Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden – An Oasis of Peace on the Alberta Prairies

The Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden in Lethbridge offers visitors peace, serenity and an opportunity to immerse themselves in Japanese culture. Surveying the garden dressed in a traditional yukata (a lightweight casual kimono), you may feel like you've been magically transported to Japan. Expect that feeling to grow stronger the longer you stay and participate in the garden's cultural activities.

Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden is one of Canada's most distinctive gardens. It's something that, at first glance, you wouldn't expect in the Canadian prairies. "It's a Canadian garden done in a Japanese style," explains Melanie Fast, marketing and events manager at Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden. "The garden contains plants that are local to the area, but they're arranged in a Japanese design."

Why a Japanese garden was built in Lethbridge

The tranquil 1.6-hectare Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden was first opened in 1967 to celebrate Canada's centennial. But that wasn't the only reason for its construction.

Many of Japanese ancestry built up Alberta's infrastructure and contributed to the development of the City of Lethbridge. After World War II, Southern Alberta had the third-largest Japanese Canadian population in Canada. The gardens were built to honour these citizens.

The gardens were also created as a symbol of friendship between Canada and Japan. The name Nikka is a combination of two Japanese words: Ni (from "Nihon," meaning Japan) and ka (from "Kanada," or Canada). Yuko translates to "friendship" and refers to the friendship between Japan and Canada. That friendship is evidenced by the Canada-Japan sister and friendship cities program. Sixteen communities in Alberta have sister cities in Japan. The objective of establishing sister-city status is to promote friendship, education and tourism. Lethbridge is paired with Towada City in the Aomori Prefecture of Japan.

An authentic experience

Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden has all the elements of a classic Japanese garden. This includes perfectly pruned trees, water features, stones, bridges and pathways. The gardens were designed by Dr. Masami Sugimoto and Dr. Tadashi Kubo of Japan.

Most of the structures in the garden were built in Kyoto, Japan, including the pavilion, the shelter, bridges and gates. They were taken apart and shipped to Lethbridge, where they were reassembled.

The garden utilizes many concepts of Japanese garden design. These include the principles of wabi-sabi (beauty in simplicity), shakkei (borrowed view) and miegakure (hide and reveal). The objective of this Japanese garden is to restore your inner harmony and evoke a sense of calm and tranquility.

Official recognitions

Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden is a designated provincial historic resource. It's also been recognized by the Japanese royal family. Prince and Princess Takamado of the Imperial House of Japan officially opened the garden in 1967. More recently, former Princess Ayako of Takamado attended the garden's 50th anniversary in 2017.

Experiences in the garden

Included with the cost of admission is interpretive programming, which is offered every day. Each day of the week is dedicated to a different theme. Themed activities range from traditional tea ceremonies, anime cartoons and activities, Japanese board games, sumo wrestling, taiko drumming, and dance performances.

In addition to interpretive programming, there's other experiences that can be arranged. These include picnics in the garden, private tea ceremonies, yoga, meditation, Japanese language classes, plus gin and sake tastings.

In 2022, Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden celebrated its 55th anniversary and debuted the opening of the Bunka Centre. Pronounced "boon-kah," the word means "culture" in Japanese. The facility houses a café, a gift shop and interpretive exhibits that showcase the history of the garden. The Bunka Centre also provides indoor space for events and activities.

Lessons from a Japanese garden

Spending time in Nikka Yukko Japanese Garden can change you. It's a place of harmony, culture and peace. Built to recognize the Japanese Canadians who helped to build up Alberta's infrastructure, it also symbolizes a special friendship between two countries.

"A Japanese garden is always reflective of the community that nurtures it," explains Fast. "This garden is very reflective of our community."

The fascinating history, the design of Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden, and its connection to the community make it unique in the world.