Seattle Japanese Garden

Beautiful spot, especially in fall! The Seattle Japanese Garden is absolutely stunning this time of year, the fall colors are vibrant, with crimson and gold leaves reflecting beautifully in the large central pond. The garden is peaceful and very easy to walk around, making it perfect for a short, relaxing visit. The pond is full of graceful koi fish, and the surrounding trails are just as lovely , easy to access and great for a quiet stroll. Parking is decent-sized but tends to fill up quickly, so it’s smart to have a few nearby options saved. General admission is around $10, and it’s totally worth it for the calm, beauty, and serenity you get. You can walk through the main garden in about 10–15 minutes, but it’s the kind of place you’ll want to linger. A must-visit spot for anyone in Seattle, especially in autumn

Bite-sized, carefully curated Japanese garden with delightful spring and fall color. ABSOLUTELY NO DOGS ALLOWED. Plentiful benches. ADA path goes halfway, the other half of a loop trail has stairs and rock stepping stones. This is a great place to go with your aging parents, impatient children, or out of town guests. Beautiful views from all directions. Even on a busy day (ie fall) you can always find a quiet corner to sit in or get a photo. Parking any where in the arboretum in the fall is tricky, you may have to wait for a spot to open up. Try going a little later in the day or in the morning for best options. Parking is free. There is an entrance fee of around $10 for adults, with discounts for seniors and children you pay at the front booth, and sometimes there’s a bit of a line. Bathrooms are clean and accessible. Make sure you check the art gallery near the ticket house. If you’d like a longer walk, you prefer a wilder park, or you’d like to bring your dog, try the Kubota Gardens in Seattle near Beacon Hill.

Such a beautiful place to go visit!! Unfortunately not much in bloom when we went, but nonetheless watching the koi and seeing such beautiful places to sit were very nice!

Visited the Garden on a sunny but chilly fall day. Some trees had already turned deep red while others were still changing. It’s a small, well-kept space where you can wander with a pamphlet to learn the meaning behind each element in the garden, or just take a short, peaceful walk surrounded by maple trees. A calm, reflective spot to enjoy the season.

I think the Seattle Japanese Garden beautifully captures the essence and aesthetic of a traditional Japanese garden. I can't justify giving it 5 stars because it's a very small garden (the Portland Japanese Garden is 4X the size of this one), but I don't want to travel to Portland. FYI restrooms are not gender-neutral and only there's only one location at the entry, but since the garden is small it's not that long of a walk to access them. We visited the garden during regular hours, and we also attended a Full Moon Viewing event, with dancing and koto music, in September 2025. I recommend attending one of these if you can get tickets. Nice chill vibe with (mostly) quiet and respectful attendees.

The Japanese Gardens are magnificent!! The layout of the trails are placed perfectly to achieve the perfect photo. I visited in fall and the colors were breathtaking. Spectacular trees and waterfalls. Such a tranquil garden.

This place was honestly super peaceful. Perfect spot to just walk around and take in the scenery. Everything felt so calm and well taken care of — from the koi ponds to the little bridges and stone paths. Great photo spots too. If you're looking to chill, clear your head, or just enjoy nature, this is definitely worth checking out. Would 100% come back.

Free every first Thursday of each month, this is part of the museum deal. Very serene, very tranquil.

First time here and I totally believe I fell in love with Seattle from just coming to this Japanese Garden and surrounding areas. This place has an entrance fee of $10.00 per person but I believe it is well worth it to see what is inside. The beauty of the setup is amazing here. It just feels like you are in total bliss. The colors from the trees and flowers are just so pretty. I am not a flower or tree expert by any means but I can tell that the caretakers of this place give it their heart to make it look truly amazing. So thankful that I was able to see this and I would come back and check it out during different seasons.

The Japanese garden is a beautiful gem in Seattle. Each season has a new and beautiful experience. Autumn is the most beautiful in my opinion! Be sure to not miss the bright momiji (maple leaves) and the yellow ginkgo leaves. I recommend the annual pass for admission all throughout the year. It is definitely worth it if you regularly visit.

