This is an awesome garden. Huge, family friendly, well maintained, beautiful, within city...my list can go on. I love this garden. It has many beautiful flowers and interesting tree types. The koi ponds cannot not be missed, the koi are so big! I see many ppl walk their doggies here, so I assume pets are welcome. read more

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Quiet Japanese garden. So beautiful! When I went here, I met a dog-owner who'd brought her dog there for one last frolic before he was put down to spare him the pain of diabetes. The sadness enhanced the experience. read more

Great place to stroll on a sunny day. Nice landscaping. Good place for kids and parents to take a walk.

A public garden that's well maintained and free. I came here for a quick stroll in the early evening and it was very nice. Great for the family, to bring kids to come and spend some time outdoors. It's a picturesque location for photography as well, lots of cameras and enthusiasts to capture the beautiful scenery. Parking could be limited. read more

What a fantastic free Park! This was our first stop from the airport and I highly recommend a visit. There's so much to see, with an incredible variety of plants, and the grounds are well kept. We enjoyed all the ponds, the huge waterfall which has a forested path to the top, and the wooden and stone bridges. There are a surprising amount of koi fish in 2 different ponds and plenty of secluded benches where you can take a break. This park is dog-friendly as well. read more

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Huge amount of effort went into this place. Even if you're not a gardener, you will appreciate the beauty here. Damn glad I didn't have to do anything but enjoy. read more

What a lovely space to visit. Came with the family to the gardens on a chilly afternoon. The air was so fresh and dewy. The paths can get a little confusing, but each direction is beautiful, with waterfalls around the corner. If you get tired, there are plenty of benches to take a rest. This is a calm, free spot to come and have a lovely stroll. Highly recommend! read more

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Just the right time for the Autumn view. It's not a big park, but have everything in it, maples, ponds, fish, falls, bridges and trails, which are well organized elegantly. It takes around one hour to touch everywhere. Totally relax inside it. read more

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Went on a cloudy day and it was really beautiful. Very relaxing& quiet. Safe place to go by yourself, with kids, with family & friends. Highly recommend you take a walk here read more

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This place is pretty big and well maintained as well though the neighborhood seemed a little iffy. Beautiful garden overall though we only did 1/4rth of the garden itself. No entrance fee although very limited parking space. Good place to bring kids/dogs/pets and walk around. Porta potties available. read more

Kubota Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Beautiful garden to stroll around, with lots of photo opportunities. It was low-key without many people, and worth the trip.

This Japanese garden is absolutely stunning. Located in the middle of the Rainier Beach neighborhood, you would never guess what's inside these walls. The garden is beautifully laid out with pathways that present you with special moments. Bridges, ponds, waterfalls, lookout points and quiet coves are around every turn. The garden isn't huge, but the way the paths twist and turn make it seem much grander. There are no signs anywhere and I feel like that is on purpose. The garden seem like it was designed to be wandered. I felt lost several times, but the pathways kept leading me on though the garden. I made a point to come to see the fall colors and it did not disappoint! The Japanese maples were in full glory in every shade of yellow, orange and red. Give yourself at least an hour to wander the garden and see all the sights. Kubota Garden is a public garden and is FREE to visit. read more

Kubota Garden - Perfect little maple tree - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Have a stroll around the garden will put your mind at ease. A gem in the Rainier Beach neighborhood.

An absolute oasis. Calm cool relaxing. Great place to relax and spend a quiet moment. Check it out. read more

This is a wonderful park where you can chill out and relax or have a picnic. A 20 acre oasis of peace and beauty in the concrete jungle. Near the entrance of the park you can grab a map and do a self-guided tour of the grounds. Guided tours are available on the fourth Saturday from April to October (starts at 10am at parking lot). Kubota Garden is the result of Fujitaro Kubota's life's work that began with his initial purchase of five acres of swampland in South Seattle in 1927. He wanted to showcase the Pacific Northwest landscape and native plant life in the style of his Japanese homeland. The park opened to the public in 1987. /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ / \ / \ No snarky comment? Not today. / \ / \ / \ \ / \ | | / \ / \ / \ / \ \O/ O / \ / \ / \ || | | | /| || | | || || | | / \ / \ || | | || ____________________________________________________ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ / \ / \ There is hope for you yet. ! / \ / \ / \ \ / \ | | / \ / \ / \ / \ O O / \ / \ / \ || | | |\ /|\ || | | || || | | / \ / \ || | | || ____________________________________________________ read more

