Japanese Garden

A serene and symbolic garden

The Japanese Garden has been a Cleveland cultural treasure for more than 33 years. A gift of Ikebana International, Cleveland Chapter 20, this spiritual garden imparts a sense of tranquility that draws you into a deeper contemplation of the natural world. As you enter the garden, notice how the plantings and garden ornamentation work together to represent a mountainside with a stream passing through it. In this way, the Japanese Garden depicts a much more elaborate scene than what your eyes initially behold.

The Japanese Garden was designed by David Slawson, who has become a significant influence in the art of Japanese gardens in the United States.  Slawson’s design incorporates elements from three important styles of Japanese gardens: dry landscape style, tea garden style, and stroll garden style. 

The Japanese Garden’s hillside evokes the dry landscape style (a style perfected by Zen Buddhists). Rocks suggestive of a stream course their way down the hill, flowing over and through beautifully placed stones. You can almost see the water running when you look at it.

The Japanese Garden also reflects elements of the tea garden style. At the entry to the garden sits a beautiful stone lantern from Japan. In ancient Japan, the tea ceremony often took place in the evening, and lanterns were placed along the path to light the way to the tea house.

The garden features stone paths that are reflective of the stroll garden style. The deliberate placement of the stones requires you to slow down. At this slower pace, you achieve a greater appreciation of the garden.

As in all Japanese gardens, symbolism is pervasive. For example, a round, smooth dark stone sits in the ground near the garden’s exit. The rock’s resemblance to a turtle (which in Japan symbolizes age and longevity) means that this “turtle rock” is intended to impart a sense of permanence and age. The inclusion of a turtle in some form is a common theme in many Japanese gardens.

Immerse yourself in the timeless beauty and sophistication of Japanese horticulture by taking a stroll through our Japanese Garden.

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