Walking tour of the Japanese Garden Bonsai collections at the Huntington Library in Los Angeles CA

The Huntington’s fabled Japanese garden, on the slopes of a canyon, was the idea of property owner Henry E. Huntington after his stately residence, now known as the Huntington Art Gallery, was completed in the early 1910s.

The nine-acre site was originally developed between 1911 and 1912. Its historic core was renovated three years ago, which included much-needed work to preserve the century-old Japanese House made of wood, paper, and reed mats, as well as repairing or replacing bridges, and adding a ceremonial teahouse from Kyota in a new tea garden.

A stroll through the garden today yields views of koi-filled ponds, a classic raked-gravel dry garden, bonsai court and moon bridge, named because its reflection in the pond resembles a full moon.

Japanese black and red pines are abundant, but in the fall, shield your eyes from the sun-fueled, flaming yellow ginkgo trees in the Zen Garden area.

The nine-acre Japanese Garden serves as an iconic backdrop at the Huntington, and includes a series of koi-filled ponds, a historic moon bridge, and a Japanese House, in addition to the new features of a ceremonial teahouse set in a new three-acre traditionally landscaped tea garden, waterfall, and increased accessibility.

The existing Japanese House, new ceremonial teahouse and moon bridge make up the main focal points of the garden. The latter of deriving its name from the enchanting full moon illusion the bridge and its reflection create in the pond.

The ceremonial teahouse was first commissioned in 1964 and shipped to the United States where it was reassembled on the grounds of the Pasadena Buddhist Temple. It was then donated to the Huntington, but first dismantled and shipped to Kyoto for refurbishment 2010. In 2011 it made its way back to California, where it was reassembled in the Huntington’s new tea garden. The ceremonies that will take place in the tea house follow the Urasenke Way of tea.

Other attractions of the garden include a bonsai court that showcases 70 trees; life-size half-dog-half-lion figures, which originated in Buddhist mythology and were used in ancient China to guard the entrances to important residences; and a zen garden, which includes a stand of ginko trees and a raked gravel dry garden that evokes a flowing stream. #japanesegarden #huntingtonlibrary #descansogardens #asmr #relaxation #zen #placestovisit #ThingsToDo #peaceful

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