Promoting the Art, Craft and Heart of Japanese gardens in the USA and Canada.

SOUTHWEST REGIONAL at the Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix Register for NAJGA’s next Regional workshop and enjoy Phoenix in the winter! With average temperatures in the 70’s, Phoenix is an ideal place to spend President’s Day weekend. Our two-day Regional (February 14 & 15), hosted by the Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix, Ro Ho En, will feature hands-on learning as well as the opportunity to learn about several traditional Japanese arts. Learn to build a stepping stone path, a sleeve fence and water basin, plant pines and place stones. The program will also include ikebana, tea ceremony, and taiko demonstrations. Lunch is included on both days and will be served in the Garden. Saturday dinner in the Garden and a Sunday tour of Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden and Taliesin West at the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation will be offered as optional add-ons. Register today at www.najga.org/events

Phoenix, Arizona’s Japanese Friendship Garden has strengthened ties with their Sister City Himeji. Adjacent to the famous Himeji castle is Koko-en, a collection of nine gardens built in 1992 in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the municipality. The walled gardens cover approximately 8.65 acres. Koko-en was designed by Professor Makoto Nakamura of Kyoto University. The garden was built by Hanatoyo Landscape of Kyoto.

Ro Ho En was a cooperative effort between Himeji and Phoenix.

1987: Delegation from Himeji, Japan proposed that a Japanese Friendship Garden be constructed in the Central City.

1990: City of Himeji Landscape Architects visited Phoenix to present the design for the Japanese Friendship Garden.

2000: Completion of construction of the Japanese Friendship Garden.

2002: Garden opened to Public.

[information from the Ro Ho En web site ]
https://www.japanesefriendshipgarden.org/