Cowra Japanese Garden & Cultural Centre

The design of the garden is a copy of the first Japanese landscape garden (Strolling garden) built by the first Japanese Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. The Tokugawa Shogun ruled from Edo Castle from 1600 until 1868, when it was abolished during the Meiji Restoration.

The Binni Creek Road site was chosen for the garden as the geographical formation of the terrain and the rocks made it ideal to replicate the landscape of Japan, in particular the existence of two rocks at the top of the hill, these large rocks are called Yogoseike and Shugoseike.

The design of the Cowra Japanese Garden and the landscape incorporates six elements in the design: – mountain, rocks, mountain waterfalls, mountain lakes, rivers turning into oceans and pine trees.

The shape and texture of the plants – more than 120 species – were carefully considered, and while there are vibrant splashes of azaleas and camellias there are no riots of bright colour. Nakajima sought quiet hues – the blue of wisteria, the yellow and white of irises – to give the garden a harmonious serenity.

Visitors experience and gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the Japanese garden and landscape design of the Edo period by walking the three kilometres of pathways designed to carry the visitor through the mountains of Japan, past the waterfalls in the mountains that flow into the mountain lakes and from there follow the water as it flows into the river and then the ocean.

Hedges are pruned and shaped to represent the rolling hills of Japan. The landscape design includes trimmed hedges and pine trees which are symbolic of the hills, reaching from the mountains to the ocean.

The Australian casualties of the Cowra breakout are also not forgotten within the Cowra Japanese Garden. Ken Nakijima deliberately left gum trees standing in the design of the garden. The grove of gum trees at the top of the hill in the garden represents the Australian soldiers who were killed, allowing both the spirits of the Australians and the Japanese to live there.Rocks formed an integral part of the first Japanese Landscape Garden and are featured in the Cowra Japanese Gardens

Incorporated in the garden are examples of Japanese built form design. All built form found in the garden was designed in Japan by renowned Japanese architects Takeo Adachi and Tatsushi Aono.

White raked stones are used in a Japanese rock garden (karesansui) or “dry landscape” garden, often called a Zen garden. This involves the creation of a miniature stylized landscape through carefully composed arrangements of rocks and uses gravel that is raked to represent ripples in water.

These Zen gardens existed in Japan at least since the Heian Period (784-1185).

There are 300 movable cultural heritage items in the Cultural Centre which are maintained by the staff.

Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre was established to recognize and develop the relationship between the people of Cowra Shire and the people of Japan, a relationship that has its origins in the Prisoner of War Camp that housed the Japanese P.O.W.’s during World War II.

In 1960 the Japanese Government decided to bring all their war dead from other parts of Australia to be re-buried at Cowra.

The Garden is located on the site of the World War Two Japanese prisoner of war camp and the site of the infamous Cowra break out in 1944 – a story of great courage, spirit and futility.

The garden was built to commemorate the Japanese prisoners of war who died at the breakout. The Japanese believe that when you die you must return to your place of birth for burial. But sadly those soldiers were never given that honour. Long time Cowra resident, Don Kibbler was so moved by the breakout story that he proposed the garden so the soldiers’ souls could rest in peace.

In 1988 Mr. Kibbler was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his contribution to Australia – Japan Relations.

The first construction stage was from 1978 to 1979 and was funded by donations from the Australian Government, the New South Wales Government. The Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Expo 70 Osaka and various individuals.

The more significant second stage of construction was from 1984 to 1986. It was funded by donations from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, New South Wales Government, Lachlan Industries and Expo 70 Osaka and was supported with significant voluntary labour.

The ongoing development and maintenance of the Garden is provided for by a further donation made by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 1989 which saw the establishment of the Cowra Japanese Garden Maintenance Foundation as trustee for the Cowra Japanese Garden Trust.

Cherry Tree Avenue and the Sakura Matsuri

The original idea for an avenue of cherry trees came from a Japanese living in Sydney, Mr Ken Takura. Ken’s idea was that the trees would lead from the cemetery to the Japanese Garden.

Ken Nakajima, the designer of the garden could see that avenue of cherry trees lighting the way for the spirits of the dead Japanese from the cemetery to live in peace in the garden. It would be a symbolic avenue.

Cherry Tree Avenue came first with the tree planting began in 1988. It was an Australian Bicentennial project. In 1990 a Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival was organised by the Visitors Centre. It was, at that time, on a small scale.

During this period very close ties were established with the Japanese Embassy in Canberra, with the Consulate in Sydney and with the Japanese business people based in Sydney. Consequently, if assistance were required with support for particular projects, then it was forthcoming, because a degree of trust and friendship had been built up. This resulted largely from the Sakura Matsuri.