The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix in Arizona: A Place for Serenity
The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix in Arizona is a jewel tucked away off the beaten path. It’s a tranquil place that serves as an escape from everyday life and offers visitors a chance to take in some nature, enjoy the company of friends or family, and reflect on things that are important to them. The garden offers guests many different opportunities for self-reflection and contemplation, with waterfalls and peaceful paths explicitly designed with this purpose in mind. There are also spaces designated for quiet meditation to sit alone in silence while surrounded by beauty. The garden is a great place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature or simply sit with friends and family. Learn more here.
When most people visit The Japanese Friendship Garden for the first time, they often remark how serene it feels. There’s something about all of the trees, plants, waterfalls, and paths that just seems tranquilizing. The Japanese Friendship Garden is located at the Steele Indian School Park in north Phoenix, just off Central Avenue. The park consisted of more than 100 acres and was named for its original use as a training site for Native American students learning to become future leaders. Today, it’s home to sports fields, walking trails, an outdoor amphitheater where concerts are held every year during springtime, along with many other things that make it perfect for visitors looking to enjoy nature or host events throughout the year. Learn more about Phoenix Art Museum in Arizona: The Best of Fresh, Modern and Classical Worlds.
The uniqueness of this garden lies both in what you will see when you visit and how these features came about being there in the first place. Construction on The Japanese Friendship Garden began in 1962 after local members from various Japanese-American communities got together to develop a Japanese theme garden for Phoenix. The idea was that the space would serve as an expression of friendship between two cultures, both with deep roots in Arizona history. With support from local business leaders and individuals alike, construction began after this group had formed its plan of action. As a result, today, the park hosts many events throughout each year where visitors can enjoy various things, including tours of the garden itself or even classes explicitly geared toward learning how to create bonsai plants at home.