Yashiro Japanese Garden — Attraction in Olympia

This is probably the best part in Thurston county. Even on a sad rainy day when everything is in disarray from the last storm. Someone always seems to pick it back up. I'd honestly wish I knew how many strangers have found sanctuary here and the park by the tumwater Fred Meyers just to pick up the trash and clean the paths on their own time. I'd pay them if I could, the strangers, the people who make it their task to keep it maintained properly; even the lonely walker who takes peace in the little slice of peace in the interurban jungle of downtown or the breathy trees by the tumwater Fred Meyer.

Can you believe this park has a sister city in Japan, can you believe there is a professionally maintained homeless village nearby; a crude automotive shop, yet this park always feels free from the pollution of the city atmosphere.

It would be devastating to see this place go, even if I went on a walk and completely missed the park the first time to walk to the beautiful military building a block down. All the foliage makes this place like a gateway to Narnia. Where you can be, tale a breath and find sanctuary from the bustle of downtown right on 4th Ave.

Thank you for all the people who find solace in this truly unique application...

Sad. It's right next to a homeless camp so there were people loitering that had me concerned about leaving my car in the parking lot. There were other visitors that appeared to be nervous about entering the garden as well. When we entered the garden there was a man on the pathway that appeared to be smoking Crack. When he heard us he stepped off the path and stood with his back to us in the flowerbed. (He later pulled off part of his clothing and left it there in the flowerbed.) The garden itself appeared to have only a fraction of the flowers and plants that it used to. ( It's only March so maybe they plan on planting more later. ) It used to be like a peaceful oasis tucked away in the city but now so many plants have been removed that you can see & hear all the cars driving by. It was both disappointing...

Culminating seven years of planning and work, the garden represents a joint effort of the Olympia-Yashiro Sister City Association and the City of Olympia. The garden is symbolic of the ties between Olympia and Yashiro, Japan. Dedication of the garden was May 6, 1990, following a two-year construction effort of 75 volunteers.

Robert Murase's park design defines a true Japanese garden as "a visionary expression about our connectedness to nature and earth." The specific placement of plants, water and stone carries a message of land stewardship, nature, religious thought, friendship, compassion, cultural exchange and...