Kasugai Gardens

Where does the name "Kasugai Gardens" come from?

The cities of Kelowna, BC, Canada and Kasugai, Aichi, Japan became sister cities back in the early 1980s, and the Japanese garden here in Kelowna, along with "Kelowna Boulevard" in Kasugai, were created in honour of the newly formed kinship.

What is a Japanese garden?

Generally speaking, Japanese gardens are based on traditional Japanese philosophies and aesthetics, and are often constructed using aged/distressed materials which are used to construct sparse bridges and benches so as not to disrupt the natural setting. They often include stone lanterns, wooden bridges, waterfalls, ponds and various plants and other natural ornaments. The overall effect is one of tranquility and calm, allowing for soft conversation or time in meditation or reflection. The concepts behind them and the actual practice of designing and nurturing them go back over a thousand years.

As an ancient society, Japan has gone through numerous periods, such as the well known recent Edo and Meiji periods, and each one has been reflected in the gardens of its era. While many wonderful books chronicle the variety of these special places, we are lucky to have one such garden here in town, and is accessible to all and at no charge.