Japanese Friendship Garden, San-Kei-En

619-232-2721
www.niwa.org

Included admission free with the card.

Description

As with many of Balboa Park's most distinctive features, the Japanese Friendship Garden traces its origins to the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. A Japanese Tea Pavilion was built for the expo, and strong community interest kept it open for thirty years after the fair ended. In 1950 San Diego and Yokohama, Japan, became sister cities and this formal Japanese garden was constructed to symbolize the cities' shared ideals. The Zen design incorporates elements such as a traditional sand and stone garden, a koi pond with a central island shaped like a turtle to symbolize longevity, and a shishiodoshi-a bamboo pipe that fills with water until, like a see-saw, it tips and strikes the rock below, creating a noise that is meant to scare away evil spirits.

Cost without the card:

Adult $4.00, Child $2.50

Hours:

Tuesday-Sunday 10:00 am-4:00 pm, extended hours Memorial Day-Labor Day

Closed

Mondays. May be closed major U.S. holidays.

Driving:

From 15N/163 N: 163 S to Exit 5 South/Park Blvd and turn left. Turn left on President's Way, and right onto the second driveway into the Organ Pavilion Parking lot. From I-5 S: Exit 6th Avenue and turn right on El Prado. El Prado leads into Balboa Park towards the fountain. From I-5 N: Exit 10 St and turn left on A Street, left on Park Blvd., then left on President's Way. The Organ pavilion parking lot is on the right. The Japanese Friendship Garden is adjacent to the Organ Pavilion.

Please read: important instructions on how to use your card.

Redemption Instructions:

Included admission with the Go San Diego Card.

The Go City Card is accepted until 5:30pm unless otherwise noted; during all other times standard admission will apply.