FEATURES
Special features of the Garden include; Gift Shop, a three
room Cultural Centre, Karesansui Garden, a traditional Tatami room, an
authentic open air Tea House, Bonsai House, Bonsho Bell, Audio Tour Guides,
Plant Nursery and Restaurant.
The
main entrance to the Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre houses the Gift shop, offering visitors Japanese
Garden souvenirs, locally produced items, quality giftware and authentic
Japanese gifts.
Located
within gift shop is the newly implemented Audio Tour Guide, a lightweight, easy to use hand held device
containing a one-hour tour of the Garden in both English and Japanese language.
It has been designed to enhance the visitor’s experience, providing them with a
unique and interactive tour to enjoy at their own pace. Visitors learn all
about the design and the fascinating history of the Garden, they also gain an
insight into the exquisite permanent artifacts on display in the Cultural
Centre.
The Cultural Centre adjoins the main
entrance building and has two galleries featuring an extensive collection of
exquisite Japanese works of art and artifacts, including Nanga paintings,
Kimono’s, Samurai Helmets, and a magnificent example of Arita porcelain, the
Somenishiki Ornamental Vase standing 5ft (1.5m) high and 32 (.8m) inches
wide. A third gallery houses
exhibitions highlighting the works of talented local and regional artists.
Situated
in the open courtyard of the Cultural Centre, the Stone or Karesansui Garden may be found. The
Stone Garden is a popular Japanese style garden, often found surrounding
teahouses in Japan. The Garden is
composed principally of large rocks surrounded by exquisitely raked dry
sand. Large stones are placed, as if
islands within the sea, the white raked sand suggesting wave patterns that have
been shaped by the land around which the water is moving. Back
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The Bonsai House displays examples of
bonsai, an ancient Japanese traditional art form. Included in the collection are examples of
styles such as informal upright, slanting, rock planting, cascade, semi-cascade,
and the living landscape known as saikei.
The Japanese structural open-air Tea
House is a place where you can stop and observe the natural surroundings
through the rectangular frames of the open windows.
The Tatami Room allows visitors the
opportunity to see traditional living conditions within a Japanese home, including
a furo - Japanese bath.
The newly refurbished Restaurant offers
friendly and professional service.
Situated within the Japanese Garden, the Restaurant offers all day
breakfast and lunch from their extensive menu featuring a selection of
Australian and Japanese meals, at an affordable price.
The
Restaurant caters for individuals, groups and functions both in doors and on
the terrace of the tranquil Garden.
Maximum number for a private function is 85 guests. The Restaurant is open seven days a week, 8.30am
to 5:00pm. Fully licensed. Bookings are essential.
During
spring and summer, visitors may purchase propagated plants from the Plant Nursery, located within the
Garden at affordable prices. Back to top
The
Cowra Japanese Garden provides a beautiful backdrop for wedding ceremonies and
or wedding photographs at any time of the year.
For further information on wedding ceremonies and or photography in the
Garden please telephone the Cowra Japanese Garden on (02) 6341 2233 or click on
the booking
form. For all wedding
reception details contact the Restaurant on
(02) 6342 5222 or click on the booking
form.