Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix
Cherry Blossom Pixabay Public Domain
A beautiful, serene Japanese garden in the heart of Phoenix'
Welcome to the Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix, or Rohō-en (Ro = heron, Ho = mythical Phoenix bird, En = garden). This garden was a joint project of sister cities Phoenix and Himeji Japan, the garden proposed by Himeji's mayor in 1987 to strengthen the city's bond.
This Japanese stroll garden encompasses 3.5 acres, holding within its confines a tea garden, tea house, 12-foot waterfall, koi pond, and much more. As you enter the garden you will start your journey on the Stroll Path's loop, which will take you to 4 different regions in a 'hide and reveal technique'. The regions include grasslands, forested mountains, stone beaches, and woodlands. See such trees as cherry trees, plum trees, evergreens, maples, and more. You will also see 1,500 tons of hand-picked rock, several stone footbridges, lanterns, and over 50 varieties of plants total.
During your visit, you can stroll around on your own, take a tour, participate in a workshop, or simply 'contemplate, read, or meditate at the benches'. There is an official Tea Ceremony once a month for guests 12 and older, and there is a unique gift shop on site with hand-picked items from Japan. The workshops mentioned before including subjects such as Japanese Wood Carving, Bonzai Pruning, Tai Chi, and much more. Student groups wishing to tour the garden will learn about 'Japanese aesthetics that inspire the design of everything from our tree silhouettes to our bridge shapes' as they take in interesting facts and learn how to understand and appreciate the unique beauties within.