Admission was $5 per person. Absolutely enjoyed my time there and really learned about all different kinds of plants in the space. Definitely check out their events calendar online!

On a weekend trip to Seattle, on our last day in town, my husband and I had some time to kill before our flight. It was a lovely spring day so we decided to visit the Seattle Japanese Garden. For a small admission fee, we pretty much had the entire place to ourselves. The garden was so beautiful and pristine, and such a peaceful place to enjoy nature. When speaking with the attendant, they did say that we were a little early for most of the spring blooms, but that did not detract from the beauty, in my opinion. If you find yourself in the area, I would highly recommend a visit to the Seattle Japanese Garden.

The Seattle Japanese Garden is worth checking out! I really appreciated the garden's aesthetics. I was there in the spring and the cherry blossoms were in season, which was cool to see. The stone paths, bridges, and water features contribute to a picturesque setting and the panoramic view from the top of the hill showcases the surrounding trees in their spring glory. Customer service was great! Professional and friendly staff can provide information about the garden layout, and complimentary pamphlets provide everything you need to know. The garden adheres to traditional Japanese elements, what with water features, a zen garden, red bridges, and stone steps; it also incorporates unique aspects that give it a distinct personality. Shaded areas, benches, running brooks, and a tea house contribute to creating an inviting environment. The favorable weather on the day of the visit enhances the overall experience, with sunny skies, a slight breeze, and cool temperatures providing an ideal backdrop for relaxation. Appreciated the attention to detail, diverse features, and the friendly staff here and would recommend this place as a destination for those seeking a tranquil escape from the city.

It's a beautiful garden full of hiking, walking trails and Gods beauty. There are flowers, trees, bushes and ponds. Rabbits, frogs and birds of all kinds inhabit this beautiful area. There are discounts for seniors and students. Bring your ID.

A beautiful and quiet japanese garden. Entrance fee is $8 per person. They have pamphlets that tell how the garden came to be and a bit about the person who created it. We came at the beginning of October and the leaves were in the middle of just starting to change color. We came a bit early. Overall, a very beautiful garden to see and very relaxing.

So I must State this disclaimer. I might be a bit of a Japanese garden snob. With that being said let's continue with the review of the Seattle Japanese garden. Parking // Upon arrival there's an adequate shell / gravel lot that you can park in for free. In the walking distance to the Garden entrance is minimal. Customer Service // Customer service was outstanding. The young lady who explained how the gardens were laid out, received my money's and provided me with a map was very professional, very well spoken about the gardens and genuinely friendly. The Garden // The Garden is very well laid out. Yes it has all of the standard Japanese requirements. Water, zen garden, red bridges, stone steps, etc. With that being said every Japanese garden is just a slight bit different offering its own personality. This one was no different. Lots of shaded areas, plenty of benches to relax on and a ton of water crossings. Running Brooks, koi fish, and of course a tea house. The day I went, the weather could not have been more perfect. Sunny, slight breeze and a cool temperature. Anyone looking to relax and get out of the city. Have a moment or two of relaxation while experiencing Japan and seattle. This is for you.

Located inside the Washington Park Arboretum. There is an entrance fee, free parking. The park is nicely maintained. Love the contrast of the fall colors. Would recommend visiting this park. It is not quite as big as the Japanese Garden located in San Francisco just FYI.

Washington is aplenty with lush greenery and Seattle is no exception. I'm a sucker for Japanese Gardens and this is no exception. For a mere $10 per adult, it's well worth supporting this garden. It's beautiful and serene, incorporating walkways and exposure to nature. Take a stroll, enjoy life, and love everything that the Japanese Garden as well as the rest of the Arboretum has to offer!

The Seattle Japanese Garden was absolutely breathtaking. Stopping in the honey and I paid for our tickets ($10 general admission, $6 student) and walked through the artfully designed space. The garden boasted stone paths over waterfalls, adorable stone bridges, and at the tip top of the hill is a beautiful view of the trees surrounding the park - which in fall had leaves that had just started changing. The serene and comforting space had greenery surrounding the large pond where heavily chonk koi swam, and as you went to leave the park, there was a small room filled with pictures of the garden taken by children. It was an absolutely gorgeous space and completely worth the price of admission.

