The Shi-Shi-Odoshi is named for the sound it makes in the silence of the garden. Water gently spills from the bamboo Shi-Shi-Odoshi and onto the Tsukubai rocks to ward off evil spirits. The space beyond is a small canyon.ĭeep inside the garden there are many features traditional to Japanese culture, including a stone lantern, a “Shi-Shi-Odoshi” and a “Tsukubai” or water basin, a slow pond with brilliantly colored Koi fish, a deck for viewing the moon at night, a bonsai grooming activity center and a ceremonial plaza for special events such as weddings and musical performances. ![]() Large, dark rocks imported from Japan rest on a raked bed of white gravel from San Marcos. Showcased are finely manicured exquisite plants, flowers, scrolls, and tea sets.īut the most comforting and enticing feature is a meditation area, or Zen Garden, with benches that overlook a “Sekitei” or rock garden. The exhibit house, a very quiet and minimalist space in Japanese style holds numerous Japanese cultural artifacts related to the Japanese Tea Ceremony-a ritual of Zen Buddhism in a tranquil setting. The friendly and respectful garden staff members will tell you this is intended to stimulate awareness. It’s hard not to notice subtle changes in the path and the surroundings. Walking down the garden’s curved path toward the exhibit house, designed in the style of 16th century Japanese architecture, visitors experience the garden under a natural canopy of trees. It is an effort at a perfect blend of nature, peace and harmony. Taking influences from traditional gardens in Japan, San Diego’s Japanese Friendship Garden accentuates the rich local landscape, plant life and natural features. Inscribed with the kanji symbols of the garden’s name, “San-Kei-En” or “Three-Scene Garden” in English is an entrance stone inside the welcoming plaza, named in honor of the San Kei-En garden in Yokohama, Japan, the garden symbolizes the cultural connection between the peoples of San Diego and Japan into a unique walking experience. ![]() The San Diego Japanese Friendship Garden, tucked away in the city’s scenic Balboa Park, is a charming place of peace and natural tranquility.įor San Diego service members, their families and friends, the garden is an ideal destination for taking a needed time out to reflect and soak in a moment of Zen. A sense of calm strips away the heavy layers of stress and the lingering effects of any worry. SAN DIEGO - From the moment you enter, a quiet stillness and a sweet smelling air are immediate and wonderfully accessible.
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