Spring is here! The weather is perfect for an outing! I just suddenly got the urge to go somewhere, so I took a solo overnight trip to Tokyo. This wasn't for work or an event—just a spontaneous personal adventure. Over the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing some of the fantastic succulent and botanical spots I visited on this Tokyo trip.

For the first entry, I want to introduce "Shinjuku Gyoen," a place that truly lives up to the classic description of a “city oasis.”

What is Shinjuku Gyoen?

In a word, it's a “botanical garden” or “green urban park.” Spread out over a sprawling area, it’s filled with lush trees, blooming flowers, and wide lawns—a space made for relaxing and soaking up nature’s beauty. But it’s not just any park: it was originally landscaped as the Imperial Family’s private garden ((Gyoen = Royal Garden)), and to this day, it's managed not by a local government (like Tokyo or Shinjuku Ward), but by the national Ministry of the Environment. That pedigree sets it apart from your usual botanical garden in a big way.

If you look past the trees, you’ll spot Shinjuku’s cluster of skyscrapers—reminding you that you’re truly in "the heart of the city." Since it’s so centrally located, it’s easy to forget it’s even there, but that accessibility makes it the perfect place for a spontaneous visit ((so lucky!)).

Shinjuku Gyoen Greenhouse Photo Tour

It was peak sakura season, with flowers and greenery everywhere and the garden looking stunning. But as editor-in-chief of the Succulent Encyclopedia, my main (and only!) reason for visiting was the greenhouse, so I breezed by the rest of the gardens ((my vague guesses at tree varieties reflect how quickly I passed through)).

This greenhouse was newly rebuilt in 2012. It's on the compact side for a botanical garden—a leisurely circuit will take you about thirty minutes.

The Succulents of Shinjuku Gyoen

In the Okinawa Corner, I was thrilled to discover the extremely rare "Ryukyu-benkai." I happened to visit just as it was in bloom, with delicate yellow flowers—a truly lucky encounter ((I might have missed it completely without those blooms!)).

So, although compared to most botanical gardens Shinjuku Gyoen’s greenhouse isn’t especially big or filled with tons of species, I was struck by just how rare some of their curated selections were—over half were brand-new finds for the PUKUBOOK database! Huge thanks to everyone maintaining and displaying such precious plants.

Getting There

There are three entrances to Shinjuku Gyoen, but the one closest to the greenhouse is the "Okido Gate"—just by the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line’s “Shinjuku-gyoemmae” Station. Next closest is the Toei Shinjuku Line “Shinjuku Sanchome” Station, and last is JR’s “Sendagaya Station.” Walking through the forest and garden from Sendagaya felt especially nice. And of course, since it’s in Shinjuku, you can also walk from JR Shinjuku Station, but it’s a pretty good trek ((maybe 15 minutes?)).

Tips Before You Go

Contactless entry: Skip the ticket line with SUICA

The entry gates accept SUICA and other IC travel cards, so if you’ve got one, you can breeze through without lining up at the ticket counter ((wish every facility did this!)).

Advanced reservations required during busy seasons

Since it was cherry blossom season, the previous weekend actually required advance reservations. It’s a good idea to check their official website before your visit. By the way, hanami (flower viewing) is allowed, but you can’t bring alcohol ((haha)).

In summary

That wraps up the first part of my Tokyo adventure—reporting on all the rare succulents I encountered at Shinjuku Gyoen, right on the edge of central Shinjuku. Next time, more botanical gardens—and after that, I’ll share a broader mix of reports. Stay tuned!