Today was another clear day in Tokyo and a trip to the lovely Shinjuku Gyoen National Gardens was on the agenda. The gardens are one of Tokyo’s largest and most popular parks near Shinjuku station and were within walking distance of the hotel; so, it saved having to get a train. These gardens are quite extensive and typically Japanese with several water areas that have bridges across and an abundance of blossom trees that were mostly flowering and ranged from dark pink to white in colour. I also saw koi carp in the water here, along with some lovely birds and a couple of turtles. There is a lovely rose garden here, too, and large greenhouse with waterfalls that houses numerous tropical and sub-tropical plants. And when you feel like some refreshments, there is a big café with glass windows that provides fantastic views of the park.
My next visit of the day was to see the Imperial Palace which is the main residence of the Emperor of Japan. The Palace is located on the former site of Edo castle and is surrounded by a large stone wall and moats. The Palace was actually destroyed during World War II, but it was rebuilt in the same style. I couldn’t access the inner grounds, though, as they are only open two days a year: January 2 and February 23 for a New Year greeting and the emperor’s birthday. Anyway, the place is certainly worth a visit just to view the Palace and surrounding area.
My final visit of the day was to Ginza which is Tokyo’s most famous upmarket shopping district where fancy boutiques and glitzy cocktail bars can be found. This is a good place to sample some sushi and do some window shopping, even if you don’t want to buy, and the nightlife is worth sampling if you don’t mind splashing some more hard-earned cash!
