Ichimura Miami Japanese Garden

This is a very calm place to visit, however I would have liked for it to be a little bigger and more of a garden. I have been to quite a few Japanese gardens and I’d have to say that my expectations were not met with this particular one. There is hardly any foliage and I was really looking forward to seeing more kinds of flowers. I don’t think I would go out of my way to visit this garden again, the only good thing about it was that we could park at the marina parking and walk on over, and that there was no charge at the door. Overall, not a big fan.

Very nice and peaceful Japanese garden along the MacArthur causeway, right near Downtown Miami. It’s small but there still quite a bit to see. A nice pond and waterfall, and garden.
As other reviewers have pointed out, if you’re already parked in the Jungle Island garage right next door ($ 10), then you could just walk right over and see this garden. Otherwise, I don’t know if there is a «good» or «official» place to park. The marina doesn’t seem to have any of those machines or meters; seems like it’s «pay-​by-​phone» and not something I was about to do.

I helped with an event here: Bodhi Fest/​Jade Buddha for Universal Peace. Before we set up I had a chance to see the garden. Honestly it is in need of some work. The gravel needs to be refreshed and the foliage is scarce. With the being said it is still peaceful. I wouldn’t make a special trip just to come see it unless you were already in the area. The place isn’t that big or impressive.
Now if you are looking for a spot to do an event I WOULD recommend taking this place into consideration. My point person of contact, Ruben, was the nicest, most helpful person. He was such a pleasure and very accommodating. The ground definitely has space for tents, people, and anything you may want to do. The gates allow for easy crowd control. Overall a pretty decent venue for events.

For future tourists, I only recommend this place if you are already parked because as an early reviewer mentioned its free except for the $ 10 parking. The park itself is very lovely and well-​shaded but If you briskly walk, it takes about one minute to do the entire circuit. If you are a slow walker and intent on taking a picture of every lotus and rock, then it will take about 5 minutes.

If you ride your bike to Watson Island; are parking at the boat marina across the street or at the Jungle Island garage and you need a place to relax, this is the place. But if you are thinking about making a trip and parking in the Miami City lot across the street ($ 10 minimum targeted at those using the Marina), then it’s probably not worth the trip. I made a quick stop here to check it out and would not have fed the meter except the Miami Police Sergeant was parked right in front of the parking meter machine.
In any regard, as there is a nice fish pond but the Koi were missing. The garden was nice an tranquil and I saw one biker sleeping on a bench in a very private spot. Don’t expect too much as it is very, very small, but if you need a place to be by yourself for a few moments, this could be the place.
BTW, its free except the parking!

This rose that rises out of cement is no bigger that an average backyard but that doesn’t stop it from being really beautiful and relaxing. I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit it but if I was in the neighborhood, it is a real nice quiet meditation area in the middle of busy Miami
History lesson time kids —
In the 1950’s, Mr. Kiyoshi Ichimura became enamored with the City of Miami and began sending dismantled objects and materials from Tokyo along with carpenters, gardeners and a landscape architect to design and construct, what in 1961 would become, the «San-​Ai-​An Japanese Garden.»
Beginning in Fall 2001, the site upon which it was located was converted to a new facility for the Tropical Parrot Garden that had previously been located in downtown Miami.
The Japanese garden has been reduced in size and was moved to an adjacent 1 acre site, where it was restored. The City of Miami and landscape architect Lester Collins Pancoast and architect Thorn Grafton worked cooperatively with the Japanese Consul and The Friends of the Japanese Garden to redesign and reconstruct the Ichimura Miami-​Japan Garden. It was re-​opened in 2006.
This garden is located on the Miami end of the MacArthur Causeway, on Watson Island, the extension of I-​395 that connects Miami to Miami Beach.
No Koi in the pond equals one less star