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The Botanist in you will fall in love with this place. Today for my birthday, my husband surprised me by taking me into a very relaxing walk in this garden. I absolutely loved it. Spacious grounds that are neatly kept. No trash at all in sight. Many different paths that intersect and lead you surprisingly into more paths. Little ponds that transported me back to my childhood. Especially the one where the ducks were swimming. Relax by watching the waterfalls or appreciating the different tress and shrubs. Good walk. Parking in grounds but beware, there's a sign that tells there are break ins in the parking lot. We did not have a problem. Phew! read more

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This place is an absolute dream!! It's free, it's accessible, it's fairly large, and it'll fulfill every fall, "the leaves are changing!!!!" wish you've ever had. A friend and I were lucky enough to come here on a crisp, sunny fall day and it's easily one of my new favorite spots in Seattle. It's a bit of a drive away from the city and tucked into a quiet neighborhood, but I feel like that adds to the "secret garden" vibe. Parking is free in the adjacent lot and I would recommend getting there early. There was ample parking when we went around 12:30, but when we left an hour or so later cars were circling the lot waiting for people to leave. The garden itself has numerous walking trails and tons of different foliage. Because there were so many trails, I never got the feeling that it was super crowded even though there were quite a lot of people (and their dogs!!). The only critique I would have is that the wayfinding experience could be improved. It took us a bit of time and effort to actually get out when trying to leave the garden. read more

Beautiful in the fall and spring. Right in my neighborhood. Good place to take your kids to run around. Cool paths and water features.

What a gem!! We've lived pretty close to this park for a year but just finally got around to going last night. The garden takes up 34 acres, so an hour or two will not be enough time to see it all. It was actually built in the 1930's by a Japanese man, Mr. Kubota. The garden was acquired by the city of Seattle after his death in the 1980's. Since then, more themed sections have been added, and the park has expanded slightly. It is divided up into 5 or 6 differently themed gardens with paths connecting them all. There were multiple waterfalls and koi ponds, and bridges everywhere! There were also huge lawns that were perfectly maintained. This is the PERFECT place for a wedding, picnic, or for family photos. The gardens are so beautifully maintained. We decided to bring teriyaki for a picnic. We found a huge lawn surrounded by flowers and we had it to ourselves the whole time! The park tends to fill up later on in the evenings. We got here at 5:30pm on a Friday night and the park was empty, but by the time we left at 7 the parking lot was filling up fast. read more

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The Kubota Garden is a Seattle treasure and if you have not taken the time to visit you should consider doing so before the winter. The garden is beautiful in the fall and it is great to actually see the wind sweeping colorful leaves off of the trees. My sister was visiting from out of town and this was a good place to take her to see a garden showcasing the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and Japan in one place. We had a nice time wandering around the garden and exploring the beauty and solitude. It has a wonderfully calming effect and it is one of those places where you may not have to say a single word to the people you are with because you all "get it." On the day I went there were several rain storms and a lot of wind. It was great that we got there at a time when there was a break in the rain and the sun came out for a bit. It was great watching the wind move the trees and they seemed to sway in unison at times. This was a great fall day to visit and I'm glad my sister got to enjoy it as well. The garden has eighteen different areas... - Entry Plaza - Entry Gate - Wall and Gate House - Terrace Overlook - Spring Pond - Mapes Creek - Nursery Plantings - Overlook - Japanese Garden - Heart Bridge - Mountainside - Memorial Stone - Lookout - Moon Bridge - Stroll Garden - Fera Fera Forest - Kubota Terrace - Stone Garden There is a parking lot but it is fairly small. There are also several signs warning people to not leave valuables in your car. If you have more than eight people you can arrange a tour of the garden. There are drop-in tours available on the fourth Saturday at 10:00am and take about an hour and a half. This is the kind of place where you can just go to clear your mind, meditate or simply recharge yourself. This is a place to come back to again and again. It truly is a treasure of our city. read more

