【Shinjuku Gyoen】Authentic Matcha, Whisked on the Lawn Under Open Skies｜A Picnic Afternoon with Travelers from Around the World

Who knew such quiet lawns existed in the heart of Tokyo. Spread a sheet across the sweeping lawns of Shinjuku Gyoen, look up at the sky, and whisk your own bowl of matcha by hand. Trading conversation — part English, part everything else — with fellow travelers from around the world, it's an afternoon that lingers long in the memory.

Shinjuku Gyoen is Tokyo's most beautiful cherry blossom garden. With roughly 65 varieties and 1,000 trees — not only Somei Yoshino, but also double-flowered cherries, weeping cherries, and more — blooming in succession, the blossoms can be enjoyed over a long stretch from late March through mid-April.

No experience with a tea whisk? No problem. Your English-speaking guide will gently walk you through the gestures of the tea ceremony and the history behind it, explaining the meaning behind each step. The finer the froth, the sweeter and smoother the tea. Take a bite of a seasonal wagashi sweet before your first sip of freshly whisked matcha — even the way the flavors layer together is part of the art of tea.