Memphis Botanic Garden - Japanese Garden

Japanese gardens are designed to celebrate the beauty and wonder of nature and nurture your spirit as well as your senses.

Rocks, water, and other elements are thoughtfully arranged to capture the essence of the greater natural world. Plants are selected not to provide a multitude of color with flowers but to embrace seasonal changes with bursts of color in the spring and fall and soothing shades of green in the summer. The greater focus is on form and texture that can be appreciated throughout the year.

Our garden’s name, Seijaku-En (pronounced SAY-jock-ou-en), literally translates as the ‘Garden of Tranquility.’ It was designed in 1966 by Dr. P.T. Tono of Tokyo, Japan, and later renovated by Ritchie Smith of Memphis with Professor Koichi Kawana of Santa Monica, CA, who designed many of the Japanese gardens across the country. Similar to others, our garden design relies on conceal and reveal as devices to provide different views of the surroundings that open up and change as one moves along the paths. Distinctive elements include the Half Moon and Zigzag bridges crossing a koi-filled lake and a Moongazing Pavilion overlooking the garden.

The Asian Garden began as the Japanese Maple Grove when the late nurseryman, Plato Touliatos, donated the original trees in honor of his parents. After his passing, the Touliatos family donated many plants from their nursery to create a larger display garden celebrating the rich and diverse palette of Asian plants.

As you enter both of these gardens, notice the changes in pathways that break your stride causing you to become more attuned to the subtleties that await. We hope they provide a peaceful retreat for strolling and meditation.

A special thanks to Ikebana International, Bamboo Chapter for developing and continuing to support the Japanese Garden.