Shinjuku Gyoen All to Yourself: Limited-Time Private Tours in Tokyo

A Rare Invitation to Shinjuku Gyoen

From November 25, 2024 to February 3, 2025, Shinjuku Gyoen is running a special event outside of its normal operating hours. For this period only, the garden is open to a small number of guests on Mondays, when it is usually closed. These sessions offer visitors a chance to experience the garden in an intimate setting, as its designers originally intended.

Shinjuku Gyoen was first conceived of as a gift to one of Tokyo’s daimyo, lesser feudal lords who served great clans like the Tokugawa Shogunate. It was reborn in 1906 as a space for the imperial family to entertain visitors. International dignitaries and Japanese lords walked these auspicious paths for centuries before opening to the public after World War II.

Keep reading to learn more about the tour options, what to expect, fees, how to book and more.

About the Program: A Day of Cultural Immersion and Serenity

All the tours include a guided walk, where guests stroll the paths of feudal lords and enjoy landscapes that have been carefully manicured since the 1500s. The garden comprises a classical French garden, an English lawn, and a traditional Japanese garden. Two ponds, connected by a small river, mirror the sky and surrounding trees in serene natural beauty. 

Guests can enjoy each corner of the garden as they stroll with expert guides. They'll also indulge in the flavors of traditional Japan through gourmet meals and tea ceremonies while enjoying the ancient performances of court musicians and dancers. Below is a bit more on each of the elements of the tours.

Small Group Garden Stroll

Shinjuku Gyoen’s English-speaking guides are entirely at the guest’s disposal during these walks, ensuring ample time for questions and discovery. Visitors are invited to dive into the past as they retrace the steps of the great people who have preserved the gardens to this day.

 Full-Service Tea Ceremony

After the stroll, visitors learn about the art of tea ceremony. A formal tea ceremony is called sado or chado, words that mean “the way of tea” and reflect its deep roots in Japanese culture. Even warring samurai considered the practice of tea ceremony a way to focus their energies. The fastidiousness, attention to detail, and subtlety of a traditional tea ceremony are moving events that no visitor will soon forget.

Invitees are immersed in the atmosphere of sado during an authentic tea ceremony held in Shinjuku Gyoen’s on-site tea room. While enjoying the contrast of sweets and bitter matcha, the space and decor allow guests to further appreciate the elegant art of tea.

Gourmet Washoku Meals

Traditionally, the tea ceremony was served with a light meal called cha-kaiseki. In modern times, kaiseki has developed into a uniquely beautiful cuisine. During this specially-prepared meal, visitors are able to taste the food of imperial nobility with a washoku meal by 2002 Iron Chef winner and international culinary representative Chef Nonaga of Nihonbashi Yukari, a renowned Japanese restaurant.

Chef Nonaga’s cuisine is remarkable for its classical style and use of seasonal and local ingredients, including heirloom edo-yasai vegetables. It showcases the traditional elements of washoku, such as the incorporation of five colors and five preparation styles to create balance. The meal offers a true taste of Japan that can’t be replicated elsewhere.

Court Music and Dancing

Gagaku, the traditional court music of Japan, is defined by the restrained, ephemeral sounds of the koto and shamisen. These instruments, combined with the sounds of bamboo pipes and stimulating footwork of traditional dancers, whisk visitors away to another, more mysterious world.

Performers wear traditional attire and drift across the water as they perform from boats called wasen. On stage, traditional masked dancers add to the engaging show with traditional choreography.

Tour Options: Unique Experiences at Different Times of Day

While each tour includes a variety of once-in-a-lifetime spectacles, Shinjuku Gyoen proudly offers three different options. The tours showcase the many sides of the imperial gardens, including night views that are off-limits during regular hours. 

Morning Tour: Breakfast and tea ceremony in the refreshing morning air.

Afternoon Tour: Exclusive lunch service, tea, and daytime walk with gagaku performances.

Evening Tour: Illuminated garden stroll with dinner and music by gagaku musicians and dancers.

