12 Best Japanese Gardens in the US

You don’t have to travel far to spend a nice afternoon relaxing in a stunning Japanese garden (or even join a Japanese tea ceremony in some!) because you can find some of the best Japanese gardens in the world in the US. Here are 10 local Japanese gardens you can’t miss.

12 Best Japanese Gardens in the US by Region

West

1. Seattle Japanese Garden, Washington

Starting off this list is one of the best Japanese gardens near us in Washington state. The 3.5-acre Seattle Japanese Garden has been welcoming visitors since 1960.

Designed by renowned landscape designer Juki Iida, the garden features traditional Japanese plants alongside Pacific Northwest native plants that have grown over time.

Lucky visitors can also experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony demonstration at the garden’s Shoseian Tea House several times during the year. These events are hosted by local tea groups.

2. The Japanese Tea Garden, California

The Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco holds the honor of being the “oldest public Japanese garden in the United States.” It was first intended as a “Japanese Village” exhibit when it first opened in 1894, but it was later painstakingly created into a Japanese garden by a man called Makoto Hagiwara.

The garden features classic architectural Japanese elements, like pagodas, stone lanterns, and an arched drum bridge. During March and April, you’ll find cherry blossom trees littered around the garden.

While there are no tea ceremonies here, you can still grab some Japanese tea and snacks at Tea House, located in the middle of the garden. Here, you’ll find a particularly unusual snack that isn’t often associated with Japanese tea — fortune cookies. That’s because Mr. Hagiwara brought fortune cookies to the US, and his legacy is still being honored in the Garden.

3. Portland Japanese Garden, Oregon

Portland Japanese Garden offers one of the most varied activities and experiences of any Japanese garden on this list. Aside from enjoying the natural wonders of the garden itself, you can also find a deeper appreciation for Japanese culture through the attractions designed to honor them.

See some of the exhibitions featuring some of the finest in Japanese art and design in the Pavilion Gallery. You can also watch chado (“Way of Tea”) demonstrations in the Cathy Rudd Cultural Center.

If you get hungry during your day in the garden, you can refuel at Umami Cafe. From Tea Sets, which consist of a serving of Japanese green tea and dessert pairing, to Yakitori Chicken Fried Rice, you’ll probably find something to suit your taste buds at any time of the day.

4. Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix Arizona, Arizona

Arizona may often be associated with deserts, but did you know there’s actually a Japanese garden right in its capital Phoenix?

As the name implies, the Japanese Garden of Phoenix Arizona, which is also known as “Ro Ho En” is a joint project between the City of Phoenix and its Japanese sister city of Himeji to commemorate the friendship between the two cities.

Throughout the year, the Garden celebrates various Japanese holidays like the Children’s Day in April and Otsukimi Full Moonviewing Festival in October. You can also sign up for classes and workshops like Ikebana flower arranging and Japanese culture classes.

South

5. The Morikami Museum, Florida

Opened in 1977, Morikami Museum and Garden hopes to promote Japanese culture by playing host to several events throughout the year. This includes Japanese festival celebrations and tea ceremonies.

If you’re interested in the tools used in the Japanese tea ceremony, you can check out the Morikami Museum’s 500-piece collection. Here, you’ll also find more than 7000 pieces of Japanese art and artifacts.

Morikami Garden is divided into six gardens, all inspired by a counterpart garden in Japan.

6. Japanese Garden in Fort Worth Botanic Garden, Texas

The Japanese Garden in Fort Worth Botanic Garden may just be one of the several gardens, but it’s certainly worth a visit. On a typical day here, you’ll find Japanese maple and cherry trees, bamboo, and the ponds, which are home to more than 1000 koi fish.

The Garden hosts several Japanese cultural events throughout the year, including the Spring Festival and tea ceremonies.

Northeast

7. Shofuso, Pennsylvania

Shofuso (a.k.a. “Pine Breeze Villa”) is actually the name of the 17th century-style Japanese house that sits within the gardens. It was part of an exhibition for the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in 1953 and was built in Nagoya using traditional techniques and materials.

In 1957, Shofuso was brought to Philadelphia to replace a nio-mon (“temple gate”) that burned down in 1955. It’s been named one of the top Japanese gardens in North America by the Journal of Japanese Gardening.

There are monthly tea ceremony demonstrations from April to October. The demonstrations are limited to small groups (typically not more than 25). At the end of the demonstration, attendees will receive a bowl of matcha and a traditional seasonal confection.

8. Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, Brooklyn Botanical Garden, New York

Within Brooklyn Botanical Garden (BBG) lies the Japanese Pond-and-Hill Garden, a Japanese garden featuring a five-tiered waterfall, winding paths, and a Shinto shrine on top of the hill. Opened in 1915, it’s one of the oldest Japanese gardens in the country.

One of the biggest events in the Garden is Sakura Matsuri, a two-day festival held during the end of spring. These festivities celebrate Japanese culture, with events ranging from Japanese tea ceremony demonstrations to Taiko drumming masterclasses.

9. Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll Garden North Salem, NewYork

The Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden, of North Salem, New York, is a hidden treasure in the heart of North Westchester, built by visionary Natalie Hammond in 1957, to highlight the natural gifts of the East that continues to transform the culture of the west today.

The Hammond Museum Mission: To delight the senses with a place of natural beauty where Eastern and Western culture are appreciated together, promoting global awareness and understanding.

The Hammond Museum features a traditionally designed 3.5-acre Japanese stroll garden, a Japanese Tea Room and a museum art gallery offering featured exhibits, lectures, and programs that reflect the intersection of Eastern and Western cultures.

Midwest

10. Anderson Japanese Gardens, Illinois

The founder of Anderson Gardens, John Anderson, was actually inspired by another Japanese garden on the list — Portland Japanese Garden.

The Garden plays host to several cultural, health and wellness, and educational events throughout the year. It’s also the home of the Anderson Japanese Tea Gardens Tea Group, which offers daily and semestral classes for those who want to learn and practice the art of “Chado.”

11. Japanese Garden at Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri

In 1977, Missouri Botanical Garden dedicated 14 acres of its sprawling estate to its very own Japanese Garden. Rather than being flashy, this Garden makes a monochromatic statement, giving visitors the freedom to discover and interpret their surroundings for themselves.

The Garden features four different islands: Crane Island, Tortoise Island (both not accessible to the public), Nakajima (Teahouse Island), and Paradise Island.

Teahouse Island features an authentic Nagano teahouse gifted by Missouri’s sister state in Japan. Guided tours dedicated to Teahouse Island are available on Saturdays through Mondays, with two tour groups each day. Tickets are $5 each.

12. Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, Michigan

The newest garden on our list, the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden in Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Michigan, was built only in 2015. Its highlight is the authentic Japanese teahouse, which was created by skilled craftsmen in Japan, then later reassembled in Michigan.

Another striking feature is the Zen-style Garden, which invites visitors to relax and contemplate. It also features an untitled sculpture by Anish Kapoor, which is one of the few outdoor stone pieces he’s created.

With some of the best Japanese gardens located in the country, you don’t have to travel far to experience the understated beauty and unparalleled relaxation of Japanese gardens. We hope this feature helped you learn more about some of the best Japanese gardens in the US. 

For more articles about Japanese culture, check out our blog! 

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