Learn all about traditional Japanese customs when you visit this beautifully landscaped oriental garden.
Situated deep within Planten un Blomen (Plants and Flowers) Park, this serene Japanese Garden is an oasis of tranquillity. Designed by a renowned landscape architect, this is the largest garden of its kind in Europe. In addition to showcasing the beauty of traditional Japanese design, this garden also hosts a fascinating programme of cultural workshops and events.
Work on creating this garden began in 1990, when the first designs were conceived by Yoshikuni Araki, a Japanese landscape architect and garden designer whose previous work had included celebrated traditional gardens both in Japan and across the world for Embassies and botanical institutions.
At the centre of the garden, you’ll find a calm lake surrounded by rock formations and traditional Japanese plants and flowers. Every aspect of this landscape has been carefully thought out and harmoniously structured to provide visitors with a deep sense of calm.
A single-story tea house with a thatched roof sits at the water’s edge, with a small terrace that extends out over the surface of the lake. It is open to the public during the warmer months, between the beginning of May and the end of September, from 3 to 6 pm. Here, you can learn first-hand about “Chanoyu”, the traditional tea ceremony that has been central to Japanese culture for centuries.
Other events are also scheduled throughout the summer. Reserve a place in a calligraphy workshop, discover the techniques required to play the Taiko drums or learn about the ancient practice of meditation. Full details and dates are available on the official website of Planten un Blomen Park.
The Japanese Garden is located in the north section of Planten un Blomen Park, between the Congress Center Hamburg and Hamburg Fair. The nearest U-Bahn station is Stephansplatz, or you can catch the S-Bahn to Hamburg Dammtor. The park and garden are open every day, and admission is free.
