Kokuritsu-Kyogijo Walking Guide — A Park and Three Quiet Temples

Around Kokuritsu-Kyogijo Station there are 4 walking spots, ranging from a metropolitan park to Buddhist temples. Three of them are temples tucked quietly into the residential streets of Sendagaya and Kasumigaoka, while the fourth is a lawn-centered park right beside the National Stadium. The appeal of a walk from this station is the way you can move back and forth between the noise of the main roads near Jingu Gaien and the stillness of a temple grounds just one street off.

A good order: leave the station and start at [Meiji Park](/en/spot/572c5648-2998-480f-ab94-317dc5194ef0) for the open view, then head into the residential blocks and visit [Zuien-ji Temple](/en/spot/f0358232-c81f-477f-9b1e-6afab2c51d31), [Shorinji Temple](/en/spot/26a6de90-b159-415f-9815-d6d9e0148dc6) and [Senjuin Temple](/en/spot/b9d78092-dcd1-4ba7-b0db-97dffa05da26) in turn. The route moves from open to quiet, slowing your pace as you go.

Meiji Park

A metropolitan park adjoining the National Stadium, at 5-7 Kasumigaoka-cho, Shinjuku-ku — an easy starting point just outside the station. Cafés and shops line the grounds around a central lawn, so you can pause here before or after your walk. In summer it hosts a beer lounge and outdoor film screenings.

Zuien-ji Temple

A temple set within a residential neighborhood, a few minutes' walk from Kokuritsu-Kyogijo Station. Step one street off the main road and the flow of people thins out; pass through the temple gate and a quiet precinct surrounded by trees opens up. It's a natural detour on the way toward Jingu Gaien or Shinjuku Gyoen, and a good place to slow your walking pace.

Shorinji Temple

A temple a short way into the residential streets from Kokuritsu-Kyogijo Station. It's surrounded by office buildings and apartments, but once you pass through the gate the sound of the street fades and time slows. Simply putting your hands together and looking at the trees is enough to reset the mood of a walk. It makes a small resting point when walking around Jingu Gaien or Sendagaya.

Senjuin Temple

A temple in Sendagaya, within walking distance of Kokuritsu-Kyogijo Station. A nearby slope and intersection carry the temple's name, which still survives in the local place names today. The grounds sit slightly away from the bustle of the main road and are quiet — a good place to catch your breath after walking around Jingu Gaien.

A closing tip

Three of the four spots are temples, and none of the four lists a budget — a walk here costs nothing but your time. Save the cafés at Meiji Park for the end, and the walk closes on a comfortable note.