Nitobe Memorial Garden

Very beautiful place to go for a walk especially with a special someone you love and adore. Someone spent a lot of time and effort perfecting this garden and maintaining all the plants and trees, bridges, benches, pond, creek and structures. It gives a real feel of Japan and their culture. Very relaxing atmosphere and beautiful scenery.

Beautiful! The smell of the garden is amazing, I need the scent of it inside a perfume bottle. You get a discount on tickets as a student. Very well kept throughout the day. Only downside to my visit was that there were some people who were just sat on the bridge, and did not leave for nearly 20 minutes. For those visiting, try not to block pathways and end points to keep the flow of people continuous, especially during busy weekends.

An amazingly well done Japanese garden in a tranquil setting. Large trees, quiet, surrounded by UBC. Took our wedding photos here ~20 years ago and return with our teenage kids. Reminds me of our trips to Japan. We'll worth the time to visit. Annual pass has good value.

Beautiful and tranquil Japanese garden on UBC campus that you can fully immerse yourself in nature and a calming spirit. The garden itself is not very large, but the paths set around the garden are easy to navigate and branches out to other paths within the garden. You can see koi fish, a Japanese tea house, trees, bridges, waterfalls, and seating throughout the garden. There were people taking wedding photos there when we went on a weekday.

This garden is absolutely stunning. Feels like I’ve been to Japan. We had a wonderful weather condition it was slightly raining with all the greens coming to life even more. I felt so at peace and was even able to spot the very first cherry blossoms. Such a wonderful place to have a stroll or just sit and take in some sunshine. We went right after visiting the MOA. So it makes the trip to UBC worthwhile.

The park is tiny but very well maintained. It’s absolutely perfect and relaxing. We were there on Saturday noon and it was quite busy. I’d love to come back early in the morning or during the weekday.

Lovely gardens, but not large. Very beautiful and serene place - try to come when only few visitors are there - otherwise the peacefulness is gone… you can buy a bundle ticket to botanical gardens and Nitobe Memorial Gardens (and save 20% off on the tickets to the museum of anthropology and museum of biodiversity at UBC)

The garden is absolutely gorgeous! There was barely anyone around when we visited, and it was definitely a sight to see! I definitely recommend going on a day when it isn’t busy. Definitely visit if you get the chance!

A place of serenity in UBC. Came here for a leisurely stroll and it was beautifully lush with shades of green, clear walking paths, quiet surroundings and an intimate feel. Perhaps a bit on the smaller side it is still large enough to feel 'lost' in your surroundings. It is free for UBC students or $7 for the general public. I spent about an hour walking around the lake, over all the bridges and most offset paths, whilst stopping several times along the way. I likely won't go again for the price but am glad to have visited. I recommend this as a place for a date, a place to take pictures, or for anyone that is passionate about nature and beautiful gardens.

A very beautiful garden nestled in the campus of UBC. There are lots of cool statues, plants, and koi to see here. A couple bridges to cross, and a waterfall. However, it still is a very small garden for the price. If you are coming here, plan to sit down and relax on their few benches to make it worth the entrance cost. A very beautiful place to read, create art, or enjoy the company of your loved ones.

If you are looking for a quiet place to meditate, eat lunch, stroll, or just marvel in peace, this is a special spot hidden behind the Asian Studies at UBC. Never too crowded here, it's beautiful all season but my favorite is when the cherry blossoms bloom. I always feel more energized after a walk through this garden. Make sure to check their hours since it's not open everyday. This garden is not vast so you can finish it in minutes, however every time I visit, I regret not staying longer to enjoy the serenity and calm of this place.

In today's world, our life is becoming more and more unpredictable, there are so many things that are out of our control, but one thing we can all come to expect from this classical Japanese Garden is peace and serenity! Walk through the tiny gate and you will be transported to a different space and time, blending nature with human touches, this garden will let you enjoy the stillness only nature can provide. During Covid-19, you will need to prebook your entrance via internet, arrive early to walk and explore the grounds around this amazing garden!

