The entrance to the gardens is at the southeast corner. I paid my 300 Yen admission and walked in. There is an inner garden gate - Naitai-daimon - which has been placed to give a direct view of the center of the garden.
Beyond that is a large weeping cherry tree which was planted 50 years ago. It has a very nice shape but unfortunately the closest I would get to see it in blossom was the picture on the sign.
A little closer to the pond was a stone monument - Shinsen-Rikugien-hi - commemorating the garden restoration in 1809.