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Wonderfully gorgeous area to take a stroll in! It's FREE admission and parking. The parking lot is small. I can imagine it fills up fast but I didn't have any issues finding a spot. There are bathrooms near the entrance but be forewarned, they are two portable out houses. I came here Thanksgiving weekend and it was freezing temperatures! BRRRR!! Nonetheless still a beautiful place! There are so many mini hills, twists and turns, bridges to cross, stones to step on, etc. Sometimes you feel like you're lost in a maze. I can't complain. I always had a sense of curiosity of what's to come up next. I bet this place is amzing during the spring and summer months. There were lots of frost everywhere when I came to visit. I didn't get to see any koi or turtles because several of the ponds were frozen. I would have loved to see this place covered in snow but it was too dry out for that. I didn't get to explore the whole garden as the sun was setting and it was getting even colder. I will definitely be back again and again! read more

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My friends and I recently came here for the autumn Japanese Tea Ceremony and it was amazing! The scenery was beautiful and the fall leaves everywhere made the scenery very colorful. The ginkgo leaves were especially beautiful. I highly recommend the Japanese tea ceremony as well. They explain the process and make yoh amazing matcha tea and provide Japanese sweets. I've been here for the Japanese tea ceremony in the summer as well. read more

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First off it's FREE yes Free and on the fourth Saturday of every month at 10:00 am, from April to October they provide free public tours of the garden with a very informative volunteer to guide you along, I highly recommend taking one of these tours. But if you can't make it to one of the guided tours you can take a self tour. Detailed maps and tour guides are located in a metal box near the entrance. The gardens are even dog friendly as long as you're dog is on a leash and you pick up it's poop you can bring them with you for a stroll through the gardens. A bit of information about Fujitaro Kubota I would never have known had it not been for taking the tour was that Kubota and his family were interned at Camp Minidoka in Idaho, during World War II and during which time the garden was not maintained by anyone. He initially didn't want to return due to the horror stories he had heard of how the Japanese were being treated in San Francisco. One of his sons who'd been in the US Army visited Seattle and assured him that it was safe to return. They finally returned and Kubota along with his sons continued to maintain the garden until his death. Thankfully the garden achieved landmark status in the 1980s, thereby avoiding being developed as condominiums. (Capitol Hill should have thought to do this.) The city purchased the land in 1987 and has since bought 17 acres of open space next to the garden to remain as a natural area protection for Mapes Creek and the ravine. I guess I should add something about the beautiful garden shouldn't I? Well it's not a traditional Japanese Garden it's what my tour guide stated as a fusion of Japanese and American gardens, just like food gardens can be fusion as well. There are many PNW native plants along with traditional Japanese plants. And many benches and rocks are placed though out the garden for you to sit down and enjoy your surroundings. When you visit I highly suggest wearing good walking shoes, it looks like a small garden but the place goes on and on forever with little hills and lots of rocks and unsteady ground to walk on. read more

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I'd give it 5 stars however, there's construction and several paths are currently closed. It was relatively quiet without many people there when we went at about 4:30pm on a Friday. This garden is peaceful, offers a lot of variety, and is a nice break from the city. The koi pond needs to be cleaned as the water is too murky to appreciate the fish. It would be nice to have a few more Japanese decorations however, if you're there for the foliage then this is the perfect experience! I go about once every 10 yrs. It's wonderful that it is free and nice to enjoy in various seasons. read more