Peaceful and tranquil I am alone with my thoughts Green and beautiful Completed in 1960, in honour of Dr. Inazō Nitobe, the Nitobe Memorial Garden is considered one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan. I've been to the Nitobe Memorial Garden as a child but not as an adult, so when I went with Nancy H., it was essentially my first time. The garden is quite small, so all you really need is about 20 minutes for a visit, but it's very beautiful and peaceful. It was the perfect setting to walk around and catch up with a friend. Admission is a very reasonable $7, although as a UBC student, I had free admission. I must definitely make an effort to go back! [Yelp collections: Parks and Gardens; Cheap Thrills; Being a tourist in my own city]

I've always been a big fan of gardens. When I was in design school, I studied the different types of gardens (i.e., British Victorian-era gardens, French formal gardens, and briefly learned about Japanese gardens). I have particularly been fascinated by Japanese gardens, and how they manipulate nature to make it appear to be more beautiful than it would be naturally (I've always found that dichotomy just fascinating). I personally love Asian-oriented aesthetics in most design, so I am attracted to these types of gardens, with their layered textures, strategically placed lanterns, tea houses, ponds with koi fish (I love koi fish so!), foot bridges, the strategic manipulation of waterfalls and the sound of gurgling water, stepping stones and Japanese statuary. This garden is small but it is stunning. And it is authentically Japanese. According to their website: Nitobe Memorial Garden is considered one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan. "I am in Japan. " These words were spoken by Emperor Akihito--as he walked through the garden. If I was a student here, I would visit this garden frequently to de-stress. There are benches placed throughout for rest and reflection. I have already scoped out which benches I'd sit at, to hear the gurgling water sounds or watch the koi fish, or to have the best vantage point of the vistas I prefer. This would be a wonderful place to visit to sketch (if one were an artist), or to simply breathe in some fresh "garden" air. I truly believe that immersing oneself in nature is the best therapy; I know that, for me, it really works in clearing my head when I'm stressed out. This garden is free for UBC students but $7 for adult visitors (less expensive for seniors and kids). Of course, parking isn't free but hey, it rarely is, right? The Fraser Parkade on Memorial is the closest UBC garage to this garden. Be advised that, if you visit the garden, 30-60 minutes is really all the time you need to walk through each pathway here (I paid for 90 minutes at the garage meter and it was way more time than I needed). FYI: if you are a student here, this would be the most gorgeous backdrop for graduation photos, or other ceremonial pictures. Shout-out to Ted at the check-in/admittance kiosk for being the NICEST guy EVER.

The best experience today. Ted at the garden was a delight. Very polite, friendly and knowledgeable

Beautiful and peaceful garden. Although it is on the smaller side you can still keep yourself busy for a while with the different ways to walk the paths and by just stopping to take in the view. The garden is almost always very quiet. Obviously at its best in the summer but worth a visit year-round.

08/19/19: This is a nice garden, however it is small and in my opinion not worth it. It would have been nicer if the construction was not going on next door as it ruined the peace and quiet of the atmosphere.

I came here on a date with someone off of Bumble and we had something to eat in the area and things were going very well that we decided to extend our adventure and conversation and come here. There is a lot of beauty, peacefulness and it is quiet which makes for a great way to connect with someone. I did love the beauty of the park and everything that was offered in terms of surroundings.

Simply Amazing. If you take the time to walk slowly though the garden, you will notice that it is well designed to take advantage of multiple viewpoints making it most interesting. Give yourself not 10 minutes but at least 30 to 45 minutes to take in the garden views. Take your time time to stop by the pond, tea house and monuments indicated on the garden map and look back at where you started on the circular path. It is truly well thought out. The photos make the garden larger than it appears. I believe that is the essence and the beauty of this garden; to create a vast forest area in a small 2 acre space.

My last stop for the Alumni weekend. Peaceful, tranquil, pretty, well maintained.

