Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum

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According to wikipedia, "The Japanese Friendship Garden is a Japanese garden in Balboa Park in San Diego, California. It is an expression of friendship between San Diego and its sister city Yokohama."

There is quite an elaborate history starting with the first Japanese Tea Pavilion in Balboa Park that was built for the Panama–California Exposition in 1915 and operated on a site that is now located inside the San Diego Zoo until 1945.  Eventually, the Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum that we see today on a different site, first opened in 1990 and was last expanded in 2015. 


The grounds offer a beautiful experience immediately transporting you to Japan the second you walk through the gates. The garden is built mostly on a hillside so keep that in mind as you make your way down the meandering paths which also act as a smooth and easy transition on the way back up.  


Their website boasts that the garden “...includes meticulous stone designs, calming koi ponds, delightful water features, traditional architectural structures and breathtaking vistas.”








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