As I walked along the edge of the amazing lake at the Cowra Japanese Gardens, the sound of a bell stirred me from daydream. The kids had discovered the Bonsho Bell (in Japan it is used to distinguish between periods of time) and were excitedly sounding it. Its deep resonance, vibrated through me. If you could wake the dead, this bell would do it!
On our New South Wales spring road trip, we planned our route specifically to include a stop in Cowra. I have a somewhat growing fascination with Japan and the idea of visiting the Cowra Japanese Gardens was incredibly appealing. I posed it was research for our upcoming trip to Japan. To be honest, I wasn’t quite anticipating how amazing the site actually is and was blown away by all the learning our family took away as we left.
The Cowra Japanese Gardens is a mesmerising 5 hectare strolling garden, the largest of its type in the Southern Hemisphere. Back in 1977, Ken Nakajima, one of the worlds’ most renowned Japanese garden architects, was commissioned to design the garden. Nakajia was inspired by the 16th century AD Japanese Landscape Garden built by the first Shogun Tokugawa in Tokyo. The Cowra Japanese Gardens were officially opened in 1979.
What has been created is an awe inspiring garden, steeped in symbolism and beauty. You could spend a week working through each section, identifying the plants and working out what each little detail revealed. For instance, the hedges are pruned to represent the rolling hills of Japan.
Earlier I mentioned that we are travelling to Japan soon. We are all so excited about this trip which, of course, has raised so many questions for the kids around how the Japanese live, their history and their traditions. One of the kids highlights of the Cowra Japanese Gardens was exploring the a traditional Edo Cottage. We were able to walk inside and peer into each room and compare what we were seeing to Australian home design. It made me think that perhaps a stay in a traditional home might be needed when we head to Japan!
There are four main annual events held in the gardens each year: Annual events in the Garden include
March – Hina Matsuri – Dolls Festival
May – Children’s Day
September – Sakura Matsuri – Cherry Blossom Festival
December – Carols in the Garden
If you have read our post on the Cowra POW Camp you will know the significance of this country town. It is said that many Japanese believe that Buddha willed the town to create the garden so the spirits of the soldiers that died during the outbreak could rest in peace.
If you are hoping to explore the Cowra Japanese Gardens give yourself time to fully enjoy all that is offers. When you arrive make sure to buy a little bag of food for the ducks and koi. Other than Christmas day, the gardens are open every day of the year from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm. A family ticket is currently $40.00 for two adults + their children of school age residing at the same address. You can find more information at www.cowragarden.com.au
