17 November 2019
Entry fee
Shinjuku Gyoen Garden and shopping in Shinjuku
I last went to Shinjuku Gyoen Garden in March 2012. It was a grey day, and everything in it was brown and dead. The place was almost deserted. The very first blossoms were appearing, and old women were excitedly standing patiently with their huge cameras watching flowers open in the rain. And yes I know Gyoen means garden, or imperial garden or emperors garden or divine heavenly imperial father garden. Generally I am more of a Koen guy (public garden), because Shinjuku Gyoen has an entry fee, 500 yen! Extortion.
With all of that out the way, Shinjuku Gyoen was looking great today. Well worth the price of admission. A real example of past performance is not indicative of future results.
There were signs saying there were turtles, I could not find any. While hunting for turtles I managed to get in the way of countless peoples photos. Lots of Australians. Some of them were mad at me. Too bad. Now I am in your photos looking for turtles.
After experiencing the garden for at least 2 hours, I headed back into the heart of Shinjuku and gawked at my dream purchase in a guitar shop without daring to touch it. Fortunately they are impossible to buy in Australia currently.
The streets around Shinjuku are closed off to traffic on Sunday, even some of the main roads. However some traffic ignores this, and speeds down their in blinged out mini vans pumping j-pop sending people running in terror. Someone should arrest these idiots.
The light and weather was amazing today, perfect for garden photos, so I took a lot of them. Most of them will feature the massive GOTHAMIC DoCoMo tower.
Lots of wide open spaces, it looks mostly like there were hardly any people, but thats because wherever I go, people flee in terror.
More open space and Batman land building.
There is a hot house, it was already hot outside, I should have been wearing shorts. The hot house was sweat inducing. Nice lillipads though. Lillie pads? Lilypads? Lily pads? Lillypads? Who knows.
Have some more of something pads.
Hot house and roof. Now back to the garden.
I thought I might find some turtles in these ponds. I did not. Also many parts of the garden are still closed due to the recent Typhoon. They are worried trees might still fall over.
No people.
Reflections.
The other way. So much more colorful than when I came here on a grey day in March.
Some more of the mobile phone tower.
I like these trees a lot.
Nearly finished.
Heres another word I need to look up to be able to spell, Chrysanthemum. These are the winners. The official season ends today I think.
Last one. The flowers in the lawn on this photo are very bright, and confuse the white balance on my camera.
Every trip I have to take a photo of piles of rubbish. And at this juncture I will mention that when walking through Kabukicho this morning, everywhere smelt of urine, and then I saw a guy and a girl urinating together in broad daylight in the middle of the street in front of guys cleaning the streets.
Apple store Japan has a permanent line to spend $1500+ on a phone.
The closed streets of Shinjuku. Be careful here! Cars like to race up the closed streets for attention.
I never noticed the 'church' on top of this building before.
Here is my future $4000 purchase. If I could walk into a store and buy one, I probably would. But I cannot, there seems to be a year long waiting list, so I am safe.
OK, one more of the mobile phone tower, last one I promise.
Final pic of the day, Shinjuku as seen from the station overpass. Nice weather! I wonder if it will remain nice for hiking tomorrow?