Small and pricy. We joined so that we could make multiple visits. No more admissions 30 minutes prior to closing. It was beautiful with nice water features. Fantastic mushrooms and nice fall foliage on our October visits. Make a visit part of your visit to the arboretum area to get a nice fix of nature in the middle of the city.

Amazing compositions every step. Inspiring and well worth the $10 fee to reset your perspective.

Beautiful and well-maintained garden. $8 entry fee, but worth it. No time limits. I came here on a Thursday morning and there weren't too many people. Fall colors on full display. No koi in the pond, but that's understandable - it's cold! The pond was partially frozen when I got there. But there are a lot of trees (mainly maples) and paths to explore. Some paths lead to little waterfalls, and others lead to amazing views of the lake. There are stone lanterns at various spots in the garden as well. There are events on their website such as the tea ceremony - I wish I could come see that! I would love to learn more about that aspect of the culture, especially since we have a version of it in our culture as well.

There's parking but may be limited depending on how packed it is. The garden is pretty small, you could spend maybe 30-45 minutes exploring and enjoying the view. Entry is $10 per person. I think it's worth checking out once. Tip(s): - Tickets are $10 per person

A nice place to visit within the arboretum. A bit small but should take about half an hour to go through everything. Lots of running water and cute paths. The flowers are pretty as well.

My new job is in Seattle and the Japanese garden was one place that I really wanted to check out. The garden is in the beautiful and lush Madison Park neighborhood of Seattle and is in the Southend of Washington Park Arboretum. I happened to be there on a moody Fall afternoon where it was just the right crisp temperature, with a slight Fall drizzle and the Fall colors peaking. The garden is small enough to cover in 45 minutes but I highly recommend you spend some time just sitting amongst the trees and soaking in the calm and serene environments. The koi fish in the center pond are so friendly and will come right up to you when they see you approach the pond. I highly recommend visiting this garden with friends and family to experience the unique foliage and flowers in different seasons.

A small gardent with a huge feel! Using the self guided tour pamphlet I made to sure I didn't miss anything! Gorgeous garden divided into 7 parts, 1)Open woodland/mixed forest, 2)Pond/Shoreline, 3)Village/harbor area, 4) North hill, 5) Orchard, 6) Tea Garden, 7)Mountain. Each area is designed to show you a little bit of Japanese plants, forests, culture, statues and more! Loads of spots to sit and listen to the running water, birds, ducks quacking, and see a hummingbird taking a bath. Each area of this garden is a micro version of Japan and really truly amazing. Take your time and sit on every bench to take each area in and enjoy the tranquility of this beautifully manicured garden. There are plenty of nooks and crannies in this park to find a solo spot for contemplation and enjoyement of the natural beauty. Enjoy and happy yelping.

Gorgeous garden! It's $10 for adult, $6 dollars with student discount. Definitely worth the 40 minutes we were there. It was fun to read about the history in the little shelter. It's small, but lots of spots to stop and soak in the garden.

I was super excited to visit this garden since my boyfriend and I have visited a bunch of different states and their Japanese gardens. This garden is very very very (emphasis on very) underwhelming. The tickets are $8 per person and you can only order them in person. There is a map that you can take but the place itself is pretty bare so there is not a lot to see or do. Usually we get very Japanese vibes with the art, the style of the trees, bushes, etc. but everything was just plain and seemed like someone's backyard. The koi pond was very murky, it was so sad you could barely see the koi in it. On a positive note, the weather was nice and there is no limit on how long you can stay so you can sit and enjoy the space, but I probably will not visit again):

Nice Japanese garden. It's a little on the smaller side. It does cost to get in. They have a nice koi pond. We were there for a koi event so we were able to feed the fish, not sure if you can feed the fish every day or not though.

Very cool and serene! A nice place to go and walk around and relax, watch the Koi and enjoy the foliage. Worth the small price of admission.