I would recommend to anyone in the area to visit this Seattle city park that was once a Japanese garden. But I would also recommend that every other regional Japanese Garden is better. The best way to experience Kubota is through its history. Japanese emigrated to the US in the early part of the 20th century, but were discriminated against, taking grocery and landscaping jobs. Mr Kubota operated a nursery and his landscaping business here, designing and installing many NW outstanding gardens. Imagine how it was then! To preserve it from developers, the Seattle parks department took over the garden after the creator passed. Great, in that the garden is free. Disaster, in that the park employees do not understand Japanese aesthetics and have made a seriously terrible non-Japanese design in the watercourse leading from the parking area to the main gardens. Those park employees, or rather their managers, have let the garden maintenance deteriorate. Another example is mowing lawns with drive tractors while leaving grass untouched under potentially spectacular specimen trees that are growing out of control. The garden is filled with outstanding plant material in dire need of pruning and maintenance. Noted NW garden designers have appealed to Seattle's parks department to consult on maintenance and updates but to no avail. It would be simple to pay park employees to really learn Japanese gardening and then supervise a legion of volunteer maintenance workers. Good for the workers and good for the volunteers! If you want design inspiration, this garden will read you seriously astray. I'm partial to the Portland Japanese Garden, and the Bloedel Reserve Garden, designed by Kubota San. (Note the Bloedel was free for a time under UW management, but was repossessed by the foundation to reestablish proper maintenance) The Huntington has its charm too. And gardens in Japan of course. The site http://www.jgarden.org has a great list of gardens around the world and the book Japanese-Style Gardens of the Pacific West Coast is also an excellent source to find gardens to visit. Pruning is the secret to plants in Kyoto gardens that still look great after 500 years. Visit a few other gardens, and you will understand. No problem visiting for relaxation or a picnic though. read more

A nice clean place to go for a casual stroll. This is probably the best kept park in Seattle. My dog loves the peaceful atmosphere

Super loving the Kubota garden. Good place to relax, feel the breeze, listen to the birds. 9 am in the morning the Seattle sun bright and light clouds. read more

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It's a lovely place and has been around for nearly one hundred years! In the late 20s, Fujitaro Kubota began with five acres of logged-off swampland in the Rainier Beach neighborhood of Seattle and over the decades, the garden grew to twenty acres including his home, his landscaping business and offices. Kubota's dream was to display the greenery of the Pacific Northwest in a Japanese manner. The gardens on the Seattle University campus and the Japanese Garden at the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island are public examples of his work. He was self-taught and designed gardens all over the Seattle area. Sadly in the 40s, like most Japanese families, the Kubotas were interned at an Idaho camp. The gardens were left abandoned for four years and after the war, they rebuilt their nursery and business. He continued to work on the garden which he hoped would one day be open to the public. He received an award from the Japanese government. In 1972, he received the Fifth Class Order of the Sacred Treasure, "for his achievements in his adopted country, for introducing and building respect for Japanese Gardening in this area". He died the next year in his 90s. The garden is free to the public or you may donate money for its upkeep. I've visited a couple of times and have made it my goal to visit once each season to enjoy the varying colours the garden would provide. The garden is accessible for wheelchairs in certain areas and there are a couple of picnic tables for outdoor dining. The parking lot is also huge (and FREE!) so unless there's an event, you shouldn't have a problem visiting. Lastly there's a biannual plant sale to benefit the garden, once in the spring and again in the fall. The deals are supposedly fantastic and if you're a budding gardener, stop by for a little advice and some new plants for your yard! read more

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Beautiful place to walk through, beautiful flowers amaaaaaaaaaaaaazing beautifully made garden

I have lived in the Seattle area for years before and knew of Kubota Gardens but never took the time to find out anything more. Today I decided to take my 1-1/2 year old & 4 years old daughters to the Gardens to do some walking and looking around. When you first walk in, it doesn't really look like much, but just keep walking. It will blow you away. So beautiful. There are so many paths with hidden gems just waiting to be found and it just keeps getting better and better. If you are gonna be in Seattle and enjoy gardens, don't miss this place! The Kubota Garden have a history of the Kubota Family and how it once was a nursery and it expanded from a vision of being a beautiful and serene garden. There are many paths and ponds and such mature landscaping. Kubota Gardens is a lovely spot. The grounds are surprisingly large. I'm so glad we had the self-guided walking tour map, conveniently provided near the front entrance, but even with it, we did lose our bearings a number of times. Nontheless it was fun to wander and discover a few of the many little paths and hidden groves. The other unique thing about Kubota Garden is that it is a public garden, open from dawn to dusk, without admission. Not terribly far from public transportation. A true gem of the area that should be on the "Must See" list! I see that quite a few people get nervous about the signs that tell you to lock your car doors and roll up your windows to prevent theft. Clearly there are signs that state a warning, and as long as you don't ignore them you shouldn't have anything to worry about. The gardens do not deserve a bad rating because of the scummy thieves in the area. There are thieves everywhere. I recommend touring the garden, however listen to the signs. read more

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Where can you find a large Japanese garden that is free for visitors? This is definitely the place to be! They have everything you can ask for such as flowers, bridge, garden, and koi fish! A place to take great photography for your engagement, prom, etc. On that day, there was an actual wedding going on. What more can you ask for a small quiet intimate wedding with good scenery all around. An advice, make sure to mark your pathways. It's like a hike and you can easily get lost in this large garden lol. read more

Free. Expansive. Lots of landscaping, ponds, waterfalls, and bridges for taking pictures.

