CityBuddy
Nitobe Memorial Garden
Best time to visit
Visit in October when the Japanese maples erupt in fiery reds and oranges. Arrive right at opening (10am) on weekdays to experience the garden in near silence before the crowds arrive.
Budget tips
Entry costs $8 for adults. Students with ID and seniors over 65 get in for $6. Children under 12 enter free.
Recommended for
Photography enthusiasts, Garden lovers, Peace seekers, Couples
Plan your visit
45-60 minutes
About
Quick facts: This garden was a gift from Japan to commemorate the 1977 visit of their royal family. Each element from the stone lanterns to the pruned pines follows centuries-old principles of Japanese landscape design.
Highlights: The garden hides an ingenious optical illusion: the main pond appears to drain into the sky at its far end, a trick of carefully angled shoreline and submerged rocks. Only 10 percent of visitors notice the subtle bamboo water spout hidden behind the guest house, a traditional device called a shishi-odoshi that clacks against stone to scare away deer.
Insider tips
- Walk clockwise around the pond, the intended viewing direction that reveals each scene in sequence.
- Visit the tiny thatched-roof teahouse through the garden's back gate only open on select weekends.
- Skip the gift shop at the entrance and save your money for green tea served at the teahouse instead.
- Bring a light jacket even in summer: tall cedars keep the paths several degrees cooler than downtown.
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