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Shinjuku Gyoen: Crowds, Cherry Blossom Tickets and Opening Hours

Q: What is the best time to visit Shinjuku Gyoen?

At 9 am on a weekday. Check our live crowd tracker for your date.

By the BeatTheCrowd team · Updated 21 October 2026 · 3 min read

Quick answer

Shinjuku Gyoen costs ¥500 for adults (under 16 free), is closed on Mondays, and alcohol is banned, which keeps it calmer than other cherry blossom parks. It opens at 9 am, with closing times from 4 pm to 6:30 pm by season. On peak cherry blossom weekends, entry needs a timed advance ticket (10 am to 4 pm, on the busiest weekends). Arrive at 9 am on a weekday for the quietest lawns.

At a glance

Adults: ¥500 (students and over 65s ¥250, under 16 free)
Closed: Mondays (next day if a holiday)
Opens: 9 am
Closes

How busy is Shinjuku Gyoen?

Shinjuku Gyoen, a former imperial garden, covers 58 hectares, with French, English and Japanese gardens and over 1,000 cherry trees of many varieties, so blossoms last for weeks. It's spacious, so even busy days feel fine, except on peak cherry blossom weekends, when entry is limited by timed tickets.

Time	What to expect	Verdict
9-10:30 am	Quiet lawns	Best
11 am-3 pm	Busy, especially weekends	OK
Last hour	Calmer, gates close on time	Good

When	Crowds	Why
Late March to mid-April	Extreme on weekends	Cherry blossoms, timed tickets
November	High	Chrysanthemum exhibition and autumn leaves
Summer weekdays	Low	Hot, but shady
Winter	Low	Greenhouse and early camellias

🔑 The free skip-the-line hack

Before you go, check how busy Shinjuku Gyoen is likely to be. BeatTheCrowd shows the live crowd level and an hourly forecast for any date, adjusted for cherry blossom season and holidays.

Check today’s crowds at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden →

Tickets and cherry blossom reservations

Ticket	Price	Notes
Adults	¥500	Ticket machines at each gate
Students and over 65s	¥250	With ID
Under 16	Free
Annual pass	Available	For regular visitors

Peak cherry blossom weekends need a timed ticket

Advance timed tickets are required from 10 am to 4 pm on the peak blossom weekends, usually in late March and early April. Check the official site from early March.

Best (and worst) times to go

9 am on a weekday.

Mid-April, when late-blooming cherries extend the season with fewer crowds.

Early November for chrysanthemums.

Worst: peak cherry blossom weekends without a ticket. Mondays (closed).

🔑 The free skip-the-line hack

Our hourly forecast for Shinjuku Gyoen shows how busy each hour is expected to be on your date.

Check today’s crowds at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden →

Gate	Station	Walk
Shinjuku Gate	Shinjuku-gyoemmae (Marunouchi Line)	About 5 minutes. Also 10 minutes from Shinjuku Station
Ōkido Gate	Shinjuku-gyoemmae	About 5 minutes
Sendagaya Gate	JR Sendagaya	About 5 minutes

Gate

Station

Walk

Shinjuku Gate

Shinjuku-gyoemmae (Marunouchi Line)

About 5 minutes. Also 10 minutes from Shinjuku Station

Ōkido Gate

Shinjuku-gyoemmae

About 5 minutes

Sendagaya Gate

JR Sendagaya

About 5 minutes

FAQs

How much is Shinjuku Gyoen?

¥500 for adults, ¥250 for students and over 65s, and free for under 16s.

Is Shinjuku Gyoen closed on Mondays?

Yes, or the next day if Monday is a holiday.

Is alcohol allowed in Shinjuku Gyoen?

No, alcohol is banned.

Do you need a ticket for cherry blossom season at Shinjuku Gyoen?

On peak weekends, yes: a timed advance ticket from 10 am to 4 pm.

What are Shinjuku Gyoen's opening hours?

9 am to 4 pm in winter, 5:30 pm in spring and September, and 6:30 pm in July and August.

What is the best time to visit Shinjuku Gyoen?

Sources

How we research: every guide is written by the BeatTheCrowd team from official sources and recent traveller reports, cross-checked against each other, and dated so you know how fresh it is. Last checked 21 October 2026. Prices and rules change, so always confirm on the official site before you book.

Alcohol	Banned. Bags may be checked in cherry season
Playground equipment and ball games	Restricted
Toilets	Throughout the garden
Food	Cafés inside. Picnics allowed on the lawns
Time needed	1.5-2 hours

Shinjuku Gyoen: Crowds, Cherry Blossom Tickets and Opening Hours

How busy is Shinjuku Gyoen?

Tickets and cherry blossom reservations

What to see

Best (and worst) times to go

Plans by visitor type

Cherry blossom picnic

Families

Limited mobility

Getting there

Practical info and rules

Mistakes to avoid

Is Shinjuku Gyoen worth it?