As part of an exclusive project by Nippon Travel Agency, private tours of Shinjuku Gyoen, the Formal Imperial Garden, will be held from November 2024 to February 2025. This extraordinary tour guides you back in time through the unique imperial hospitality of Japan, allowing the park to become your own private space.
Set in the heart of Shinjuku, discover the famous park’s rich history, significance, and culture through rare access to areas typically restricted to the public. Morning, afternoon, and evening tours are available, giving you the opportunity to have the park for yourself and your group in an intimate and personal way.
Rain or shine, this tour promises an exclusive perspective with an unforgettable garden tour, a locally crafted meal, a tea ceremony, and a traditional gagaku performance—the imperial court music and dance of Japan.
The tour is conducted entirely in English and highlights the true value of the beauty of Shinjuku Gyoen, the Formal Imperial Garden.
The Tour
- Garden Tour
- Traditional Meal and Tea Ceremony
- Gagaku, Traditional Performance
Garden Tour
While Shinjuku Gyoen can be enjoyed year round, the Japanese maple trees in autumn or the snow flurries in winter provide a particularly stunning backdrop to the former imperial garden.
Led by a gardening specialist, the garden tour introduces you to unique plant species and traditional Japanese gardening techniques. You will get to know more about the people who tend the garden by participating in a garden maintenance experience. Under the guidance of the gardener, you will have the chance to prune branches and remove bark. With provided gloves and goggles, you can be a part of preserving Shinjuku Gyoen’s beauty.
Appreciate the seasonal transformation of Shinjuku Gyoen through this garden experience.
Traditional Meal and Tea Ceremony
In a traditional Japanese teahouse within the park, make yourself comfortable on the tatami floors. Cushions and chairs are provided to ensure a relaxing time for an exclusive meal only available for this event.
The meal is served in three bento boxes featuring seasonal produce and traditional Edo-Tokyo vegetables associated with Shinjuku Gyoen. These high-quality ingredients are products favored by the Imperial Household. The meal is prepared by Chef Nonaga from “Nihonbashi Yukari,” who is a purveyor to the Imperial Household.
You are encouraged to lean into your five senses while enjoying the meal. Admire its presentation, listen to the natural sounds of Shinjuku Gyoen, smell the seasonal aromas, taste the premium ingredients, and feel a new sense of nourishment.
Please note that there are no replacements for the meal contents, but it is possible to have certain foods omitted.
Following the meal is an immersive tea ceremony. The tea is brewed and served by a tea master. You may choose between matcha or matcha latte, paired with a small Japanese pastry filled with red bean paste. Take the tea and pastry outside on a wooden tray for the next special treat.
Gagaku, Traditional Performance
Feel free to sit on the wooden benches outside the teahouse and enjoy the performance of three musicians and one dancer’s traditional gagaku music and dance.
As you sip tea and taste your pastry, tune into the traditional Japanese instruments as the dancer follows the rhythm and mood of the music. This special performance will immerse you in the spirit of Japan.
The finale of the performance will mark the end of the tour.
Shinjuku Gyoen, The Formal Imperial Garden
Not only will this exclusively English guided tour grant you unparalleled photo opportunities without crowds, you will also be able to truly appreciate the rich history and charm of Shinjuku Gyoen.
Experience the unique hospitality of Japan through a garden experience, a traditional meal and tea ceremony, and a traditional music and dance performance.
Reservations can be made online through the official website. After you have made your reservation, you will receive an email with all the necessary information, including meeting time, location, and contact details for the day of the tour.
