This sprawling garden turned out to be the perfect nature break with kids in central Tokyo. What makes it special is how it combines three different garden styles - you can wander from a traditional Japanese landscape complete with teahouse, to a formal French garden, then into an English landscape park, all while staying in the heart of Shinjuku.

The space is huge enough that even when cherry blossoms bring crowds, you can still find quiet spots for kids to run around. The lawns are actually meant for picnicking (unlike many Japanese gardens), which makes it perfect for family lunch breaks between sightseeing.

The small entrance fee helps keep the crowds manageable, and the grounds are beautifully maintained. It's one of those rare places where you completely forget you're in the middle of the world's largest city - until you look up and see skyscrapers peeking over the tree line.