Very relaxing place, many people kept their distance I wish there had been more sanitizer stations even though I carry my own. It was something fun to do during this Covid times. We got out and enjoyed every moment of it. I gave it a 4 because I wish there had been a little more for the kids to stay entertained.

A beautiful and peaceful place to escape to for an hour or so. The last open place you can visit in Balboa Park during the Pandemic. I live nearby and look forward to my walks here.

Beautiful and serene garden. Nice trails that were clearly indicated. There were a few things closed down that we didn’t get to experience that were off limits and accessible to employees only. Great history and beautiful places to sit and enjoy nature.

A beautiful garden to explore and experience while visiting San Diego. The peaceful surroundings and beautiful views are plentiful. The kimono displays with the history explained was very informative. I highly recommend that you go and visit the gardens, especially if you’re missing the beauty of Japan.

Great place! The garden is beautiful and atmosphere is calm. I came here with my family and we went back the next weekend. There’s a little gift shop that is surprisingly cheap. The gift shop sells traditional drinks and snacks as well as t-shirts, masks, keychains etc. There are public restrooms available that are clean and well-maintained.

Wow! What a gorgeous garden! There are a huge variety of plants and trees, of course bonsai, and even a sand garden. There are multiple beautiful statues and there is even an exhibit on the beckoning cats! I had no idea that there were different kinds and no idea that they had such an interesting history. I particularly enjoyed reading the history on the geishas and courtesans. They had some beautiful kimonos on display along with the history. I would highly recommend this gorgeous walk.

More than it looks likeAt first glance, I would have said this is too expensive for a garden and the only reason I went in was that it was a part of my SD Go Card, now I can honestly say that the Japanese friendship garden has a lot to offer than you would expect from a garden.To get the full experience make sure to ask for the audio guide, with the audio guide you will learn about Japanese architecture and history.I especially love the Bonsai collection and the Koi pond and I love them even more after learning their history which is so amazing you wouldn’t believe how much patience is involved…

One of my favorite places in San Diego. Always relaxing and pleasant. A perfect place to have a day date or bring the family.After our visit we had a nice stroll around the park! Fun!

I would recommend JRG to anyone wanting a truly peaceful, relaxing walk.The gardens are beautiful!

This place is a must visit for those looking for a quiet retreat - it has a wonderful collection of pathways, gardens and water features. In keeping with all Japanese gardens it has a calming aura and a very special energy! Definitely worth a visit and a very reasonable Entrance Fee.

It was so tranquil beautiful day for a nice walk through out many beautiful coy fish as well as a place to eat.. beautiful bonsai trees..

I could have stayed here all day. The tranquility in this place was a welcome reprieve from all of the hustling around we had been doing as tourists in this beautiful city.Pro Tip: Put your phone down and breathe. Enjoy the sounds, the sites, the smells - then take take your photos. The place is food for your soul if you only take a minute to live in the moments provided by this magnificent place.

Very cool place to stroll and learn about the Japanese culture. Its quite a large garden. Id say it would take about an hour if youre walking fast and not really stopping to look around much. At the bottom of the garden, theres a little store with some Japanese snacks,drinks and souvenirs.

Very serene and relaxing. Lots of areas to take beautiful pictures. Highly recommend. Just check my photos!

Weve been here long time ago, so much changes. One way trail, lots of people not wearing mask the view of the garden was amazing. We went a little 3miles hike we got back then kids are exhausted Bring water, they have cafeteria for snacks & cold drinks open also the lower garden area. Highly recommended

Beautiful Japanese Garden with garden shop. One must pay to enter. Beautifully landscaped trails. It is downhill and then uphill, but doable for our group which had tweens, seniors, and a 5th grader. Would recommend. Visit the bonsai mini show garden = stunning.

So beautiful. Well worth the $12.00 entrance fee !

Theres an entrance fee and currently the only garden in Balboa Park that has one but I think its worth it for how well maintained it is. Depending on the time of day the path can get crowded but if youre lucky to go when theres no traffic the place is very serene. Bonus tea shop at the end or start of the trip!

Love visiting this quiet little spot, its very well manicured but doesnt feel overly so. The plants are all well cared for, the koi are pretty, and the path is easy enough for any walker. I love the little museum displays they have too.

