Japanese Friendship Garden

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Downtown Phoenix
2700 N. 15th Ave., Phoenix, Arizona 85007(602) 256-3204

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Stone Pagoda Photo - Japanese Friendship Garden, Phoenix, Arizona

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Japanese Gardens

by nmagann

Ventura, California

June 4, 2009

The garden is a joint product of Phoenix and its sister city Himeji, Japan. An authentic park, it spans 3 ½ acres and includes waterfalls, ponds with koi fish, and streams. There are also footbridges, statues and lanterns dotting the pathway. And ...Read more The garden is a joint product of Phoenix and its sister city Himeji, Japan. An authentic park, it spans 3 ½ acres and includes waterfalls, ponds with koi fish, and streams. There are also footbridges, statues and lanterns dotting the pathway. And somehow amidst the city, this place is very, very quiet.

A map is provided at the entrance to the park and indicates the direction of travel. The purpose walking in a particular direction is that there is suppose to be suspense or a build up to the pinnacle. Numerous varieties of flowering plants adorn the walkways so that there is something in bloom nearly all the time. Both land and water plants offer shade and coolness to this oasis in the desert.

Head clockwise through the low grasslands with the pond and waterfalls on the right. A viewing pavilion provides a shady area to sit near a waterfall. There are plenty of koi fish of all different sizes in the pond. Fish food is sold at the park entrance. Blooms from pink and white lotus plants provided wisps of color rising up to meet the low hanging weeping willows. This was a serene sight indeed. A beautiful teahouse with the sound of trickling water flowing into a bucket seemed to pier out from a heavy growth of bamboo. An hour long ceremony is performed occasionally that requires reservations. The path elevates as it passes by the teahouse and rounds a curve.

Here is the highest point of the garden, the mountain region with the largest waterfall cascading down the other side. In essence, it is designed to be the apex of the park. A 4-sided stone pyramid style structure with 13 represents the pagoda that would store Buddhist relics. This a great vantage point for most of the pond along with the zig-zag bridge the cuts through it. The zig-zag keeps demons away as they can only follow straight paths. The waters edge near the bridge is designed with carefully placed flat dark gray rocks representing the seashore. This sand and rock garden provides a home to favor tortoises and cranes of the orient.

You have now come full circle through the park.

Japanese Friendship Garden
www.japanesefriendshipgarden.org
1125 N. 3rd Avenue, Phoenix, AZ (602) 256-3204
Parking free, admission $3-5, Free 1st Fridays
Tea Ceremony with admission $20 Close

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Japanese Friendship Garden

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