Today, we visited this location and were pleasantly surprised, despite having low expectations. We had the pleasure of meeting the sole volunteer on site, a friendly individual with a deep love for the garden. He provided us with insightful information about the place and Japan . It's commendable to see someone dedicated to this endeavor. Our 25-minute experience was truly incredible! read more

I hadn't been in several years and this place has improved so much!! They added so much more to it and especially the extra color now is so great. Paid parking right out read more

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This place is next to jungle island and free to enter. Great place to meditate or pray. A lot more can me done to improve it. read more

Ichimura Miami Japanese Garden - Exterior - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Miami, Florida

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Come for the seasonal festivals. They usually give parking vouchers for the monkey jungle garage ($5) and have free entrance. The winter fest had several taiko performances (and a demo for kids), karate demonstrations, Ikebana demo as well as a tea ceremony (you have to pay for). They usually have a boba tea stand, Japanese food, rice balls and some vendors. The kids games are fun and they have out arare rice crackers as prizes. Usually the Japanese consulate general shows up for a presentation and there's a dance and anime contest. read more

In 1957 Mr. Kiyoshi Ichimura from Japan was attending a camera show in Miami. During his visit he saw a spot of land and said to the person next to him that it would the perfect place for cherry trees and Japanese lanterns. The man he spoke to happened to be a Miami City Commissioner and asked if Mr. Ichimura was serious about donating such a gift. He replied that he was. When it was determined that the Cherry Trees would not be suitable to grow here he instead sent 300 orchid trees that were planted on Ichimura Road running parallel to the McArthur Causeway. He also sent an 8 foot tall Kasuga Stone Lantern and a 15- foot tall Hotei statue. His final gift was sending Japanese gardeners and carpenters to build the gardens and a tea house. Completed in 1961 the garden was named SAN-AI-EN which translated to Three Loves Garden. Mr. Ichimura was made an honorary citizen of Miami and President Kennedy sent a congratulatory letter. By 1984 the garden had fallen into neglect. A non profit was formed called the Friends of the Japanese Garden for the purpose of restoring the gardens. They received aid from the chairman of the board of the company that originally brought Mr. Ichimura to Miami. By 1988 the garden was repaired. In 1992 Hurricane Andrew completely destroyed the garden and it took another three years to rebuild it again. In 1996 Parrot Jungle relocated to Watson Island forcing the garden to move to it's current location. In 2004 the new garden opened under the name Ichimura Miami Japan Garden. The garden has now been open for 50 years and is a symbol of an enduring friendship between Miami and Japan. Although this garden has a lot of history and love behind it the fact is that it is extremely small. I am not sure how big the original location was but this spot is very small. In any case the tea house was lost in the move. What they do have is very beautiful. There is a waterfall with fish, a zen garden, a fountain with water plants, and statues through out the garden. The Hotei statue is outside the garden near the entrance to Jungle Island. The biggest problem with visiting the garden is the parking since it doesn't have it's own lot. You have to park at Jungle Island or the marina across the street for the $15 a day rate. Both options are expensive for a quick stop. I was able to talk to the security guard at the marina who allowed me to park for free for a few minutes otherwise your best bet is to go if you are already boating or visiting Jungle Island. The garden is hosting a fall festival on November 4th. read more

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Really clean and cute for photos. Theres a lot of lizards, they dont bother you. The ponds have koi and little fishies as well. Free admission! read more

Ichimura Miami Japanese Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Miami, Florida

The Ichimura Japanese Garden is a great but short experience, and a free one at that! The garden consists of a lake with a waterfall, a few pond installations, a boulder Zen garden, and beautiful flora. They have an annual Japanese festival that I have attended for years now where they serve Japanese cuisine like rice balls, display amazing art from talented artists that love to talk to you, and a gorgeous scenery... even if you can see it all in less than 20 mins. The festival always has a costume contest, a tea ceremony, flower arrangement showing, drum show, and even a kids magic show! All food and art is extremely affordable. I wouldn't go out of my way to go here if I'm far away, but if you're nearby looking for some cultural fun, this is the perfect spot. read more

Ichimura Miami Japanese Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Miami, Florida

Went here for the Japanese Festival, I was extremely disappointed. The festival itself was very basic and boring for the most part. The garden was nice but nothing out of this world. It was extremely small like a circle that you'd only need about 10 mins (if you walk extremely slow) to see the whole place. I don't recommend wasting your time going unless you're already in the area. There isn't much to see. read more

