Shinjuku Gyoen 2018 Cherry Blossoms

Pale pink cherry blossoms bloom in dense clusters at Shinjuku Gyoen, framed by a soft, blurred background.
Visitors stroll past the 2018 Shinjuku Gyoen cherry blossoms with the Shinjuku skyline in the background.
Shinjuku’s skyscrapers provide a beautiful background for Shinjuku Gyoen’s cherry blossoms.

The 2018 cherry blossom season at Shinjuku Gyoen was, in a word, perfect. After several years of mistiming my visits, a magnificent display of full blooms that surpassed all previous years greeted me. It was a day of pure photographic bliss.

A massive cherry blossom tree at Shinjuku Gyoen in full bloom with pale pink flowers against a clear blue sky.

NTT Docomo Building & sakura

My favorite photo was of the iconic NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building towering in the background, creating a stunning contrast with the delicate pink and white petals with a young girl running across the foreground. The soft haze in the air, initially a slight disappointment, cleared as the morning progressed and we had brilliant blue skies.

A young girl runs across a sunlit field past the 2018 Shinjuku Gyoen cherry blossoms under a clear blue sky.

Shinjuku Gyoen 2018 lenses

For many of the shots, I relied on the Fujifilm XF 55-200mm lens. Its sharpness and bokeh were exceptional for capturing intimate, macro-like details of the blossoms. Considering its impressive image quality, the lens is a fantastic value and served as a worthy substitute for a dedicated macro lens.

The camera body was the Fujifilm X-T2, paired at times with the versatile XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR lens for wider shots.

Delicate 2018 Shinjuku Gyoen cherry blossoms in focus with a person sitting on a park bench in the background.

The “Golden Hour” challenge

I have a photographic bucket list, did you know? One day I want to photograph the cherry blossoms during the “Golden Hour,” that magical period shortly after sunrise or before sunset.

But, with the park’s general operating hours between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., this remains a dream. The park’s hours can vary depending on the season, with extended hours in the summer months.

The 2018 Shinjuku Gyoen cherry blossoms frame a tall tower under a clear blue sky as visitors relax on the lawn.

The alcohol ban

One minor annoyance during the 2018 visit was the constant presence of staff with signs reminding visitors of the park’s alcohol ban. While I fully support the policy, the repeated reminders seemed redundant, especially with bag checks at the entrance.

It appeared that those who had managed to sneak in alcoholic beverages were undeterred anyway.

I hope you find as much joy in these images as I did in capturing them. Please feel free to share your own experiences and read [Shinjuku Gyoen is Tokyo’s Best Cherry Blossom Spot] to learn more about the park.

Clusters of pale pink 2018 Shinjuku Gyoen cherry blossoms stand out against a deep blue sky.
People gather beneath a massive cherry blossom tree in full bloom across a sunlit grassy field.

My photography gear for this shoot

  • Camera: Fujifilm X-T2
  • Lenses:
    • Fujifilm XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR
    • Fujifilm XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS
People relax on a sunlit lawn near the blooming 2018 Shinjuku Gyoen cherry blossoms.

I hope you find as much joy in these images as I did in capturing them. Please feel free to share your own experiences and read [Shinjuku Gyoen is Tokyo’s Best Cherry Blossom Spot] to learn more about the park.

Visitors walk past the 2018 Shinjuku Gyoen cherry blossoms with a landmark tower visible above the trees.

Date of Photos: 27 March 2018

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