Japanese Gardens

Designed at the turn of the last century by Isaburo Kishida and then Tadashi Noda, the Japanese Gardens were among the first of the formal gardens built at Hatley Castle. Now more than 100 years later, this peaceful and free oasis has reached a venerable age necessitating urgent care.

RRU is advancing a full-scale restoration and expansion of the Japanese Gardens, which will include the development of a fully functioning teahouse and adjoining garden, a new entrance gate and wall with a mikoshi room, a Zen garden, a cherry blossom community area and bonsai garden, washrooms and a gift shop, and upgrades to pathways and waterways.

Our vision: To curate a destination Japanese Garden for Canada’s West Coast while restoring the gardens to their former splendor.

Bringing the Vision to Life: The Japanese Gardens restoration and expansion is a multi-phase initiative. Phase 1 is already complete with the establishment of a hand-crafted teahouse which opens this May for bookable tea ceremony demonstrations.

Thanks to your support, the construction of the teahouse is now enabling community members and RRU students to gather for tea ceremonies, immersive learning experiences and other community events.

Stay tuned for updates on the next phase of the revitalization plan for 2025.