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Japanese Friendship Garden, San Diego

2215 Pan American Road East, San Diego, California

Description

The Japanese Friendship Garden, also known as Sankei-en, is located within Balboa Park in San Diego, California. A lot of the cherry blossom trees and other decorative elements have been donated by various organizations linked to San Diego's Japanese sister city Yokohama. The garden is designed to present an atmosphere of elegant simplicity (shibui) and quiet beauty with koi ponds, sukiya-style buildings (originally used for teahouses), trees, rocks, and water.

Access & Transport

The garden is in the central part of Balboa Park to the northeast of downtown San Diego and off the I-5 exit 15. Bus 7 goes through the park along Park Blvd and the 'City College" light rail station (Blue, Orange, Silver) is 1.9km (25mins walk) from the garden.

Instructions & Recommendations

Purchasing admission tickets online is highly recommended

Meta review

Mostly (but not only) very good online reviews. The landscaping gets excellent comments and so do the water features and various statues, but the number of people impacts the quality of the experience (they were also mention of ongoing renovations in the recent past and we are uncertain as to whether those have been completed) and there are frequent complaints about price being too high and not worth it.

Environmental & Social

Low energy intensity and carbon footprint. Neutral from a social aspect

Conclusion

The JFG makes for good pictures and a nice break from the city but, in our opinion, it is mispriced,. If you have never seen a Japanese Garden and happen to be in San Diego, then this is a good opportunity.

Key positive

Visually relaxing and pleasing

Convenient location

Key negative

Expensive for a garden of this size

Can be a little busy

Suitability

Wheelchairs users should be able to access most areas, sometimes with assistance, but not all the paths.

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

Updated in July 2023

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit
Last admission is 1h before closing

av. transport time:0h 20m

est. visit time:1h 20m

Regulated hours

Monday10:00 - 19:00

Tuesday10:00 - 19:00

Wednesday10:00 - 19:00

Thursday10:00 - 19:00

Friday10:00 - 19:00

Saturday10:00 - 19:00

Sunday10:00 - 19:00

Pricing
Age band
Age band
Regular price / pers.
Senior
65 - 99
US$12
Adult
18 - 64
US$14
Child
6 - 17
US$12
Infant
0 - 5
US$0
Student price is $12

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