Shiseido Forest Valley: A Botanical Masterpiece | Singapore Purple Travel Guide
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Backpack and Snorkel Purple Travel GuideThe Shiseido Forest Valley is a magnificent, terraced indoor garden spanning five stories within the Jewel Changi Airport complex. Designed as a 360-degree indoor rainforest, the valley encircles the world-famous Rain Vortex, creating a lush, peaceful sanctuary. This 236,800 square-foot (22,000 square-meter) garden defines the experience of modern air travel, proving that a transit hub can also serve as a world-class nature retreat.
Here at Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides, we promote self-guided walking tours.
But we realize that not everybody likes to walk by themselves in a foreign city. So, just in case that you rather go with ab guide: NO PROBLEM! Please see the GuruWalk and Viator tours below.
free GuruWalk tours
paid Viator tours
Why You Should Visit
It is a primary testament to the ‘City in a Garden’ concept of Singapore. The valley offers a surreal, tranquil environment where travelers can relax and stroll through greenery that is meticulously maintained at a comfortable 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius). For the self-guided traveler, it is a stunning piece of nature and architecture that is completely free to explore. It allows you to transition from the stress of travel into a state of ‘Zen’ within minutes of landing.
What is Special About It?
- A Global Collection: The valley features over 2,000 trees and palms and approximately 60,000 shrubs sourced from around the world, including Australia, China, Malaysia, Spain, Thailand, and the United States.
- The S E N S E Experience: In the evenings, the West Trail of the forest transforms into an interactive art installation created in collaboration with teamLab. The trees are illuminated by autonomous lights that pulse and change color as visitors walk past, accompanied by a custom scent and a ‘breathing’ musical score.
- Vertical Exploration: Two main hiking trails—the East Trail and the West Trail—meander through the foliage. These paths allow you to climb approximately 98 vertical feet (30 meters) from the forest floor on Level 1 to the canopy level on Level 4, offering constantly changing perspectives of the waterfall.
Architecture and Facts
- The Toroidal Dome: Jewel was designed by a consortium of architects led by the world-renowned Moshe Safdie. The building is based on the geometry of a ‘torus’ (a doughnut shape), which was chosen to accommodate the multiple pedestrian bridges that connect the complex to the surrounding terminals.
- Sustainable Engineering: The glass-and-steel roof consists of more than 9,000 unique triangular glass panels. These panels were specially engineered to allow maximum light for plant growth while using a 16-millimeter (0.6-inch) air gap to insulate the interior from the noise of jet engines on the nearby runways.
- Centenarian Residents: You should look for the two 100-year-old olive trees from Spain located near the top of the valley. Each tree weighs approximately 8,800 pounds (4,000 kilograms) and is a centerpiece of the high-altitude Mediterranean flora section.
Self-Guided Information
Category |
Details |
|---|---|
Opening Hours |
The Forest Valley and its trails are Always Open (24 hours). |
Admission Fee |
Free to wander and explore all levels of the valley. |
Duration |
Allow approximately 30 to 45 minutes to walk one of the trails at a leisurely pace with photo stops. |
Location |
Located at the core of Jewel Changi Airport. Entry points are available on Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4. |
Baggage Policy |
Large wheeled bags and luggage are not permitted on the walking trails for safety reasons. You should use the baggage storage facilities on Level 1. |
Traveler Tip
If you have limited time, you should take the Skytrain that connects Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. This train passes directly through the Shiseido Forest Valley and right next to the Rain Vortex, giving you a magnificent ‘drive-through’ view of the gardens without requiring you to clear immigration. For the best photographs of the waterfall framed by greenery, you should head to the viewing deck on Level 2.
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Author: Rudy at Backpack and Snorkel
Bio: Owner of Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides. We create in-depth guides to help you plan unforgettable vacations around the world.
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