Pretty, but very small. You may want to check on the construction next-door which is very loud and disruptive to Potential Tranquillity

What a gorgeous little hideaway on UBC campus! Free for students, and $10 for visitor, this place is absolutely worth taking a walk through. It is so peaceful and the greenery and flowers are so stunning. Any time I have family or friends visiting campus I insist on a walk through these gardens - plus the bridge creates a great photo op! For folks living on campus, if highly recommend relaxing there in the sunshine with an iced coffee and a good book - enjoy!

Need some zen in your life? Oh Nitobe. I never would've survived first year university without you. 3 hours of break and eating lunch in this garden was like paradise. Located at the corner of UBC, this gorgeous Japanese garden just gives you so much peace and quiet (even if there are others around). I've visited this place in all 4 seasons, and no matter what, it still looks great! It is a little small compared to other gardens in town, but there's really no other like it here. On the plus side, UBC students get in for free, and there are times (like now) where it has its doors open to you with admission accepted as donations! Really, you've gotta check it out (BRING YOUR CAMERA)!

Have a case of the midterm exam blues? Nitobe is the cure. I first visited here in 1986, and thankfully not much has changed. Calm, green and peaceful. A five minute stroll around the pond is enough of a zen break to get your head straight. Free for UBC students, and various other discounts for others... I highly recommend a visit to Nitobe Gardens. Ahhhhh what a relief!

An absolute gem hidden away on the UBC campus. I felt like I was transported back to the gardens I visited across Japan when visiting Nitobe. The simplicity, peace, and tranquility pervaded all of my senses. They also have a tea house that I believe you can make reservations for. I feel like many people do not frequent the garden and that this is both a good and bad thing. Nothing beats peace, quite, and simple beauty.

Located on the campus at UBC, I was surprised that I was one of the very few people who chose to visit this tiny two and a half acres traditional Japanese Tea and Stroll garden on the weekend. It's a very relaxing and calm garden with maple, cedar and cherry trees. If you're lucky, you might even see a traditional Japanese tea ceremony at the Tea House. There is a small pond with a few koi fishes in the middle of the garden too. It's a great place to see a pretty authentic Japanese garden with natural West Coast influences.

I come from a background of Japanese bonsai training under international tutelage. I then discovered the origins of diminutive landscapes in China; however wish to record that this sanctuary in Vancouver, BC, is beautiful, peaceful and relaxing, to stroll through and soak up. Having never been to Japan, does not seem to matter, as the aesthetic is certainly in sync with what one sees in media.

Very small Japanese garden.It is very quiet.Not really a destination in itself but a nice place to go for a stroll if you live or study in the area.It really couldn't be more relaxing. I don't understand everything about Japanese gardens but they have a nice brochure that explains all the elements.

This place is a gem, particularly for us inhumanely stressed students around exam time. When you've been up all night trying to cram History of the World Powers in the 20th Century, or Physics of Music into your skull, this place is a welcome respite from the world. Upon entering the gates, if you didn't know any better, you'd swear you were in Japan. The campus at UBC is beautiful regardless, but this garden is the most gorgeous spot to be found there. It's perfectly lovely in the rain - somehow it accentuates the greenery I find, and gives it a feeling of a lush paradise - but it's at its most lovely in the sunshine, with light dappling through the leaves. My favourite thing to do is to grab a bento box from one of the on campus sushi joints and settle down beside the ponds to eat. I also highly recommend watching the Tea Ceremony - it's incredible how intricate and beautiful it is - although the tea itself I'm not so fond of. It's real matcha, which is a brilliant green colour and nice and frothy - but also incredibly bitter. But if you like it, you're in for a treat, because it doesn't get more authentic than this. Seriously, you need to go here. There is no better place in Vancouver to unwind and feel the zen.

What a beautiful, wonderful garden. I visited on a rainy day, but the loveliness of the space transcends any weather. Well worth a visit. If I were local, I'd go frequently.

#1 Garden in Vancouver An exceptional must visit location for locals and travellers alike. Chill-out, enjoy nature and watch the Koi swim. Bask in the beauty of this peaceful, quiet and pristine garden. By far one of our favorite places in Vancouver.

A decent garden but could be larger. Check out Portland's Japanese garden for a more extensive experience.