The Japanese Friendship Garden is a spectacular park that highlights a special relationship between San Diego and Yokohama. The serene and picturesque terrain transports visitors to the topography and culture of Japan. While visiting the Japanese Friendship Garden, join a docent on a free guided tour to learn about its remarkable features and history.
Enjoy traditional Japanese beverages and ceremonies in the elegant Tea Pavilion outside the main entrance. Pause for a meal at the JFG Cafe, where a terrace offers views of the garden. As you stroll through the gorgeous park, notice the array of old-world Japanese structures beside koi ponds and stone arrangements.
Walk through a grove of cherry trees and relax in the large azalea and camellia garden. Cross a charming footbridge and pick out your favorites from the exotic floral displays around you. Admire the impressive Inamori Pavilion in the Lower Garden and marvel at the nearby waterfall.
Also serving as a museum, the complex has collections of bonsai trees, koi and spiritual sculptures. Browse artistic prints, period furniture and the intriguing Japanese-style Doll House that was constructed in 1934. Study the intricate features of the scale models of ships.
The site is also known in Japanese as San Kei En. There is a fee to enter, with discounts for students, military personnel and seniors. Children under 6 years old can enter for free. Note that the garden opens daily from morning until late afternoon.
Find the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park, between the districts of South Park and Little Italy. From the city center of San Diego, ride a bus to the Park Boulevard & Naval Hospital stop. You can also drive the 2-mile (3-kilometer) journey in about 10 minutes. Other attractions in the area include the San Diego Automotive Museum, the San Diego Air & Space Museum and the San Diego Zoo.
