An oasis of manicured calm just minutes from Shinjuku's overwhelming commercial sprawl, this former imperial retreat fuses three garden styles — Japanese, English landscape, and French formal — into one harmonious green space. The wide lawns are prime territory for cherry-blossom picnics without the rowdy energy of Yoyogi or Ueno, as alcohol is officially banned. Don't miss the greenhouse, where giant lily pads and orchids thrive in tropical humidity. In autumn, the ginkgo and maple canopy turns the garden into a slow-burning fire of gold and red.