Wasnt able to get in because we werent ready for any entrance fee but still interested to come in the future. It looks and feels relaxing from outside. Would love to check out the inside to experience the beautiful place.

So peaceful. Love the water features, koi ponds, exhibits, and the Buddha statue. Patio dining at the Tea Pavilion. Perfect!

It was a nice relaxing walk! Definitely a good date spot I saw lots of couples there. Some of the paths are closed down due to Covid but a majority of the area is still open.

Simply excellent. Yes- you have to pay to enter. But. They have to keep it immaculately clean! So worth it. My son was fascinated with bamboo fountains.Lovely slopes for kids to run along . beautiful statues. Excuisite koi ponds...

Loved this visit. We had to pay upon entry. However they do offer a couple of discounts (military, student) to those who apply. Very peaceful. Right now they have directed a lot of traffic to be one way paths but nothing too much of a hindrance. Will definitely be back.

Lovely serene little gem in the middle of the hustle and bustle. Ducks are a cute and funny little bunch too. A nice stop for a break on a downtown bike ride.

The gardens were very pretty. I loved the koi ponds and the surroundings were just serene. Theres plenty of shade. Cant wait for what looks like a zen garden installation. Overall, I enjoyed it a lot and wished it was my backyard or a place I could escape to, to craft/rest/work in peace.The tea&eats are underwhelming (dont know if its because of covid). The curry bowl seemed like they just threw in frozen food. You probably coulda gotten the golden curry cubes and made a better curry. The matcha latte, for lack of a better word, sucks. Its very light and has a slight aftertaste of rice candy (like white rabbit). Wish they had onigiri or like more snack items rather than just lunch items.

Great experience even with all the restrictions from covid19. So many beautiful plants and fish. I would definitely like to come back when everything opens up fully, including the museums.

This review is from my experience Post-COVID.Spectacular views with wonderful lighting to take some great pictures. With Covid being a main concern, this Japanese Garden does a wonderful job of keeping limited people inside to ensure theres as much space as possible for everyone to enjoy.Tickets are $12 for general admission and well worth it!I would recommend carrying sunblock. Most areas are shaded but if you plan on taking a lot of pictures like I did, youll be needing that sunscreen. Overall wonderdul experience and staff, can not recommend enough.

Peaceful small garden. Very tranquil. Parking right next to it. Went during the week, barely anyone there.

This garden is truly a gem in San Diego. It makes you feel relaxed being in a beautiful Japanese garden. Entrance is $12 per person and now durung COVID, theres enough space to social distance. Must visit!

This is a jewel within Balboa Park. Admission is charged but if you are a member of another public botanic garden then admission is free. Just show your membership card. The garden is on two levels and you enter at the upper level. There are very pretty trained plants, little fountains, bonsai collection, traditional garden ornaments and vignettes on this level. Also a wonderful koi pond and waterfall with huge and colorful fish. There is also an exhibition building on this level which had a great Maneki-neko (beckoning cats) exhibition. The lower level is a long walk downwards and at the bottom is a long ornametal stream with small waterfalls and more elaborate decorative plantings, including large colonies of flowering cherries. There is also a newer exhibition hall at the end of the stream on the lower level. As you go down, remember you have to walk back up to exit so judge your energy accordingly. On the other hand, its hardly an exhausiting experience.Im very impressed by the high level of garden maintenance here. Unfortunately, the rest of Balboa Park (except the zoo) is experiencing greatly reduced landscape maintenance. Its kind of sad. But seeing everything in the Japanese Friendship Garden looking so happy and well-cared for is wonderful. There is a small restaurant next to the main entrance and tables for eating on the large patio in front of the garden entrance. Although little was blooming on my most recent visit in October the design of the garden and the way the plants are tended makes for endless pictures of garden beauty. Check out the special events they host as well as membership options online.

Beautiful plants and river, nice trail up and down, historical exhibit at the end. Id love to take photos here!

