Seattle Japanese Garden is within Washington Park Arboretum, just off Lake Washington Blvd. E. and just n. of E. Madison St. at 1075 Lake Washington Blvd. E. Designed by a team of landscape architects under the supervision of celebrated Japanese garden designer Juki Iida, this is a world of forests, lakes, mountains and a village compressed into a serene 3.5-acre space. Conifers, maples, flowering cherry trees, rhododendrons, camellias, Japanese irises, ferns and water lilies are among the plants growing in harmony with rocks and water. A copper-shingled tea house, a lake spanned by earthen and plank bridges, an 11-tiered pagoda and an azumaya, or sheltered resting place, are integral parts of the garden.
Guided tours are available.
$6; $4 (ages 6-17, ages 65+, college students with ID and the physically impaired). Chado tickets $5.
Hours: Mon. noon-8, Tues.-Sun. 10-8, May-July; Mon. noon-7, Tues.-Sun. 10-7, in Apr. and in Aug.; Mon. noon-6, Tues.-Sun. 10-6, in Sept.; Mon. noon-5, Tues.-Sun. 10-5, in Mar. and Oct.; Tues.-Sun., 10-4, in Nov. Tours depart daily at 12:30, Apr.-Oct. Forty-minute presentations of Chado, a ritual Japanese tea ceremony, are offered; phone ahead to confirm schedule and make reservations. Garden may close during special events.