Shinjuku Gyoen

You didn't think I was finished with cherry blossoms yet, did you?

These pictures were taken at Shinjuku Gyoen, the best park in the city. It's a place I'm becoming more familiar with recently, thanks to a new class I'm teaching. As an extension of English Adventure's seasonal camps, the new Nature Club brings kids together twice a month to study nature in the outdoors, and Shinjuku Gyoen is where we do it. It may seem an odd place to study nature with its manicured lawns and well-maintained Japanese and European style gardens, but the park is blessed with some surprisingly wild areas. It's not quite the same as the amazing forest and seaside venues of English Adventure's regular camps, but given its convenient location there's no better venue for the Nature Club.

These pictures don't have much to do with the club, since we mostly stay away from the formal garden areas (but many of the pictures from my previous wildflower post were taken in the wilder areas of Shinjuku Gyoen where we study). But I'm at the park often now to scout for the lessons or to have a picnic afterward, so I get to see the photogenic areas as well.

These were taken over a few days in mid-April, a time when most of the cherry trees in the city had dropped their petals. Shinjuku Gyoen has such a wide variety of sakura that there were dozens of them still in bloom though, and there was a good number of people out enjoying some hanami (flower viewing).

 

After my first class my husband joined me for a picnic. I had been far too nervous and busy that morning to prepare a proper lunch so left it all up to him, and the grub above is what he came up with: several types of onigiri, a tray of greasy sausages, fried chicken, french fries and potato croquettes, a package of crunchy curry-flavoured snack things, and string cheese. Green tea to drink and a can of beer (discretely wrapped in a bag, as the park is alcohol-free) and for dessert, a package of Koala no March (koala-shaped cookies filled with chocolate). All classic convenience store food, and definitely not what I would have picked, but that's what happens when men do the shopping.

Among the many types of cherry trees in the park are a few of these rare green ones, which have a different kind of beauty from the usual pink varieties. There were plenty of other pretty and interesting plants, like the hime tsubaki camelia below, and it's going to take me many, many visits until I'm familiar with them all.

English Adventure is having a family picnic this Sunday (April 26th), so if you're curious about the Nature Club or other events this is a great chance to find out more; check here for more information. It's free and everyone is invited, and I'll be there. Hopefully with a lunch that was made by me rather than picked up at the combini.

See more pictures in my Shinjuku Gyoen album.

Comments

[zee]

Amy, I really love the camelia picture. The lighting is very beautiful and I can almost smell the scent of it.

You are sooo lucky to have such a beautiful park that you can visit often. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[Su-Lin]

I especially love the contrasts in the photo with all the people having picnics. From very casual (the couples) to very very formal (those businessmen/students?) on the left hand side!

[K]

Ahh I love all these pictures! Particularly the sakura filled pond, and macro shot. So gorgeous!

[tuki]

I love your blog! Thankyou!!

[Lynne]

I know I ask this before, but what camera do you have? The pictures are amazing!
I am looking for another camera to capture pictures like these...simply amazing!

Please email me when you find time...will be waiting for you!

[Liv]

I've only been out of Japan for 10 days but this post made me so Japan-sick! I couldn't believe it was my last spring there. Enjoy it, please!

[hampers]

This is a clear example how beautiful our environment is if very well taken-cared of. This place for me is paradise to consider. So clean, no pollution whatsoever. I wonder the food. Should also be environment and human-friendly - I mean, preservative-free and toxic-free I may say.

[LC]

Hello! I was just looking for names and photos of Japanese flora and came across your beautiful pictures. Not a side of usually think of when I think of Japan. Thank you sharing.

[Iced Green Tea]

I tihnk just the Japanese culture can create gardens as beautiful as these. We should follow their example.

[Dermitage]

Amazing...photography i like it,all images are very beautiful,can you please disclose which camra you use for it.

[LucyDoolan]

Ahh I love all these pictures!You are sooo lucky to have such a beautiful park that you can visit often. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[Morgan]

I , just like the CAMELIA garden and it's flowers ... it is so beautiful . Thanks to GOD to make such a wonder land ...