As someone who’s used to warm weather pretty much all year round, I wasn’t exactly prepared for how long Japanese winters can be. I thought spring would show up in March like it does back home—but nope. It stayed cold until late April. By that point, I was desperate for sunshine, warmth, anything that didn’t involve a coat and freezing fingers.
That’s when I discovered the greenhouse in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden—and honestly, it was like stepping into a mini jungle paradise right in the middle of Tokyo.
The greenhouse has been around since 1892 (which is kind of wild to think about), and once you step inside, it’s instantly warm and full of life. There are tropical and subtropical plants everywhere—huge leafy ones, colourful flowers, even banana plants and a cacao tree (aka, the chocolate tree!). Okay, so the cacao tree wasn’t growing chocolate bars or anything, but there was a real cacao fruit under it, which was pretty cool to see.
One of the highlights was the orchid exhibit—it was ridiculously beautiful. The colours were unreal and the flowers looked like something out of a fantasy movie. I didn’t remember all the names (there were a lot), but I do recall some of them were called Phalaenopsis, Cattleya, and Dendrobium—very fancy-sounding. Honestly, I just walked around with my jaw open the whole time, taking about a million photos.
The best part? It’s quiet, peaceful, and warm. That last one is especially important if your toes haven’t thawed since December. Plus, it’s inside Shinjuku Gyoen Park, which is kind of like an oasis in the middle of Tokyo. When the weather is nicer, you can explore the park, have a picnic, or just lie on the grass and pretend you’re in a Studio Ghibli movie.
If you’re visiting Tokyo during the colder months (or just need a break from the city noise), the Shinjuku Gyoen greenhouse is the perfect place to warm up, chill out, and maybe learn a thing or two about tropical plants while you’re at it.
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