Passed through Shinjuku Gyoen on 8/31

When I asked for reprints of old photos, I was told it would be evening before they were ready because they were busy.
So, I decided to go to Shinjuku Gyoen for the first time in a while.
I entered through the Sendagaya Gate and picked up a park map.

It looked like there might be small flowers blooming here and there, but to be quick, I asked a staff member at the entrance, "Where are the flowers blooming?"
Looking a bit troubled, they told me they were blooming in the greenhouse.
Hmm, I guess Shinjuku Gyoen is also suffering from the summer heat...

I walked leisurely toward the Japanese garden.
The trees that would be pink all over in spring were, unfortunately, green now.
The leaves, having passed their fresh green stage, were a solid, deep green.
Even if I tried to point my camera at them, they didn't look very cute.

As I wove through the neatly trimmed trees, the central rest house came into view.
Succumbing to the heat—or rather, thinking that if I missed this spot, there wouldn't be any cool places for a while—I bought a cassis cream soda to cool down a bit.
And this drink cost 800 yen.
That's a classic tourist price. I suppose it can't be helped if it includes the cost of air conditioning.

As I proceeded to the Japanese garden area, I was greeted by a vast, neatly mowed lawn.
There were even some brave souls napping here and there, and I fully enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere.
However, it was hot!
I wonder if the people taking care of the garden are okay in this intense heat.

I crossed the bridge over the upper pond and, while admiring the pampas grass, headed to the "Mother and Child Forest Area."
Since there was a narrow path through the woods, I got a little lost while walking under the bald cypress trees.
According to the internet,
"The bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) is a species of deciduous conifer classified in the family Cupressaceae, subfamily Taxodioideae. The lower part of the trunk sometimes spreads out like a folding screen, and respiratory roots often protrude from the surrounding ground. The leaves are soft, and the name comes from the fact that in autumn, the bird-feather-like leaves fall off along with the branches."
That seems to be the case, and they really are feather-like leaves.

The scenery with aerial roots poking out of the ground here and there has a somewhat unique atmosphere.

After that, I left through the Shinjuku Gate, went around to Shinjuku Station, and rested a bit at Penguin Square before heading home.
The slanted light after 5 o'clock gave the street corners a sense of depth, which was quite interesting.
The end.