Just past the entrance, there was a shishi-odoshi fountain. The kind that fills with water, tips, and knocks against a stone. My son stopped in his tracks. He’s been learning about Japanese culture at school, and to see something like that in real life? He was completely taken.

The garden isn’t huge, but it feels like it unfolds slowly. Paths curve in just the right way. We crossed a small bridge over a pond filled with koi, and I remember thinking how much care must have gone into the design. Everything feels thoughtful. Purposeful. Even with the crowd, it felt calm.

The tea house was another quiet standout. Warm, simple, and inviting. We sat down for a few minutes, and I told him a little about how this garden came to be - a gesture of friendship between Japan and Argentina. He mostly just wanted to watch the koi swim, but that was enough 😊

We’d just come from the Botanical Gardens across town, which were beautiful in a more traditional sense. But this place was different. More interactive. More designed to be felt. There were little details everywhere - textures, sounds, the way the light moved across the water.

I didn’t expect it to be so popular, to be honest. It was mostly tourists, but it didn’t feel too chaotic.

By the time we left, my son was still talking about the fountain. And I was reminded why I plan trips like this - to give us all something beautiful to carry home.