to the garden. (They even had an Asian/ Indian chef in their open kitchen! oooh, very exotic!!!)

Soon, we found the way in to the park gate called Okido mon (大木戸門), paid 200 yen to get in. I know it's not free, not like Hyde Park or St. James's Park in London. To me, it was worth paying 200 yen, liked the green house, I wanted to pick the cacao bean there, which looked time to get picked...., we didn't do it, we weren't that naughty..... (｡-_-｡)

This park used to be emperor's garden in 1906, after the second world war in 1949, it was opened up to the public as a national garden. It contains 3 types of gardens: English landscape garden, French formal garden, and Japanese traditional garden.

To me, personally, love Japanese traditional garden in Japan. We all know that's what we do the best.(garden wise...) (^_-)

Here's some photos from the garden.