Seiwa-en
- Nature & parks
- In St. Louis, Missouri
- 0.7 mi from Route 66
Tucked inside the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, MO, Seiwa-en is a Japanese garden made for strolling. At 14 acres, no garden of its type in North America is bigger. Paths circle a lake with islands, bridges and carp. Dedicated in 1977, it is a calm, green counterpoint to a day of highway and city driving along Route 66.
What is Seiwa-en?
A strolling garden is meant to be walked, with views that change at every turn of the path. Here the route loops around a large lake dotted with islands and crossed by bridges. Carp swim in the water, and simple traditional buildings and dry gravel gardens add to the scene.
Look for a Japanese maple that the Emperor of Japan gave and planted during a visit to St. Louis, and for the cherry trees by the entrance, which flower in spring.
History of Seiwa-en
Work on the plan started in 1972, and the garden was dedicated in May 1977. Its designer, Dr. Koichi Kawana, came from Hokkaido in northern Japan, taught landscape design and Japanese architecture at UCLA, and practiced ikebana on the side. He took US citizenship in 1971 and later created more than a dozen gardens in the Japanese manner across the country, often working in native plants; this is the biggest.
Visiting Seiwa-en: tips
Seiwa-en lies within the Missouri Botanical Garden, so plan the two as one visit. Allow an hour for a slow loop. Restrooms are on site. Spring brings the cherry blossoms. The Bel Air Motel is about 2.3 miles away.
Practical info
- Address
- 4503 Magnolia Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110
- On site & nearby
Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix
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