Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden 新宿御苑
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Shinjuku Gyoen is near Shinjuku Gyoen-mae Station on the Marunouchi Line. This is Shinjuku Gate, one of the three gates to the park. Admission 200 yen.
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These pictures were taken soon after the garden gates opened at 9 am in early April 2010 when it was overcast.
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From morning, people spread their picnic mats to claim their spot under or near the best cherry trees.
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Map of Shinjuku Gyoen. It's huge with a variety of Japanese and Western gardens, not to mention thousands of trees.
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Shinjuku Gyoen has about 1,500 cherry trees.
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Shinjuku Gyoen had its beginnings as the estate of the Naito clan, a retainer of the Tokugawa shogun.
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Former Imperial Rest House (Kyu-gokyusho), an Important Cultural Property. This Western-style building was where Imperial family members rested while visiting the garden.
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About the former Imperial Rest House in Japanese.
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Garden management office.
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The greenhouse was closed due to reconstruction.
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What the new greenhouse will look like.
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Tamamo Pond
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Cherry tree at Tamamo Pond.
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Part of the English Landscape Garden which is mainly a grassy lawn.
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Next to the English Garden is this French Formal Garden.
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French Formal Garden is not yet colorful in early April.
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A flower named after the International Herald Tribune.
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French Formal Garden
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French Formal Garden
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A cluster of weeping cherry trees.
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Sakura roof
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This is the tree which caught everyone's eye. It actually has flowers in three colors. All on one tree.
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Everyone commented on how a single tree could have three different colored flowers.
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Multi-colored cherry blossoms, Shinjuku Gyoen.
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Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
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Naka-no-ike Pond (Middle Pond)
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How it looks in May with azalea.
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So many cherry blossoms. It can take hours to see them all.
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Cherry blossoms along the pond, Shinjuku Gyoen.
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Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
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Another distinguished building is this Chinese-style Taiwan Pavilion (Goryo-tei) built by Japanese in Taiwan in 1927.
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You can enter the Taiwan Pavilion for free. Enter from the back.
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About the Taiwan Pavilion.
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Inside the Taiwan Pavilion, Shinjuku Gyoen Goryo-tei. Today it's an open-air lookout deck.
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Originally, it was not open-air.
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Great panoramic view from the Taiwan Pavilion.
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Pine tree in the pond in front of the Taiwan Pavilion.
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Bridge over the Kami-no-ike Pond. (Upper Pond)
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Traditional Japanese Garden at Kami-no-ike Pond. (Upper Pond)
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Large camellia bush next to a cherry tree.
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Amazing tree sprouting another trunk after being cut down.
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Here and there is a plaque like this in front of a large tree asking you what kind of tree it is. The answer is under the top flap.
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I spent 3 hours walking around this garden. Would've taken longer if the sky was blue.
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Hanami picnickers have to be well-behaved since alcoholic beverages are not allowed inside Shinjuku Gyoen. No bicycles, no badminton or games, no musical instruments or karaoke either.
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Without alcohol, it's less noisy. But if you like to drink, go to Yoyogi Park instead.
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Shinjuku Gyoen Sendagaya Gate
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Shinjuku Gyoen Sendagaya Gate in autumn
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Shinjuku Gyoen Garden in autumn.
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Large ginkgo tree at Shinjuku Goyen Garden, Tokyo.
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French Formal Garden in autumn at Shinjuku Gyoen Garden.
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Pine trees
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Cherry blossom that blooms in autumn.
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Cherry blossom that blooms in Oct.
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Cherry blossom that blooms in Oct.
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Crow
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Another gingko tree outside the garden.
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