Mizumoto Japanese Strolling Garden

Est. 1985

The garden's namesake, Yuriko (Mizumoto) Scott was the first war bride to make the journey to the United States as the result of World War II.

Assistance in park development was received from Springfield's Japanese Sister City of Isesaki, Japan. In 1990 members of the Isesaki Garden Association designed and installed the small dry bed that is located by the Moon Bridge. The Moon Bridge and Tea House are replicas of the bridge and tea house found in the Japanese Garden in Fort Worth, Texas.

The ponds are stocked with Japanese Koi that were only found in the Imperial Garden of Japan until after the end of World War II.

Expansion of the Meditative Garden was completed 2011, along with numerous other garden projects.

ANNUAL EVENTS

Collage of Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden by Hiltrud "Sam" WebberA sure sign of spring, the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden is open throughout the season from 9 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., Thursdays – Mondays, from April 1 – October 31, 2011 (closed for maintenance Tuesday and Wednesday). General admission to the Garden is $3.00; 12 and younger are free. Note, if you are a member of Friends of the Garden admission is free for the season for two people (excludes the Japanese Fall Festival).

The Mizumoto Japanese Garden in Nathanael Greene Park is demonstrative of the “stroll” variety. It takes advantage of techniques typical of tea gardens, using stepping stones, lanterns, and a tea hut to act as architectural features to enhance the landscape. Movement through the garden is around ponds and islands, employing the “hide and reveal” concept in which the individual scenes in the garden are experienced separately.

Read more...