Posted by Elise

The Japanese Friendship Garden, named Ro Ho En, is a hidden gem in downtown Phoenix. Completed in 1996, the garden serves as a link between Phoenix and its Sister City, Himeji, Japan.

The garden allows visitors to experience an authentic Japanese stroll garden. In addition to the traditional landscaping, the garden hosts a Musoan tea house, where tea ceremonies are held for both the public and during private events.

Its lush greenery is a nice shift from the bustling city.

Upon entering the gates to the garden, it is hard to know what to expect. A small brown building in the front serves as both the ticket sales area and the gift shop. However, after paying for a reasonably priced ticket for the garden and the optional extra fee for food to feed the koi. All the tours at the garden are self-guided, unless reservations are made for a private tour.

After leaving the modest entryway, the path leads down to a wide area full of green plants and a large pond full of brightly colored koi.

Taking the path around the garden in ordinance with the self-guided tour map allows visitors to experience the garden in a unique fashion. Every aspect of the garden is heavily planned and arranged with a specific purpose.

If visitors follow the guide, the path takes them through a field area that depicts a low grassland region. As visitors traverse further into the garden, the path winds past a small stream, which is divided by three bridges, that is fast at its peak and flows into a calm, gentle area that feeds into the garden’s pond.

The next area guest enter is represents the mountain regions of Japan. This area is filled with large trees and dense amounts of foliage that can make visitors in the area feel as if they are in a whole new place.

Finally, the last area of the garden represents the seashore. It is an area that has a cobblestone beach outcropping. The water from the pond slowly washes up on the stones, which host a short lantern called a Yukimi doro.

Overall the garden presents a tranquil environment where Phoenicians can take a break from the concrete jungle and spend some time in peace.