PLACES – Page 9

Sakura 2016: Shinjuku Gyoen

Visit Date: 03/30/2016 (Best Time: early to mid April)

Shinjuku Gyoen (新宿御苑) being located in central Tokyo, just about 1.5 kilometers or a short 20 minutes walk from Shinjuku Station, is one of the most popular parks in Tokyo.

The park has more than 1,500 cherry trees of more than 12 varieties which starts blooming from late March to late April or sometimes even until early May. With its long cherry blossom season, the park is also indeed one of Tokyo’s favorite and best cherry blossom spot in Japan.

The blooming sakura trees adds colors to the various trees around the pond.

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Sakura 2016: Inokashira Park

Visit Date: 03/27/2016 (Best Time: early April)

Inokashira Park is a 43-hectares park located on the western side of Tokyo and sits on both Mitaka and Musashino cities. It is easily accessible via the lively Kichijoji neighborhood. It is estalished in 1917 and it is considered as one of the oldest park in Tokyo.

A large pond stretches across the park which has about 250 cherry trees lining its banks. The branches of the cherry trees spread and reflected over the water creates a stunning view during the cherry blossom season. Visitors can also enjoy the view from the water through the rented paddle and row boats.

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Sakura 2016: Koganei Park

Visit Date: 03/26/2016 (Best Time: early to mid April)

Koganei Park (小金井公園) is an 80 hectares wide open park located in the western suburbs of Tokyo. It is about 40-60 minutes away from central Tokyo.

The park provides a wide variety of activities with its children’s park, tennis courts, broad expanse of grass covered fields, archery range, baseball field, steam locomotive display, and a lot more. The park is considered as one of the best 100 Sakura Spots in Japan with about 1,700 cherry trees planted around the park, where most of it are found in the Cherry Garden, located in front of the interesting Edo-Tokyo Open Air Museum.

Entrance towards the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Museum.

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Autumn 2015: Tonogayato Garden

Visit Date: 11/29/2015 (Best viewing Time: late November to early December)

Tonogayato Garden (殿ヶ谷戸庭園) is a 21,124 m² traditional Japanese garden in Kokubunji, Tokyo. It was constructed from 1913 to 1915 as part of a villa for Teijo Eguchi, the Vice-President of the Manchurian Railway. In 1974, the garden was purchased by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government from Iwasaki family, who acquired the garden in 1929, and it was opened to the public in 1979. It was designated as a cultural asset or a “Place of Scenic Beauty” in 1998.

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Autumn 2015: Rikugien Garden

Visit Date: 11/22/2015 (Best viewing Time: late November to early December)

Rikugien Garden (六義園) in Bunkyō-ku is famed as one of the most beautiful traditional Japanese garden in Tokyo. It is a typical Edo Period strolling garden which consists of a small pond, river, trees, and hills surrounded by forested areas.

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