Japanese Gardens in New South Wales

Cowra Japanese Garden & Cultural Centre

Cowra is a town located approximately 320 kilometres west of Sydney. It is around a four hours’ drive from the Sydney CBD.
 
During World War II, Cowra was the site of an Allied prisoner of war camp, and in 1944, the Cowra breakout occurred when Japanese prisoners of war attempted to escape from the camp. It was the largest prisoner-of-war breakout in modern history and resulted in many deaths.
 
After the war, the Cowra Japanese Garden was established as a symbol of peace and reconciliation between Australia and Japan. It was designed by the late Ken Nakajima, a Japanese garden architect. This expansive garden, called ‘Kaiyushiki’ (strolling style), covers 5 hectares and is the largest of this type of Japanese garden in the southern hemisphere. There are various kinds of cherry blossom planted in Cowra, and the Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival) is celebrated annually in September, where people enjoy Japanese performances and demonstrations, like Japanese drums or martial arts, as well as ‘Ohanami’ (cherry blossom viewing).
 

Ken Nakajima Pl, Cowra NSW 2794
https://www.cowragarden.com.au/
 
＜Related link＞
Consul-General of Japan in Sydney’s Newsletter: No. 19 Cowra as a Bridge between Australia and Japan
 
 

Japanese Gardens at Campbelltown Arts Centre

The city of Campbelltown is located approximately 53 kilometres south-west of Sydney, which can be easily accessed by train from the Sydney CBD.
 
In 1984, Campbelltown signed a Sister City Agreement with Koshigaya city, Saitama prefecture, Japan, and to celebrate the relationship between the two cities, the Japanese gardens were established within the ground of Campbelltown Arts Centre in 1988. The gardens feature ‘Koshigaya-tei’, a traditional Japanese teahouse presented to Campbelltown by the people of Koshigaya.

 
1 Art Gallery Rd, Campbelltown 2560
https://www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/ServicesandFacilities/CampbelltownArtsCentre/AboutUs/JapaneseGardenandTeaHouse
 
  

Shoyoen at Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden

Dubbo is a city located approximately 400 kilometres north-west of Sydney. Dubbo and Minokamo city, Gifu prefecture, Japan, signed a Sister City Agreement in 1988.

The Japanese garden named ‘Shoyoen’ was presented to Dubbo by Minokamo city and constructed in Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden in 2002. It was designed by students from Kamo Agricultural and Forestry High School. The ‘Karesansui’ or ‘dry landscape garden’ features a waterfall, lake, Japanese teahouse and the entrance gate ‘sukiyamon’ newly constructed by Japanese craftsmen in 2013.

 
Coronation Dr, Dubbo NSW 2830
http://www.drbg.com.au/Gardens/shoyoen
 
<Related Link>
Consul-General of Japan in Sydney’s Newsletter: No. 4 Sister City Relationships - Fostering the Future -
 
  

Gosford Regional Gallery and Edogawa Commemorative Garden

Gosford (formerly the City of Gosford) is a NSW suburb located approximately 80 kilometres north of Sydney. It is only about an 1hr and 15min drive from the Sydney CBD.
 
Gosford signed a Sister City Agreement with Edogawa, Tokyo, in 1988. A gift from Edogawa, the Edogawa Commemorative Garden was officially opened in 1994. The garden was designed by Mr Ken Lamb, an Australian garden architect with much knowledge about Japan, and it was the first Japanese garden designed by an Australian architect. Having been designed in accordance with the original principles of the Japanese Heian (700AD) period, the garden includes a roofed Japanese pavilion, raked dry stone garden and a traditional Japanese teahouse. You can enjoy feeding Koi fish in the pond with food available from the adjoining gallery shop.

 
36 Webb St, East Gosford NSW 2250
https://www.visitcentralcoast.com.au/things-to-do/nature/east-gosford/edogawa-japanese-gardens