Nitobe Memorial Garden

Nitobe Memorial Garden is a traditional Japanese stroll garden on the University of British Columbia campus at Point Grey, Vancouver, British Columbia. Designed by the Japanese landscape architect Kannosuke Mori and opened in 1960, it commemorates Dr. Inazo Nitobe, a scholar and diplomat who worked to promote understanding between Japan and the West. The garden is laid out around a central pond with a stream and waterfall, and winding paths lead visitors past stone lanterns, a teahouse, a wooden bridge, carefully pruned pines and carp in the water. The design is intended to reveal a series of views as visitors move along the circuit, rather than all at once, and the layout is often described as a journey from entry to contemplation. Cherry trees bloom in spring, irises appear in early summer and Japanese maples turn red and orange in October, so the garden changes character through the year. A visit usually takes 45 minutes to an hour, though many visitors linger longer to enjoy the quiet. The best photo angles are across the pond from the bridge and from the teahouse veranda looking over the water. The garden is smaller and calmer than larger city parks, and the quietest times are weekday mornings and wet days, while cherry blossom time and sunny summer weekends draw the largest crowds. Admission is paid, with reduced rates for students and seniors, and opening days and hours change by season, so checking before travelling is advisable. UBC campus buses serve the area, and the garden is close to the Museum of Anthropology and the Wreck Beach trails.