Adelaide-Himeji Garden

This is just paradise in the middle of the CBD.
It’s weird when you walk past this little garden, you don’t really get a true picture of what hides inside. Most of Adelaide just walks past.
This garden is not big. But it is just so beautiful and peaceful. The way it is designed really blocks out the sound of the city as well. So, when you do enter it is really like a little secret garden.
Japanese gardening is so precise. It’s so fascinating. When you look at the trees, shrubs and even the garden pathway, everything is so neat and well planned.
There is a pond in the middle with lilies and fish. When we last visited there were also a little group of ducks nestled on a rock near the pond. So cute!
Up the back of the garden you will find a seated area with a Zen Garden. This is made from a sort of sand and rock formation. My understanding is that this is raked and shaped every day. A sort of mediation. It would be a lovely way to start your day.
If you live in Adelaide, do visit and appreciate all the work that is put into this garden.

I only got the memo laaaate about the Himeji Garden so I went this weekend to check it out and yes, it is beautiful! It was smaller than I expected but I loved it all the same. You can spend hours sitting on one of the seats or steps and just stare at the pretty koi fishies swimming. I caught 3 people in the Tea Room, all lost in the books they were reading. It is truly a peaceful place. Definitely a fave of mine now.

A brilliant (and free) garden near the city centre. It’s not nearly as expansive as the Chinese Garden of Friendship in Sydney, but it’s peaceful and can be found almost empty on weekday afternoons.
If you sit around for a bit, you may even see a Koi or two in the pond, although they can be tough to spot with all those lily pads!

My favourite park in Adelaide. Very tranquil and calming. We often picnic here in summer or sit by the side of the pond watching the koi play. Such a pity that they no longer do weddings here as we always thought this is where we would get married. So photos will have to suffice.

The Hemeji Garden is a small garden on the outskirts of Adelaide. Although its small its a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Its great for small picnics, a great space to read a book or to meditate. I personally love to go for a walk through the Himeji garden on my break at work to relax.

The Adelaide Himeji garden is tiny in comparison to the other Japanese Gardens in I have visited in Australia. I am grateful, regardless for it’s existence and location really near my home in the city South-​East parklands. More specifically, it is located just on South terrace, the stretch which runs between Hutt St and Glen Osmond Road.
The peacefullness of this small garden which was created to commemorate Adelaide’s bonds with sister city Himeji in Japan provides a lovely distraction. Enclosed on all sides by greenery and brush fences, the garden features a central lake and a small waterfall, the water sounds almost masking the background hum of traffic.
It is a calming and restorative experience to visit this unique and culturally significant garden. It may be of interest to tourists but its petite size probably prevents it from being up the top of the must-​see sights list.

It’s great there’s such a stunning, tranquil refuge on the fringes of Adelaide CBD.
This garden small but perfectly formed and more of a place of contemplation.
It is also of major religious significance to Japanese people and is landscaped with touches of Zen Buddhism.
Its exquisite surrounds mean it’s also a popular wedding venue.
GARDEN FEATURES
The moment you pass the pagoda entrance it is like you enter another world, or at least another country.
The garden has two classic styles of Japan, Kare Senzui, the dry garden, and Senzui, the lake and the mountain garden, which are cleverly designed. Kare Senzui’s rocks and sand evoke the presence of water and, while Senzui’s pond is simply magical.
The garden is wonderfully colourful and most of its trees and plants are native to Japan.
There are also many Japanese-​style monuments and statues in the garden.
I like to stop off at the Teahouse, and sometimes have a nice cuppa as I take in the sensational surrounds.
HISTORY
Adelaide City Council established the garden to symbolise the friendship between Adelaide and its sister city Himeji in Japan and work with Japan to ensure it was cultivated into a garden truly representative of the country.
Himeji contributed to the garden’s formal opening in 1985 with a grand ornamental light in the Okunoin style, according to the council. The Japanese regard Okunoin as the most sacred site in Koyasan, or Mount Koya, the centre of Shingon Buddhism.
TOURS
To book a guided tour contact the Park Lands Ranger.