There are three Marui department stores in Shinjuku: Marui Main Building, Marui Annex, and Marui Men!
Today, we'll be introducing the Marui Main Building. Please note that the movie theater, Wald 9, is located in the Marui Annex!
To get to the Marui Main Building, go out the East Exit of JR Shinjuku Station and walk along Shinjuku-dori towards Bicqlo and Isetan.
And, on the rooftop of the Marui Main Building, there's a spot called the "Q-COURT," a British-style garden!
This is an overall view of Q-COURT.
It's been certified as an "Oasis in the City 2014" and seems to be focusing on being a third place where you can enjoy beautiful scenery even in the city.
I remember that Marui also had a certification at "Shiki no Niwa and Mizube no Niwa"!
By the way, the name Q-COURT comes from the initial "Question," which represents a world of unknown future.
To get to the rooftop garden "Q-COURT" at Marui, take the elevator to the 8th floor and then access it by stairs.
When you get off on the 8th floor and turn left, you'll see an entrance that looks like it.
Even the entrance is different from a typical rooftop garden! This is something to look forward to.
The business hours are "April to September: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, October to March: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM"!
When you go up the stairs and enter the garden, you'll find a wonderful space with a lawn and winding paths!
Being a British-style garden, it's designed to capture natural scenery.
It's totally different from a regular department store rooftop!
This is an area called the "Komorebi no Niwa" (Sunlight Filtering Through the Trees Garden), and I immediately went through the pergola.
Don't you want to go through anything like this when you see it? (lol)
It looks simple because I visited in winter, but it seems like it will be a wonderful pergola from spring to summer.
You can see espaliers on the fence on the right.
By the way, on the right side of the garden, there are six tables where you can sit and take a break!
It seems that climbing plants will grow on this pergola in the summer.
These are simple tables that match the color of the pergola.
It seems like it can be used by families with children or as a place to eat lunch in Shinjuku!
By the way, the ground is paved, so your shoes won't get dirty.
And as you walk along the path, you'll find a "Rose Garden" with a hedged area.
This is exciting! Oh, at the entrance of the garden...
The cats were taking a rest♪
They are lovely~, it's a space where you can relax even while in Shinjuku.
And the Rose Garden has a geometric-patterned formal garden!
Here...is this the rooftop of a commercial facility? The quality is high.
I never thought I could enjoy a British-style garden right in the middle of Shinjuku (lol)
And there were benches around where you could sit and take a break!
Two-seater benches were dotted around!
They have armrests and are comfortable to sit on, creating a nice atmosphere.
You might be able to enjoy the scent of roses in the summer.
Take a break, away from the hustle and bustle of Shinjuku, while gazing at the formal garden♪
I saw some people using it as a date spot in Shinjuku.
Of course, even if you are alone... How wonderful it would be to read a book on this bench under the blue sky while looking at the English garden!
Now, at the end of the Rose Garden, there was a circular terrace called "Departure Garden."
It's a wonderful area surrounded by conifers (was it?) in front of the lattice on the wall.
Wooden benches with a curved design were placed there.
Benches that fit perfectly in the circular area have been placed, and you can feel the creators' commitment.
I want this bench at home, even though there's no place to put it (lol)
And the "Early Spring Garden," a deck rest area, is one of the most popular areas in Q-COURT.
In the center, there is a fountain like a spring, and benches and chairs are placed around it.
A three-seater bench that looks like it's woven with paper cord.
The point is that you can relax because of the wide seat!
Perhaps to make it weather-resistant, the seat was smooth, and my butt slipped a little (lol)
The building that looks like the Empire State Building in the distance is the NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building.
It boasts a height of about 50 stories, but in reality, the first 14 floors are offices, and the upper half is the machine room and antenna for communication equipment.
You can enter the garden until 8:00 PM at night, so you can enjoy it as a night view spot in Shinjuku♪
So, that was an introduction to the rooftop garden Q-COURT at the Marui Main Building.
It functions as a place of relaxation in Shinjuku for families with children, people enjoying conversations with friends, and groups.
If you are visiting Shinjuku for sightseeing or shopping, we highly recommend you to visit!
Why not use it as a place to take a break while shopping at the Marui Main Building, or as a place to rest around Shinjuku?