Went here with the wife because we had a few hours to spare before we went to the airport to head home. Picked up some sandwiches at Honeyhole and decided to eat there. The trail maps are were a little difficult to navigate through, but I was a little edgy the entire time, because the warning signs about vehicle break-ins really got me worried and I didn't want to get too lost or stray away from the car. We took a few good pictures though but I have to be honest and say I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have if I new the car and our belongings were much safer. The park is beautiful tho, but the entire experience was marred by the stress of being robbed; it wasn't possible to take all of our stuff w/ us; we had luggage and a bunch of other things....next time, we'll come w/o anything else, so we can enjoy it better :) read more

This place is beautiful. Make sure to visit it in every season. I made sure to stop by during the massive snow a couple years back and it was incredible. read more

Beautiful and expansive Japanese garden located a short drive from Seattle. The garden is extremely lush and the grounds are well maintained. The only downside to this place is that they only have porter potties... BUT admission and parking is free so can't really complain. read more

Kubota Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Kubota is stunningly lovely, and there's such a feeling of peace and stillness in the midst of a busy neighborhood. Keep in mind: 1. The place fills up fast, so get there early or parking will be tough. 2. Lock your car. There are a lot of break-ins and thefts in this area (as signs will remind you). 3. There are no maps posted throughout the 20-30 acres of beauty, so be prepared to wander a bit while you find your way back. 4. Take time to explore. There's a lot of detail to enjoy. read more

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Love, Love, LOVE it here!!! I felt like I had my own private garden. There were a handful of people here the day I went and I passed them maybe twice in different locations. I was there on a Thursday afternoon about 1pm. So many beautiful flowers. It was so peaceful, just walking around and enjoying nature uninterrupted. The red bridges and little waterfalls and ponds were the perfect backdrops for a relaxing afternoon. I can also imagine this would be an ideal location for a photo shoot. I felt totally safe and would visit here again. Parking is free as is admissions. So can't beat that! read more

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I took my date on a second date to this place. Scoring points through a nature walk in a Japanese garden. The parking situation was bit rough, to be fair it was the middle of day. Slim pickens. We had a blast, the garden had a long waterfall and lots of little red bridges. You have a lot of opportunities for pictures and people watching. There was a couple taking wedding pictures, where the wife was ridding her husband's back piggy back style. Possible a preview for what's to come later... Wink wink. I know, I know... They have a koi pond with huge koi in it. The views in this place are amazing. You almost forget that you're still in the city of Seattle or in Skyway. Conclusion: If you want to take a long walk and see some cool stuff, this will place will not disappoint. read more

Quite a variety of plants, flowers and trees to see with a few ponds scattered about. The past couple of visits an area has been fenced off and is undergoing some restoration apparently will be an overlook for one of those ponds, which don't look very clean. The gardens are open to the public and are under the city of Seattle, so I can't expect everything to be fully maintained all the time. I don't think it is helped by being in the neighborhood it is in. Following that, there are multiple signs warning visitors about theft and safety. Overall I like this place and will visit occasionally, but its not outstanding for the aforementioned reasons. Wildlife: I've seen 1 Koi fish and 1 turtle among dozens of birds. If you plan on perusing the gardens in the late afternoon/evening for more than a few minutes note there are plenty of bugs/mosquitoes out there- bring bug spray... read more

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A surprising oasis in an unassuming residential neighborhood. Open to the public and free. Well maintained and a peaceful setting to spend an hour of two just strolling along the paths and admiring the different settings and varied foliage. On your way to SeaTac this is a perfect place to spend some time before your flight. read more