December 25th
Start&Finish: Shinrinkoen south entrance (there is 300 yen parking just outside the park)
The weather: Cold and sunny.
Outfit/Equipment: Jeans, jumper, light shoes
Map: Here’s a link to the park’s own website
Crowds: Very quiet
Time: 10am-12pm
Difficulty: 16,404 steps.
My Christmas treat was a walk around Shinrinkoen. This is definitely my happy place and I used to walk here at least once a month back in the days when I just didn’t have the mental space to think about hiking. It’s a huge park with loads of trails, there’s no chance of getting lost so I’d just switch off my brain and see where my feet took me. There are beautiful flower borders, wild areas, play areas, paddling areas, lakes, open grassy spaces, leafy glades; something for every season and I love it. I went at night a week or so ago for the annual light up of the autumn leaves which I have attended for many years now, but I came back for a winter walk in the sunshine. I usually start at the south gate and amble up various paths towards the botanical garden and formal borders, then back down again. For a totally stress free escape from the hassles of daily living there is no better place.
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