This rose that rises out of cement is no bigger that an average backyard but that doesn't stop it from being really beautiful and relaxing. I wouldn't go out of my way to visit it but if I was in the neighborhood, it is a real nice quiet meditation area in the middle of busy Miami History lesson time kids - In the 1950's, Mr. Kiyoshi Ichimura became enamored with the City of Miami and began sending dismantled objects and materials from Tokyo along with carpenters, gardeners and a landscape architect to design and construct, what in 1961 would become, the "San-Ai-An Japanese Garden." Beginning in Fall 2001, the site upon which it was located was converted to a new facility for the Tropical Parrot Garden that had previously been located in downtown Miami. The Japanese garden has been reduced in size and was moved to an adjacent 1 acre site, where it was restored. The City of Miami and landscape architect Lester Collins Pancoast and architect Thorn Grafton worked cooperatively with the Japanese Consul and The Friends of the Japanese Garden to redesign and reconstruct the Ichimura Miami-Japan Garden. It was re-opened in 2006. This garden is located on the Miami end of the MacArthur Causeway, on Watson Island, the extension of I-395 that connects Miami to Miami Beach. No Koi in the pond equals one less star read more

If you ride your bike to Watson Island; are parking at the boat marina across the street or at the Jungle Island garage and you need a place to relax, this is the place. But if you are thinking about making a trip and parking in the Miami City lot across the street ($10 minimum targeted at those using the Marina), then it's probably not worth the trip. I made a quick stop here to check it out and would not have fed the meter except the Miami Police Sergeant was parked right in front of the parking meter machine. In any regard, as there is a nice fish pond but the Koi were missing. The garden was nice an tranquil and I saw one biker sleeping on a bench in a very private spot. Don't expect too much as it is very, very small, but if you need a place to be by yourself for a few moments, this could be the place. BTW, its free except the parking! read more

Ichimura Miami Japanese Garden - Ichimura Miami-Japan Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Miami, Florida

Very nice and peaceful Japanese garden along the MacArthur causeway, right near Downtown Miami. It's small but there still quite a bit to see. A nice pond and waterfall, and garden. As other reviewers have pointed out, if you're already parked in the Jungle Island garage right next door ($10), then you could just walk right over and see this garden. Otherwise, I don't know if there is a "good" or "official" place to park. The marina doesn't seem to have any of those machines or meters; seems like it's "pay-by-phone" and not something I was about to do. read more

This place has seen better times for sure ,it has been over 6 months aftet the hurricane and it's still not fully recovered,very relaxing and short walk with a small fish pond,a fountain and some intetesting trees. read more

Ichimura Miami Japanese Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Miami, Florida

It's a beautiful little garden to go have lunch and read a book. However it is described a lot greater than it is. It's definitely not a top touristic place. You can go around it in less than 5 min. read more

I helped with an event here: Bodhi Fest/Jade Buddha for Universal Peace. Before we set up I had a chance to see the garden. Honestly it is in need of some work. The gravel needs to be refreshed and the foliage is scarce. With the being said it is still peaceful. I wouldn't make a special trip just to come see it unless you were already in the area. The place isn't that big or impressive. Now if you are looking for a spot to do an event I WOULD recommend taking this place into consideration. My point person of contact, Ruben, was the nicest, most helpful person. He was such a pleasure and very accommodating. The ground definitely has space for tents, people, and anything you may want to do. The gates allow for easy crowd control. Overall a pretty decent venue for events. read more

I love that this places preserves and teaches the japanese culture. We need more of this I hope to see one day this place to expand :)

For future tourists, I only recommend this place if you are already parked because as an early reviewer mentioned its free except for the $10 parking. The park itself is very lovely and well-shaded but If you briskly walk, it takes about one minute to do the entire circuit. If you are a slow walker and intent on taking a picture of every lotus and rock, then it will take about 5 minutes. read more

I didn't believe when I got there. There is absolutely nothing to see there. Is so small that you can walk and see "everything" in 1 minute (seriously). It's free but it's not worth it. :/ read more

This is a very calm place to visit, however I would have liked for it to be a little bigger and more of a garden. I have been to quite a few Japanese gardens and I'd have to say that my expectations were not met with this particular one. There is hardly any foliage and I was really looking forward to seeing more kinds of flowers. I don't think I would go out of my way to visit this garden again, the only good thing about it was that we could park at the marina parking and walk on over, and that there was no charge at the door. Overall, not a big fan. read more

Shame about the parking, but the design approach to this garden is what is important. It is a fine example of what can be done in a small space "pocket park." The Japanese style of gardening can be accomplished beautifully with sub-tropical plants. I wish the city would maintain it better and keep working on improving it. read more