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    Seattle Japanese Garden

    4.2 (246 reviews)
    Open • 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Seattle Japanese Garden Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Seattle Japanese Garden

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    The entrance view
    Douglas S.

    We were visiting in town and found the Arboretum to walk, then found that we could walk to the Japanese Garden also. This was $10 each to go in, there was a lot of construction being done so hoping they are adding on. Lots of wildlife to see here!

    Rebecca H.

    It is a lovely garden, but very small. Temper your expectations. It took us about 20 minutes to walk through the whole thing. They are doing construction now to make it more accessible, which is lovely. If it bothers you to hear equipment and see the fences, perhaps go later in the year. It's a great stop for kids who can watch the Koi, other than one of the bridges doesn't have railing all the way around, so keep an eye on children to make sure they don't fall in. For $10 for adults in six bucks for kids, it's a nice way to spend a short period of time.

    Edward V.

    My family and I visit this peaceful oasis in the heart of Seattle twice a year---once in the fall and the other now, when the flowering plants are in bloom. We particularly love the Wisterias. Yesterday, they were in full bloom! It's not a very large park, can easily be visited in an hour as you make the loop. But if you stop and fully immerse yourself in its spaces, you can stay for hours. Being there is like being transported to Japan. There's a large pond in the middle, but there are small bridges, winding paths and little streams---all beautifully landscaped and manicured with Japanese aesthetics. The Wisterias are surely amazing and are at their full bloom peak right now. In the fall, this is a magical place, with trees turning on their autumn colors. There's parking outside, although it can be easily walked from the UW Arboretum park or by public bus.

    Kumar V.

    $10+ Adult ticket for this place feels overpriced specially when the place is already located in a very scenic spot of town - Arboretum Garden. I will be happy to spend $7-8 for entry. Otherwise the environment is super scenic and personally I can spend many hours here just sitting in peace . Like any Japanese garden you are bound to find Koi (Carp) Fishes in lake. You would also find Turtles.

    Garden
    Vince P.

    The Seattle Japanese Garden is a nice and tranquil escape to the hustle and bustle of the city. There is a designated free parking lot for the garden directly across from the entrance. Garden admission is $10 per adult or $6 with student ID. Depending on the season, there may be more flowers in bloom, but the garden still has beautiful picturesque views nonetheless.

    Exiting, Japanese Maple

    For me and my family: Very mid. Def not worth the admission price. Glad the parking was free. Very small park. Done in less than 30 min. They didn't do anything wrong. I just felt like it was someone's backyard. The turtle was cute. Smaller than expected. Nice. But not worth the hype.

    Nevaeh S.

    Visited during July so most of the flowers were no longer in bloom. It's quite a small garden, not much to do or look at but it is pretty and quiet. We were here for about an hour walking around. There's a small area in the front next to the entrance that includes a student photography gallery as well. It was a place we were excited to visit but as I said before, not much to do or see so I probably wouldn't come back again. Parking is a little walk from the garden and they don't have anyone outside the box office checking for tickets so many people just walked in without paying. They do offer student discounts though as long as you bring your student ID or show proof of your student email. They also sell fish food to feed the koi fishes but I'm more sure how much it is. Overall, okay experience and not too expensive and great for every one of all ages. There's also a lot of hornets so be mindful of that.

    Pam D.

    A visit to the Seattle Japanese Garden feels like stepping into a peaceful corner of botanical Japan. The winding paths lead you through beautifully maintained plants and trees, creating a tranquil space perfect for a quiet walk. Along the way, keep an eye on the ponds--the koi love to pop up and say hello. It's also a wonderful spot for photography. My son and future daughter-in-law even chose this garden for their engagement photos, which made the setting feel even more special to me. The garden is truly serene and beautiful. We visited in November and still found it stunning, and we were even able to bring our coffees into the park while strolling the grounds with no issues. A peaceful, picturesque place to slow down and enjoy nature.

    Christine D.

    I am a big fan of gardens, so we just had to see this. It's an oasis! A place for you to breathe in the scenery and rejuvenate your mind and spirit. Walking around the water and soaking up the greenery.... makes it such a peaceful place. So many spots for pictures. If you're in town, visit this beautiful, serene place.

    Cecilia Jane N.

    The Seattle Japanese garden is located inside of Washington Park. General admission is $10 and $6 for students, military and seniors. The garden is beautiful, very green and has lots of koi fish and turtles. The only downside is that it is a small garden. A must visit if you are in the Seattle area!

    Angela S.

    Seattle Japanese Garden is tucked away in the Seattle Arboretum and is an absolute must see visit for and seattlite or visitors. The view changes season to season and is worth the $10 admission. A lovely way to get out in nature that has shaped and tamed - the koi fish are always hungry and by the size of them fed a lot and often!! Great for family & friends, romantic outings. Highly recommend!!

    Stone Pogoda
    Suz A.

    It was a pleasant early afternoon Sunday at the garden. A nice easy stroll around the pond with Azalea's and Iris's. Restroom located by the front entryway. Parking may be limited by activities in the public park.