Japanese gardens are very cool places. They are like worlds within worlds. And the moment you visit one, you are immediately filled with peace and harmony. The regrets of the past, the worries of the future melt away like butter on hotcakes, and what you have left is the here and now. Going to a japanese garden, I would dare say, is almost like therapy for the soul.Ive been to one otherJapanese Friendship Garden before in Arizona, but the one in San Diego is so large there is an upper level and a lower level. Filling 12 acres, the garden features perfectly manicured landscapes, metallic statues, rustic pagodas, a gentle stream, a pond (filled with Koi), and so much more.Opened in 1991, the Japanese Friendship Garden is symbolic of the friendship between San Diego and her sister city of Yokohama.Check this place out. Parking is free, but there is a small fee to enter.

Due to COVID-19, I completely understand why many attractions are closed in the garden, with that being said, the price should have been altered. It’s a beautiful & peaceful garden. However, having to miss most of the experience, it wasn’t worth the $12 per person.

Beautiful, almost serene walk through the manicured gardens. Many of the walk ways are currently roped off, other walkways are temporarily one way and the indoor exhibits (history of the kimono, bonsai trees, etc.) are closed due to Covid19. Masks are required at all times in the garden.

Very impressive and majestic grounds. The views and tranquility is unmatched. You have to come here.

Fantastic gardens and location in the middle of Balboa Park, plan for a couple of hours and a nice walk.

What a wonderful experience. We had an afternoon to explore and thought we would take in Balboa Park. The Uber dropped us at the Japanese Garden by chance and we decided to give it a shot. It is $12 per person, but such serene beauty it is well worth it. Take your time and take in all the amazing detail and gorgeous landscaping. We will definitely be back the next time we’re in San Diego!

Great little getaway randomly in middle of San Diego. Beautiful and serene garden.Amazing spot for picture taking. Most of attraction is in a ravine, so there will be some walking up and down. It is well done and maintained. Family friendly too. Takes just over an hour to really go through.If you havent been, make sure to check it out and bring your camera. Not sure if it was worth $12, but was at least for one visit.

A very peaceful place!My friends and I lived it and clicked many pictures. It is a great place to visit with family and friends. A lot of plants and trees, very green, clean and serene!

I had a lovely walk through the shrubs and bushes of the Asian culture. I will say it was not Japanese enough. Wouldve been better if the kids fish in the pond were real they looked like large bass from lake Lanier in Georgia.

$12.00 to get in adults, senior military price $10.00 very nice trails to walk. 11/16/20

Very beautiful calm place, visit it with your family!!!

Beautiful, relaxing, and not crowded, since I went at opening time on a Thursday. I loved the koi ponds, too! Some smaller paths were either closed or one-way only due to COVID, but there was still plenty to see and enjoy.

Calm and relaxing place to watch fish and perfectly shaped bonsai trees. It’s a great place to ask your date out. There are a lot of benches and bridges that you can sit and enjoy the views. There is also a small store inside of the main building with some Japanese souvenirs and tea/coffee and snacks.

Been coming since I was just a little kid and honestly I feel like I will never get tired of it. I love watching the seasons change in the gardens, there is a large rose garden that is gorgeous in the summer, I think the largest variety of camellias anywhere, a recently renovated cafe/shop near the duck pond, a forest section that makes you feel like you are driving up the coast where the redwood trees are, and plenty of little trails and benches for you to sit and read/sketch/meditate. Gift shop is lovely and seasonal. Great for all ages. You can stroll or hike up to you. Big parking space, just off the 2.

If you love Japanese culture this is must to visit!

The views are amazing. Downs are couch bed very very uncomfortable and due to covid19 at the moment no room service and they are not currently cleaning the rooms. But they have a small fridge but a very old microwave ( working well while we were there)

Absolutely gorgeous attraction, prefect date idea & well worth the entrance fee. They also have two shops, one outside restraunt & one inside that has japanese snacks & stuff, both places have great food.

Beautiful place but haft to go online to get tickets and times to come. Definitely qorth visiting.

Really nice and well-kept garden! There are a lot of varieties of plants/flowers/trees. They also have a few coy fish ponds and streams of water. There is a sense of peace and serenity as you walk through that transports you to the countryside of Japan. Not sure why people are complaining about the price... because its really not that much, especially since it pays for maintenance of the whole garden grounds.

One of the best Japanese gardens that we ever visited. Lots of plant and lanterns. The paper making exhibit was very good. Gently sloping walks are handicapped accessible. The tea house was great for a nice lunch after thewalk.

