Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Tokyo

#cherryblossom25 Shinjuku Gyoen is a masterpiece of a park — a blend of three garden styles, right in the middle of one of Tokyo’s busiest districts. I came here during peak bloom and it was like someone had hit pause on the chaos of the city. The cherry blossoms here come in waves — early, mid, and late bloomers — so you get layers of color that shift as you wander through Japanese, English, and French-style gardens. I laid out under a blooming somei yoshino tree with a convenience store bento and just soaked up the stillness. The garden is well-kept and super photogenic — my photos with the Tokyo skyline in the background got tons of love on #cherryblossom25. If you only have time for one sakura stop in Tokyo, this is the one. It's a little oasis where nature, architecture, and history come together in the most peaceful way possible.