An absolutely lovely little garden, the space is very well kept and compellingly landscaped. There is an art to Japanese gardening and the careful trimming of trees and shrubs into natural looking, elegant shapes that they have clearly mastered here. The winding paths are tidily maintained, and provide a series of lovely little vistas within the park space. I regret not knowing about the tea house prior to arriving, or we might have enjoyed a tea ceremony as well. As it is, we had a lovely time wandering the pads and looking at camellias and waterfalls in the rain. Honestly, my only complaint is that they wouldn't honor my reciprocity through ROAM, which should sync with the arboretum society. The price of admission isn't particularly high though, so we went in anyway of course.

Came here when visiting Washington Park. Beatiful greenery and leafery. Would be my first recommenedation if someone is trying to see park greenery.

Great Japanese garden that is calm and serene! My friend and I stumbled upon this place when we were walking around the Botanical Gardens. The Gardens weren't that crowded, and there were many paths around to get a different view/perspective of the gardens. I was pleasantly surprised of the size and beauty of the gardens, and it didn't take too long (about an hour) to walk around and take photos! Overall, great place to take some time to appreciate nature!

Been here twice, several years apart, and it's just always a magical place!!! Entrance fee is ~$10, discounts if you're military, student, etc... It does get packed on occasion and depending on the time of day and weather. Very well maintained premises, super relaxing, even if it's packed you can wander the nooks and crannies and still feel like you're retreating into nature, within the city. Gorgeous foliage, several koi fish ponds, great breeze being up by the mountain-side. Any time I'm back in Seattle, making it a point to relax here a bit and support the Garden :)

I loved this little garden! If you're in the area and have some time, I would definitely swing on by to check it out. The pictures of this place are gorgeous and don't really do it justice, in my opinion. It's also very peaceful. We swung on by early afternoon on a Saturday and it was not crowded. It was easy to get tickets and folks were pretty accommodating. Not much more to say, but if you're into Japanese gardens, it's a pretty one to visit!

Wanted to enjoy a quiet walk with the wife so we came to visit the Seattle Japanese Garden. The entrance fee is $8 per person. We were fortunate to have beautiful California weather in Seattle. The pond is the highlight of the park with koi fish begging to be fed. We sat down and enjoyed the tranquillity of the park.

This garden feels like you're walking into another world. It's stunning and beautifully maintained, not a single stone or leaf is out of place. The paths are easy to walk and there are a few benches allowing you to relax and take in the entire garden. While the garden is beautiful it is on the small side, you can walk the whole thing in just 10 minutes, and there is a cost to enter. I understand there is a cost to maintaining the garden, but the cost is a deterrent and barrier for some to experience something so great.

Smaller than Kubota, but better manicured... but you also have to pay.. BUT what makes this garden truly special is the chance to experience a Japanese tea ceremony on the weekends! First time I've heard of the opportunity to have this experience at a Japanese garden in the U.S. For $10/adult, you can reserve a spot to participate. Hosts from one of the local tea groups will walk you through the practice and explain the meaning behind it. You'll get to taste ceremonial matcha and wagashi (Japanese sweets). Such a serene experience! For the future, I'm taking guests here just to experience the tea ceremony. The garden is the cherry on top.

We went here on a Friday around 4:40pm earlier this month. I've been to other Japanese gardens before, so I had high expectations for this one and thought there would be more activities to do here because of it's size. This park felt big, but there wasn't really any activities to do here. It was just one big pond with fishes. There wasn't even a restaurant here where you can dine and eat food at during the time I went, but if there was then everything was closed when I went. I'd recommend this place ONLY if you want a easy and calm stroll around the park. It wouldn't be a "must visit" place if I were to visit Seattle again. There's not much to do here, but it's very pretty! Haha, even though there's not much to do here I did enjoy the amounts of photo opportunities though!

Well-kept small Japanese Garden. It's very calming and has koi fish! My boyfriend is obsessed with the koi fish. He wants to get some when we buy a house haha. There is a parking lot.