Nice garden, its a cute lil walk with ponds plants and koi fish. Its a pretty decent sized garden so expect for a good walk around. Theyve even got some cultural building with Japanese things in them. Lil history lesson you know!!

Its a lovely place to visit and walk around! My family and I really enjoyed ourselves, especially the little ones!

I feel serenity there, there is very good green, nice viewsComfortable, calm and place and also I liked very cute tea pavilion

Beautiful garden and reminiscent of my time in Japan. Just wish if they are going to require people to wear masks they actually have folks that enforce it throughout the garden. I passed at least four groups of people who carried their mask in their hands.

Love love love this place!

Very Nice and relaxing place to be. Its fun at night. Theres small events even amongst Covid.

For the $12 entrance fee I was expecting more. Other than the coy ponds there wasnt anything that made this much different from other free gardens. I was expecting Japanese architecture or something. Pretty, but not worth the $12 entrance fee.

Such a lovely area. The garden is well maintained and its a lot larger than what I expected. Even though the Cherry Blossoms were already falling off the trees it was still beautiful. There are plenty of places around the garden to sit and relax. Tickets were about $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and military.

Spend quality time at this beautiful place! make sure you wear you mask

The JFG is as beautiful as ever. It was relaxing listening to the sounds of the waterfalls.

Even though I went to the garden during the holidays, it was a rather pleasant visit. The garden is somewhat small, but you still get to enjoy the view of nature. There are a few paths that would take you off the main one in case you want a break from humans. Highly recommend it! It is also really family friendly. There is a shop inside the garden in case you want to try some Japanese snacks or buy some Japanese artwork.

Lovely, peaceful and interesting. Well laid out. I will enjoy visiting again.

The Japanese Friendship Garden is an amazing place to go, relax, and find peace. The first stop on the way in is the Tea Shop to grab yourselve a hot or cold beverage. The trails themselves are well groomed and accented by traditional Japanese garden features. The centerpiece is the flowing river that bisects the lower garden crossed by bridges and even stone walking paths. The North end has a 10 foot Buddha statue that guest leave their offerings for good luck.

Peaceful, thoughtful gardens and lovely views. Id get married again just to have a wedding here! You have to pay to get in, but it is worth it to support such lovely gardens. If I lived near here I would be a regular. Winding paths, a stream and ponds stocked with fancy award winning koi, there is also a bonsai display. It is also wheelchair accessible.

Very relaxing and well-maintained park in Balboa. The tea and food shop was closed while we were there, but we really enjoyed walking through the garden. Handicapped accessible so the whole family can participate. Highly recommended.

Very large and Beautifully kept garden. I took a trip here for my birthday and dont regret it at all!

The garden was very serene and picturesque. I went right when they opened so it wasnt crowded at all. Suggest everyone gives it a visit sometime.

Peaceful. I had a great time exploring the park. I have been to Phoenix Japanese Garden too. this one is bigger and also more interesting.

I love it here. It is absolutely beautiful. Its generally peaceful. It can generate a crowd during the cherry blossom festival and on San Diego resident free days. I hope everyone follows the rules... please stay on the walkways. I see too many people trampling over flowers and ruining the beautiful scenery just for a picture. The employees are usually helpful if you ask them questions. I absolutely love the new addition of the statue and waterfall.

This is such a nice little escape from all the hustle and bustle of the day to day. The cherry blossoms are in bloom and are beautiful. The bonsai are phenomenal, its a great day date.

It’s absolutely beautiful and tranquil. Every inch of the garden was covered with natural beauty and traditional Japanese meditation. It was a full day of exploring and experiencing the life in Japan before technology and the fast pace lifestyle of today. I absolutely adored the ponds and plants and views. It was quiet, relaxing and a wonderful place to enjoy for the day. It’s really worth the time and hike through just come prepared for just that. Wear comfortable shoes, be dressed properly for the weather, have a bottle of water & some snacks, your phone completely charged for pictures/recordings and bring your loved ones because it’s a place for yourself and families. You won’t regret taking your family/self here!

Koi fish everywhere! This a wonderful garden interspersed with ponds and statues.

Nice experience, me my wife and the kids had a great time i would recommend

Sit down and be humble. Move intentionally through the garden and find presence. Benches are well placed so that you can listen to the stream of water while relaxing. These benches are for friendship, duh. Also, its a good place to read books.

