Frederik Meijer Gardens, Japanese Garden

It was more than four years in the making: June 13, 2015 the Richard and Helen DeVos Japanese Garden opened its magnificent Main Gate to visitors, welcoming a world of timeless tranquility.  Tranquility, simplicity and beauty are the very essence of a Japanese garden. Fred and Lena Meijer had long appreciated the traditions and experiences of Japanese gardens, so in 2009 they asked about adding one to Meijer Gardens.

Design
As a centuries-old, yet timeless horticultural presentation style, the Japanese garden complements Meijer Garden's mission and values, and allows exploration in unique ways to bring the art of the garden and the art of sculpture together. Adding such an international garden has been part of the master planning process for more than a decade and an ideal location was selected that includes water, elevation changes and quiet surroundings.

Highly unique to the Japanese garden, landmark works of contemporary sculpture by international masters will be included, offering thoughtful and thought-provoking aesthetics in keeping with the essence of the Japanese garden tradition and philosophy.

The Japanese garden begins with an artful design by Hoichi Kurisu and the firm Kurisu International. His work ranks among the finest Japanese gardens outside of Japan, including Portland Japanese Garden (Oregon), Anderson Gardens (Rockford, IL), Morikami Museum and Japanese Garden (Delray Beach, Florida).

Kurisu International, founded in 1972, is a landscape design/build firm whose unique gardens create “inner space” for inspiration and healing. Their approach is a whole-system design, a methodology deeply rooted in the specificity of place, people and purpose, and uniquely suited to draw out nature’s ability to meet humanity’s need for inspiration, restoration and healing.