Nitobe Memorial Garden

Very small Japanese garden. It is very quiet. Not really a destination in itself but a nice place to go for a stroll if you live or study in the area. It really couldn’t be more relaxing. I don’t understand everything about Japanese gardens but they have a nice brochure that explains all the elements.

A decent garden but could be larger. Check out Portland’s Japanese garden for a more extensive experience.

Simply Amazing. If you take the time to walk slowly though the garden, you will notice that it is well designed to take advantage of multiple viewpoints making it most interesting. Give yourself not 10 minutes but at least 30 to 45 minutes to take in the garden views.
Take your time time to stop by the pond, tea house and monuments indicated on the garden map and look back at where you started on the circular path. It is truly well thought out.
The photos make the garden larger than it appears. I believe that is the essence and the beauty of this garden; to create a vast forest area in a small 2 acre space.

My last stop for the Alumni weekend.
Peaceful, tranquil, pretty, well maintained.

An absolute gem hidden away on the UBC campus. I felt like I was transported back to the gardens I visited across Japan when visiting Nitobe. The simplicity, peace, and tranquility pervaded all of my senses. They also have a tea house that I believe you can make reservations for. I feel like many people do not frequent the garden and that this is both a good and bad thing. Nothing beats peace, quite, and simple beauty.

Located on the campus at UBC, I was surprised that I was one of the very few people who chose to visit this tiny two and a half acres traditional Japanese Tea and Stroll garden on the weekend. It’s a very relaxing and calm garden with maple, cedar and cherry trees. If you’re lucky, you might even see a traditional Japanese tea ceremony at the Tea House. There is a small pond with a few koi fishes in the middle of the garden too. It’s a great place to see a pretty authentic Japanese garden with natural West Coast influences.

This place is a gem, particularly for us inhumanely stressed students around exam time. When you’ve been up all night trying to cram History of the World Powers in the 20^th Century, or Physics of Music into your skull, this place is a welcome respite from the world. Upon entering the gates, if you didn’t know any better, you’d swear you were in Japan.
The campus at UBC is beautiful regardless, but this garden is the most gorgeous spot to be found there. It’s perfectly lovely in the rain — somehow it accentuates the greenery I find, and gives it a feeling of a lush paradise — but it’s at its most lovely in the sunshine, with light dappling through the leaves.
My favourite thing to do is to grab a bento box from one of the on campus sushi joints and settle down beside the ponds to eat. I also highly recommend watching the Tea Ceremony — it’s incredible how intricate and beautiful it is — although the tea itself I’m not so fond of. It’s real matcha, which is a brilliant green colour and nice and frothy — but also incredibly bitter. But if you like it, you’re in for a treat, because it doesn’t get more authentic than this.
Seriously, you need to go here. There is no better place in Vancouver to unwind and feel the zen.

What a beautiful, wonderful garden. I visited on a rainy day, but the loveliness of the space transcends any weather. Well worth a visit. If I were local, I’d go frequently.

Need some zen in your life?
Oh Nitobe. I never would’ve survived first year university without you. 3 hours of break and eating lunch in this garden was like paradise. Located at the corner of UBC, this gorgeous Japanese garden just gives you so much peace and quiet (even if there are others around). I’ve visited this place in all 4 seasons, and no matter what, it still looks great! It is a little small compared to other gardens in town, but there’s really no other like it here.
On the plus side, UBC students get in for free, and there are times (like now) where it has its doors open to you with admission accepted as donations! Really, you’ve gotta check it out (BRING YOUR CAMERA)!

Have a case of the midterm exam blues?
Nitobe is the cure.
I first visited here in 1986, and thankfully not much has changed.
Calm, green and peaceful. A five minute stroll around the pond is enough of a zen break to get your head straight.
Free for UBC students, and various other discounts for others… I highly recommend a visit to Nitobe Gardens.
Ahhhhh what a relief!