    Winter B.

    I liked coming here a lot. It was very zen and calming. Tickets are only 10$. 6$ for students. It is small though. You could probably only stay for at most half an hour. It's connected to the arboretum. Parking is tricky but possible.

    Walking

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Seattle Japanese Garden

    Does anyone know why it's closed?

    They are closed for the winter. Will be open again in March 2018

    Is it dog friendly?

    No it is not pet friendly. Mentioned in their official site too

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Seattle Japanese Garden

    “It is located at the southern end of the Washington Park Arboretum on Lake Washington Boulevard East.”

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Those guys worked so hard removing the sod from my back yard. They were great. You know, everything…read moreis clay around here. There were a few areas where I didn't want plants disturbed and they totally honored that. The price was very fair and I'm so glad I hired them for my job. I now have a beautiful vegetable garden where raccoons once roamed and rolled my lawn searching for grubs. And, p.s. communication was excellent.

    We hired Lee's General Landscaping to do a total yard cleanup + clear a bunch of plants and…read moreinvasive species from our perimeter, then add medium bark to suppress regrowth. Our assigned estimator Kimball came by for the initial walk through on July 3rd. We walked the property and I pointed out areas that we wanted cleared and bark added to suppress new growth. He left us with a video of him walking the property and shortly thereafter we had an estimate. My wife and I reviewed it, and wanted to see what it would cost to add landscaping fabric and rocks to some of the areas on the initial estimate. I responded to Kimball and he asked for a Google image of the home with the areas we wanted the work done marked. I then sent him the requested materials via a color coded aerial image. Kimball then asked to come out for a second look to make sure his measurements were correct. I was unable to accompany him for that walk, but he did do the checkup. We had a second open ended estimate shortly thereafter showing what the added rocks and fabric would run per square yard. We then decided on just doing bark (simplest install) - no landscaping fabric or rocks, but in all of the same areas marked on the aerial photo. To be doubly safe, I sent him a second aerial photo marking where we wanted the bark. Kimball's final estimate included a breakdown of what 4 yards, 6 yards, 8 yards or 10 yards bark would cost to procure and install. He told me that they would start at 6 yards with our property per his assessment, and if more were needed, they would request the additional amount day of the job. 7/25/26. The day of the job. Lee's arrived, I walked the grounds with the foreman and they got to work. Late in the day, I got a call from Kimball saying that the 6 cubic yards of bark he'd ordered wasn't enough to cover everything and that they needed another 2 cubic yards to the tune of several hundred dollars to complete all areas we wanted covered. I agreed to the up charge and Lee's crew completed the job. About 10 days went by, and our very nice looking yard started to sprout weeds all over the place. Naturally, I was expecting to see obvious weed growth here and there pop up, but this seemed like a lot. Regardless, I got to work pulling the weeds every 3-4 days or so, added some more bagged bark I purchased from Carpenitos here and there, and as I tackled each section of the yard on various days. Then, they exploded. By the 6th week, we were overrun and I couldn't keep up. I did some checking, and found that for successful weed suppression, you need at least 3-4 inches of bark coverage to prevent light from reaching the newly cleared topsoil. Lee's quote stated they they lay down "at least 2-3 inches" of bark - not the gold standard 3-4 inches, but fairly adequate. So, I got out there with a yardstick and started measuring. Low and behold, most of the front and back yard had as little as 1/2 an inch to 1.5 inches bark coverage. The areas I'd hit with bags as I weeded were barely pushing 2 inches, which means they too were initially VERY thin. I then photo'd the explosion of overgrowth and sent it to Lee's general email with a concerned message attached. Kimball replied to the message, but he refused to acknowledge any error had been made on his part or Lees in terms of the estimated coverage vs. completed work. Ultimately, he refused to remedy the situation without charging us thousands of dollars more. We went back and forth multiple times via email, and he would not budge - not even to cover labor only to rake back, and remove the overgrowth. He also refused to connect me to a senior manager or owner - eg: a 3rd party in the company whom could objectively review the situation, stating that he was a manager and partial owner and in charge of our estimate. We were charged over $3200.00 after tax for the job. It will likely cost us thousands of additional dollars to remedy the overgrowth resultant of Lee's error, and for which they refuse to acknowledge or accept responsibility. I'm personally kinda shocked considering their reputation and long standing place in the community. We used their services for lawn mowing and occasional yard work in Seattle many years ago without issue. My how times have changed.

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    Lee's General Landscaping and Yard Clean Up
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    Chihuly Garden and Glass - Glass artwork in the Macchia Forest exhibit

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    Chihuly Garden and Glass - Glass artwork in the Sealife Room exhibit

    Glass artwork in the Sealife Room exhibit

    Chihuly Garden and Glass - Glass artwork in the Macchia Forest exhibit

    Glass artwork in the Macchia Forest exhibit

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    Amazon Spheres

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    Amazon Spheres - Meeting area

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    Seattle Japanese Garden - gardens - Updated September 2026

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