What Time Does Garden Of The Phoenix Close

There are very few straight paths through the lush grounds of the Japanese Friendship Garden in downtown Phoenix.

When you stroll through the peaceful oasis, you traverse curved walkways or zig-zag to cross a bridge that spans a pond full of fish begging for your attention.

It's all part of a design style known as hide and reveal.

"Nothing is straight and that's intentional," said Reiko Reavis, executive director of the garden. "It's designed to make you slow down and pay attention to where you're walking."

The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix, or Ro Ho En, is a joint project between Phoenix and its Japanese sister city, Himeji. The first phase of the project, the tea house and surrounding garden, opened in November 1996. The rest of the 4-acre space opened to the public in 2002.

The garden is a lush space in the heart of the desert. It's a place where you can listen to a babbling brook and tune out the traffic noise from the nearby busy streets.

'This is a place to meditate and reflect'

Reavis calls the garden a living art museum, which seems appropriate as the look and feel are carefully curated.

Each plant is chosen for its ability to not only survive in the desert but to evoke images of gardens in Japan. Even the boulders used to create the stream were hand-picked from hills near Congress with an idea of where they would be placed in the garden.

The garden is set up to conjure images of four specific regions in Japan: mountain forest, stone beach, grassland and woodland.

"When you're here you don't hear the (sounds of the city)," Reavis said. "All you hear is the wind and the water. This is a place to meditate and reflect."

When to visit for a guided tour

Japanese Friendship Garden, located in the heart of downtown Phoenix, allows visitors to stroll through a peaceful and relaxing park.

The garden offers a variety of cultural, gardening and wellness programs in addition to special events such as sake tasting and the Summer Jazz and Wine festival.

Visitors can experience a traditional tea ceremony on the third Saturday of each month from October through June. Reservations are required.

Guided tours of the garden are offered at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays for $3. Private tours can be arranged with a minimum of seven participants and one month's notice.

See the garden's website for an event calendar and more details.

Garden etiquette you should know

Stay on the paths at all times. Don't run.
Speak quietly.
Do not climb trees or rocks or enter the waterfall area.
Silence cellphones and other electronic devices
Do not bring food or beverages (except water) to the garden.
Children must be supervised at all times.
Smoking is not allowed.
Do not throw anything – including coins – in the pond or stream.
No animals, other than service animals, are allowed in the garden.

Japanese Friendship Garden

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays from October through May. 6-9 p.m. Fridays and 7-11 a.m. and 6-9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in June and July. Closed in August and September.

Where: 1125 N. Third Ave., Phoenix. Free on-site parking is available.

Admission: $7, $6 for seniors, $5 for students and military members, free for age 6 and younger.

Details: 602-291-9209, www.japanesefriendshipgarden.org.

Reach the reporter at weldon.johnson@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8817. Or follow him on Twitter at @weldonjohnson. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

What Time Does Garden Of The Phoenix Close

Source: https://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/arizona/road-trips/2019/05/09/phoenix-things-to-do-japanese-friendship-garden-prices-hours-parking/3357151002/

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