The Seattle Japanese Garden is a small and serene garden in the Madison Park neighborhood of Seattle. It is located at the southern end of the Washington Park Arboretum on Lake Washington Boulevard East. It is one of the oldest Japanese gardens in North America (1960) and is one of the most authentic Japanese gardens in the United States. The Japanese garden is truly breathtaking. You will forget that you are not in Japan. It is so tranquil and relaxing. The pond is well stocked with colorful koi, turtles, and frogs. It took less than 45 minutes to explore the entire garden. I highly recommend that you check their website regarding hours. You can make a reservation to attend a tea ceremony on Saturdays and some Fridays and Sundays for $15 a person. The Seattle Japanese Garden is normally open Tuesday-Sunday. Admission: Adults 18-64: $10 Youths 6-17, Senior Adults(65+), Students(with valid ID), Adaptive, Military: $6 Children 0-5: FREE Parking is free, but limited.

*Summer Flashback* A visit to the Seattle Arboretum is not complete without stopping by this serene Japanese Garden! We visited during the end of the Summer, when most of the trees and foliage were lovely shades of green. Although beautiful year-round, I would imagine that Spring and Fall are the most scenic (and more crowded) months. Tickets can be purchased online, which will guarantee a reservation for a set time. This is especially helpful during the COVID period. For more spontaneous visits, the attendant will let you know if there are still available tickets for the next open time slot. On a sunny Saturday, the four of us were lucky to get in on standby and the cost was $8 for each adult under age 65. Due to the pandemic, a limited number of visitors are allowed in per time slot. They also enforce one-way paths through the entire garden and masks are required at all times. There was a staff member actively walking around to make sure everyone abided by these safety measures. Despite the relatively small size of the garden, we enjoyed a relaxing stroll along the pathways that wrap around the center pond as the focal point. Walk to the far end of the garden for the best view, and step up to the edge of the pond for a peek at the many Koi fish below the surface. Some of them actually pop up to greet you! Unfortunately, a few of the paths and bridge areas were closed off, possibly to keep people from gathering. Since these areas were not accessible, I think the price of admission should have been reduced by at least a dollar or two. I would expect that most visitors spend less than an hour exploring the garden. We walked around for about 45 minutes and were pleased with our experience. I'd love to return throughout the year to compare the blooms and colors based on the season. Linking more info about hours and admission: https://www.seattlejapanesegarden.org/location-and-hours

This was a cute way to spend some time that we had before meeting up with friends, but given how small it was, I don't think I would have paid to get in for a quick walk around the garden. It got a little hot while we were there, and the sun was out, so a lot of people had congregated around the shaded benches. There were a couple of cute spots for photos, but there were quite a few people around that it made it hard to take photos without asking others to move a little out of the frame. I took a couple of extra laps around just to get a little more exercise, and to get the value for what we paid, but otherwise, it's not something I would recommend people go out of their way to see.

On the small side compared to other gardens I have visited but this garden was beautiful and very calming. There is an admission fee of $8 for adults but I found it worth it. There is a parking lot in front or you can walk over if you parked near the Washington Arboretum. The garden has many small winding streams and two ponds where you can find turtles sunbathing or swimming. What I loved most was the amount of stone lanterns placed among the trees and plants. So peaceful. There were a couple of screaming kids when we went but nothing that is not expected from children.

Review in COVID times. We've been here before but this time I'd like to share our experience during COVID times. We visited on a Wednesday, so this means you can walk-in and get your ticket right there; however, I know that you're encouraged to get your tickets online for weekends. $8 for adults and kids under 6 Are free. Special price for seniors. Anyways, you should know this garden can be a very short stroll. It's a good place to visit with little ones (toddlers) or if you have a stroller. Beautiful place for a Photoshoot or for a romantic promenade. It depends on the weather some years you can find this garden in bloom since March, this year (2021) it might be in full bloom by mid April and onwards. Look for the fish and the turtles in the water. They're used to be fed by people. Oh! and do you know what are the commons elements in any Japanese garden? Water, stones and lanterns. Keep your eyes open to find them here. Parking is FREE!

