Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden — Attraction in Lethbridge

I visited the garden yesterday, and it was a beautiful Friday. I will say that I really think the attention to detail in the gardens is very impressive. The gardens are small, but perfect for strolling. I enjoyed the shapes and layout of the garden and I really enjoyed the authentic feel merged with native Albertan Plants. Though small I do think the gardens are beautiful and worth seeing. My critique more so has to do with the availability of information and such. The architecture is beautiful and I think the grounds are beautiful and well kept. I think what is missing is information or someone to explain cultural links and to ask questions to.

My mom and myself as well as my aunt were looking forward to seeing the garden. My expectations may have been a little too high as the website states that with every admission there is included a guided tour, participation in cultural activities, Japanese demonstrations and a Tea Ceremony Presentation, though activities and demonstrations may vary. So while I definitely didn't think we would be able to see everything or participate in all of those things offered as we weren't planning on staying all day, I did expect ... something to be going on if only the guided tour. We have never been so when we arrived we expected there to be somewhere to get information but the reception was pretty cold when we bought tickets. We were not offered any information about times of events and we were not offered a tour or told a time of a tour, the extent of the information we got was to travel through the one building without shoes, though I do want to mention that the two standing at the gates were much more welcoming! Inside there was a Tea Ceremony Room and storage room for tea, and the fellow in there was by far the one with the most information. He even told us the story behind the paper cranes, which was really nice because without information on plaques and without a tour or anything its hard to understand the significance of the choices made in the design of the spaces or the significance of what is in those spaces. The person inside said it wasn't the best of times to be there as the exhibits were changing over. I found this pretty disappointing as we still paid full price for our admission.

All in all, it was not a bad visit. The grounds are beautiful, though small. But to anyone looking to go I would say you will have to educate yourself on the history--and the History is so abundant! The history is very rich and I am so impressed about the ability of the gardens to merge Canadian and Japanese identities and ideals and aesthetic and landscape and culture. Very cool, however, the website is a better place to experience/learn the information and culture and the inspiration...

Beautiful garden as it always is. However, this was out first experience there during this Covid pandemic. The lady at the ticket counter was by far the friendliest of the staff there. We were not made aware of anything special in the garden or any events. It would have been kind of nice to know if anything was still going on. We had to wear masks inside the building because of the mask bylaw, but to be asked about my baby (9 months old) who obviously is not 2 years (which is the minimum age for the bylaw) to see if she would need a mask too was a bit ridiculous. I do not recommend bringing kids between 2-4 unless they are on some kind of harness. I am a single mom of three 4 and under. It's already hectic as it is for me, but a little nicer approach to be told to get my 2 year old off the grass would have made the experience better so I wasn't just wanting to leave right away. We were told it was for her safety, which I don't really understand since we were also reprimanded about the grass next to the wishing well. I understand the grass by the trees and the water since there is always that chance of accidentally falling in or something, but she just happened to walk beside me on the grass by the wishing well and the staff was right on us. I felt like saying "Don't worry, we are just leaving." Which was true because right after that, I took my kids home. I didn't want to risk taking them for another loop around. The one positive thing I took out of today was I got some nice pictures of the...

I can't believe I had lived 10 years in Alberta and until recently it's when I learned of the existence of this place!

This little piece of Japanese heaven in the middle of the Canadian prairies is mind-blowing. I can't really find words to properly describe the magnificent work that was and it's still being done here. I would have never imagined that evergreens and other plants native to this area could be turned into Japanese style.

If I lived in Lethbridge I'd be coming here every weekend! But it was totally worth the drive from Calgary on a beautiful autumn day. I'm very jelaous now that Calgary doesn't have a place like this!

Keep in mind they are NOT open all year around. Visit their website to find the details, buy the tickets (very affordable) and to learn what's permitted to do and what's not.

They have a nice cafe where they sell tea that was delicious. We had a refreshing cold mango green tea and peach green tea which was amazing after the warm walk in the garden. There's also a small selection of sugar cookies that I didn't try; but I loved the maple red bean filled cakes called Momiji Manju. There's also a very beautiful souvenir store where it was very difficult not going into debt to buy everything I wanted!

I now want to go back for the winter lights, as well as spring! And most likely will make this little trip an annual tradition, we planned for having a meal in Lethbridge too and it was a...