Hello, this is JJ. Today we are reporting on autumn leaves at Shinjuku Gyoen with Accessible members on a weekend in the end of November in a clear autumn weather.
Our meeting point was at the information center in JR Shinjuku Station South Exit Campus.
Shinjuku Gyoen
Just 10 minutes on foot from the crowds of Tokyo and we are entering the city’s oasis space “Shinjuku Gyoen”!
The Shinjuku Gyoen is said to be a part of the Edo house of the Naito clan who was a vassal to Ieyasu Tokugawa. In the park, British style, French style, Japanese style garden are designed and you can watch the seasonal plants. It is especially famous in the spring as a cherry-blossom viewing place, and in early April of the year the “cherry blossom viewing party” organized by the Prime Minister is held.
The general admission fee for Shinjuku Gyoen is ¥ 200, whilst people with disabilities and one caretaker with a handicapped person notebook can enter for free. You can also rent wheelchairs at the service center.
Before entering the garden, we recommend checking the sights at the information center on the left side of Shinjuku-gate. The garden map is also available.
Immediately after entering the garden, we were fascinated by the beautiful autumn leaves.
The inside of the garden is paved and it is possible to pass freely without difficulty even with a wheelchair. However, some are gravel roads.
In addition, benches to rest are set up everywhere in the garden. Today we were crowded with autumnal leaves viewers, but we were able to find vacant benches everywhere. It’s appreciated being able to take a breath when we are tired.
Please enjoy autumn leaves!
While enjoying autumn leaves and various plants, we arrived at the large greenhouse near the “Okido gate” .
The history of the large greenhouse is old, fulfilling the pioneering role of Japanese greenhouse gardening. It was renewed in full scale in the 24th year of Heisei (2012). Tropical plants are manily cultivated and protected cultivation of endangered plants are also done. It is a greenhouse that you can meet various plants that you cannot see in Japan and it is very spectacular.
Although the passage in the greenhouse is narrower than in the garden of Shinjuku Gyoen, it can be walked with a wheelchair.
Even though it was autumn, we could enjoy the cherry blossoms near the service center. Lucky!
The way back to Shinjuku Gate was like a photo spot of autumn leaves and there were many photographers.
Today we met at Shinjuku at 13:00, broke up at 16:00. We were able to enjoy Shinjuku Gyoen with less than 2 hours outdoors and less than 1 hour in the big greenhouse. Shinjuku Gyoen where one can touch beautiful nature in just 10 minutes from the city center. I was keenly aware that it is a popular spot. Many families enjoy placing mats on the field and I would like to visit with a lunch box next time. Why not visit the oasis in the city center by all means?
A Brief Accessibility Review from YUKORIN
Shinjuku Gyoen is a garden recommended for wheelchair users.
First of all, the walking path in the garden is wide. Even if it is crowded a bit, we can move with a wheelchair with confidence as there is nothing to bump other people. (The cherry blossoms seem to be crowded so much, so it may be necessary to be a little careful.) And that the road is paved firmly. In the French style garden there were scenes which were a little difficult to move on the gravel road, but in other places we could walk smoothly without problems. Moreover, it is also good to that multi-purpose toilets are dotted in the garden. I especially recommend the multipurpose toilet of the large greenhouse as it is beautiful.
Gardens are hard to get by as a wheelchair user, since the roads are narrow or uneven. But, at Shinjuku Gyoen we can take a leisurely walk with a wheel chair while enjoying the seasonal plants on the premises without feeling such obstacles. I want to visit again when the season changes.