Good place to visit you can get some walk and relax

One of the better Japanese gardens I have been to. I loved the bonsai trees, it gets hot though so bring water and find shade.

Very unfriendly woman at the entrance taking fees, a lot of areas are closed, so very limited. Kind of a waste of money right now till fully opened.

Here right now and let me just say yes love everything about it staff are friendly koi are healthy swimming and what a beautiful scenery. For $12 is not a bad price its about a good 45 mins stroll to finish the trails and plus bathroom and snack shops inside the trails.

Japanese floral art of Ikebana, is a very disciplined form of flower arrangement. It is worlds away from just putting a few blooms in a vase and hoping for the best. The philosophy behind Ikebana is combining nature and humanity with the emphasis on the development of a closeness with nature.Ikebana has particular rules that govern the development of a display. All of the materials used are living; living branches; living leaves; living grasses and living blossoms. Mosses, and fruit are also used. Buds are particularly valued as much if not more than fusing flowers that are in full bloom.The beauty of a display emerged through the use of different combinations, natural shapes, graceful lines, again worlds away from putting a few blooms in a vase and hoping for the best. Nature has its own rhythm and order and an awareness of this rhythm is the first lesson to be learned in Ikebana.Over time here has been a progressive interest in Japanese art, its creativity and this now extends to Ikebana. In Japan Ikebana arrangements are given as much attention as paintings for decoration. It is very rare to go into a Japanese home and not find a floral arrangement.The Japanese have always had a great love of nature, to the point where it is almost a creed. They do not just love nature they have a very high respect of nature and as a people they tend to feel at one with nature. This may be innate or it may be because many of their living spaces are forged out of concrete.Ikebana is about creating a link between the indoors and outdoors. Arrangements include branches with leaves organised with flowers in a similar form that you would find in nature. Some arrangements will use just one bloom with other natural materials in order to symbolise nature

Its beautiful here! We were blessed to have such lovely weather

Love this place - Balboa Park is a great place to sit and visit, have something to eat or drink and watch people!

It IS a Japanese garden. You have the saku Rambo (cherry blossoms), the bridges, some awesome zen statues and of course the coy fish. Stand alone all the museums at balboa can be expensive, but if you buy a pass you can see 5 for much less each one. The garden is awesome.

Really nice area. It has a lot of beautiful views. Definitely recommended if you are in the area.

$12 Adults.6y old or younger Free.Military, Seniors, Students, $10Great experience. Try it at lest once.

A great place where you can hide from the hustle and bustle and be alone with nature, the noise of the stream is very soothing

Absolutely beautiful! Its a good place for dates and taking kids on an informative hike through nature! Theres some rock paths that stretch over rivers as well.

Really nice! I like the kimono display at the bottom of the garden, and the snacks and tea that they had were really nice on a hot day.

If youre first time visitors in San Diego. This is a must see. Balboa Park has so much going on. Plenty of walking to do. Many museums some free and others are pay. But so worth it. Havent seen them all but since were living here. More trips are planned.

Extremely Beautiful and peaceful. A lot of greenery to admire. I love the fact that they have Cherry Blossom Trees. However we went off season of Sakura season. But will definitely be returning when theyre in full bloom.

The garden was nice, but we were NOT informed upon arrival nor admittance purchase that the tea house, bathrooms, etc were ALL closed due to a broken pipeline aka all the water was turned off

Love this tranquil and beautiful garden. Theres always a plant in bloom and a quiet place to sit and reflect. My family and I signed up for the Family membership. After 2 more visits, itll pay for itself and is definitely the bang to your buck.

Beautiful gardens, short path. A lot of it is closed due to COVID restrictions. Worth a Sunday stroll.

We enjoyed the view from outside, we werent able to go inside due to closing . The outside view was incredible.

So peaceful and we need more place like this one to visit during these current times.

There is so many things I must come back . So many things for the family yuh to do little hikes, botanical gardens museums everyone is so friendly ... its very clean .... take walking shoes .... because you will get tired .... you will spend.atleast 4 hours here .... parking is free. I just loved it all here

Wow! What a truly beautiful and peaceful place. So much to see and take in, what a gem.

So Zen. Its incredible the care that is put into all of the plant life and Koi fish.

Beautiful park. I love the koi ponds