A very beautiful and serene garden inside the Washington Arboretum Park. $8 entry is not too much to help with garden maintenance. It's not a super huge garden but definitely beautiful.

During my visit to the Seattle Japanese Garden in the summer with my family, I was struck by the beauty and tranquility of the space. The garden is meticulously maintained, with every aspect of the design thoughtfully planned and executed. While I was there, I was lucky enough to catch a performance by a taiko group, which added an extra layer of cultural richness to my visit. The tranquil ponds and waterfalls provided a soft, soothing soundtrack to the performance. The warm summer weather made for the perfect backdrop to a leisurely stroll through the garden. If you're in Seattle and looking for a peaceful and serene spot to relax and unwind, the Seattle Japanese Garden is definitely worth a visit.

We were looking for a nice outdoor visit to catch some Fall colors while the weather was still ok (October in Seattle). This was going to be our first "official" outing (not counting neighborhood walks) since the baby came. We booked tickets well in advance -- mind you, these were pandemic times, so everything is running on reduced capacity. We reached right at the start of our allotted slot, but the parking was massively backed up. There was apparently some kids' soccer game going on nearby. After about 30 mins, we were finally able to find a spot and get in. However, since we had picked the last 1-hour slot of the day, we were able to spend only 30 mins before the garden's closing time. It's a fairly small garden, so we were able to go around it in the 30 mins, but we would have loved to spend more time there. Given the size of the garden, the tickets also felt a tiny bit over-priced.

Small garden to walk through and visit, definitely doable for morning or afternoon visit. There is lovely landscaping throughout the garden and it is very peaceful to walk through. The garden is not free but admission $8 for adults and $4 for children. Under 5 is free.

Beautiful Seattle Japanese Garden especially Autumn season now. Leaves are so colorful and full blooming now. Located in: Washington Park Arboretum UW Botanic Gardens Open Monday 12-5pm and Tues ~ Sun 10-5pm. Parking is FREE Admission fee: Adults 18-64: $8 City of Seattle residents with ID: $6 Youths 6-17, Senior Adults 65+, College students with ID, & Disabled: $4 Children 0-5: FREE * On the First Thursdays of the month, admission is FREE for all visitors from 1p.m. until closing.

it is so beautiful and can't wait to visit again when the leaves have changed color even more would also love to experience a tea ceremony next time :)

This was a excellent garden to visit... well worth the entrance fee. Plenty of parking, self guided tour pamphlets r avail... & the enviro is tranquil & yet lively with enriching sounds of leaves rustling & koi fish seeking food... a definite recommend!

Great place to go to. We decided to see this place since we had a few hours. Garden is small and it took about 1 hour to walk around the place. Many great picture spots.

Pros: + It really quaint in here. Very well kept and really beautiful in the fall. I came here right around when the maple trees were turning colors and it really is a great sight to see. + They host different events such as the Maple Festival and others. I'm sure the lines are really long for these events though. + Free Thursday's. Cons: + It's small. I've been to other Japanese Gardens and this is definitely smaller than those. It's one small loop with a Koi pond in the middle. There are some main picture spots but you can see the entire garden from the highest point at the far end of the garden. That definitely had the best view. + Their annual membership is $25 but I don't think it's super worth it.

Even on an overcast day, the graciousness of the garden and the creators still shines through. Thank you for creating such a tranquil space in this very busy & crowded city!!

went on the free day of the month (first thursday) and would definitely only come on this day. it's teeny tiny! there were butoh dancers and musicians which also only happen once a year (very cool to watch) overall, a beautiful park for what it is, just didn't expect it to be so small!

Adult admission $8 Seattle resident with ID $6 I love the Bellevue Botanical Garden and Kubota Garden, both of which are free. With this place having an admission fee, I was hoping to be more impressed that I was. It felt a lot smaller than the other 2, with less trails to explore. It's mainly one path around the pond as far as I could tell. It's hard for me to want to come back knowing there are better options to get my garden fix.