 Morning Tour: Start Your Day with Nature and Tranquility 

The morning tour is ideal for guests who wish to connect with nature nice and early. As the rest of Tokyo winds through crowds to get to their morning meetings, those on this tour wind through gardens filled with songbirds instead of street signs. This rare side of the city is sure to enchant early risers.

Participants are treated to a guided tour through the crisp morning gardens, followed by a special breakfast and tea ceremony. A memorable way to start the week, the morning tour offers a chance to appreciate the early hours while immersing in Japanese culture.

Duration: 3 hours (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM)
Meeting Location/Time*: Shinjuku Gyoen, Sendagaya Gate at 9:00 AM
Minimum Participants: 1
Capacity: 20 participants per session (2024: 11/25, 12/2, 12/9, 12/16, 12/23, 2025: 1/20, 1/27, 2/3)
Tour Guide Language: English
Fee: ¥50,000 per session
*Please note that the meeting location and time may change due to seasonal or weather conditions.

Afternoon Tour: A Cultural Journey through Music and Scenery

For those who prefer an afternoon activity, this tour offers a typical view of the garden in a new light. In-depth talks on the history and notable features of Shinjuku Gyoen from expert guides paint a picture of the garden’s past. Guests also receive a commemorative souvenir from their time in the garden.

The afternoon tour also includes live performances from wasen boats featuring classical gagaku court music. The enchanting spirit of Japan floats along the water like songs in the breeze as guests make their way to a special washoku lunch by Iron Chef Nonaga and take part in an authentic tea ceremony.

Duration: 3 hours (1:00 PM - 4:00 PM)
Meeting Location/Time*: Shinjuku Gyoen, Shinjuku Gate at 1:00 PM
Minimum Participants: 1
Capacity: 20 participants per session (2024: 11/25, 12/2, 12/9, 12/16, 12/23, 2025: 1/20, 1/27, 2/3)
Tour Guide Language: English
Fee: ¥120,000 per session
*Please note that the meeting location and time may change due to seasonal or weather conditions.

Evening Tour: An Enchanting Nighttime Stroll with Traditional Music

The nighttime tour, complete with illuminations and exclusive performances, casts the garden in mystical shadows. Spend a private evening with loved ones and friends while enjoying the unmatched peace and serenity of Shinjuku Gyoen. As guests move through the garden, they carry a traditional lantern, just like in the imperial era.

The evening tour also includes enchanting musical performances on classical wasen wooden boats, which glide across the garden's water. Dinner is prepared by Chef Nonaga, an Iron Chef Champion and third-generation washoku master. Finally, a tea ceremony and commemorative souvenir make this experience truly one of a kind.

Duration: 3 hours (6:00 PM - 9:00 PM)
Meeting Location/Time*: Shinjuku Gyoen, Shinjuku Gate at 6:00 PM
Minimum Participants: 1
Capacity: 15 participants per session (2024: 11/25, 12/2, 12/9, 12/16, 12/23, 2025: 1/20, 1/27, 2/3)
Tour Guide Language: English
Fee: ¥120,000 per session
*Please note that the meeting location and time may change due to seasonal or weather conditions.

How to Book Your Tour

Bookings can be made directly on the website linked below. As spots are extremely limited, guests are encouraged to act quickly. Each tour offers up to 20 slots per day, and only runs once a week during the winter period.

The tours are operated by Nihon Travel Agency. To book, visitors simply need to register their details and proceed with the reservation. 

A Truly Unique Japanese Experience Awaits

Between the historical importance of Shinjuku Gyoen to its unmatched beauty, this Tokyo treasure is a must-see while visiting Japan. These tours offer guests the chance to see a hidden side of the gardens and step back in time to Imperial Japan.  The experience combines the omotenashi culture, customs, and delights that made Shinjuku Gyoen the destination for visiting nobility.

Shinjuku Gyoen

11 Naitomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0014

Sponsored by Special Experience SHINJUKU GYOEN Organizing Committee