美国 西雅图日本花园 Seattle Japanese Garden – 北美历史最悠久的日式庭园之一

花园概况与历史

西雅图日本花园位于华盛顿州西雅图麦迪逊公园社区，紧邻华盛顿湖大道东侧的华盛顿公园树木园南端，面积 3.5 英亩（约 1.4 公顷）。这座花园自 1960 年 6 月向公众开放，是北美历史最悠久的日式庭园之一，被普遍视为美国境内最正宗的日本庭园之一。花园在 2008 年 5 月 21 日被西雅图地标保护委员会列为城市历史地标，并于 2020 年 12 月获得日本外务大臣表彰，以表彰其在促进日美相互理解方面的贡献。花园由西雅图市公园与娱乐局管理，运营与项目支持由树木园基金会（Arboretum Foundation）承担。

设计者与建造过程

西雅图日本花园的设计源于 1909 年阿拉斯加-育空-太平洋博览会上的日本馆与临时日式庭园，1937 年华盛顿公园树木园被提议为永久选址，但因种族矛盾与二战爆发而搁置。1957 年树木园基金会启动筹款，由东京都市公园的森脇辰夫协调，邀请设计师饭田十基（Juki Iida）与猪下清（Kiyoshi Inoshita）主持设计。建造于 1960 年 3 月开工，主要使用本地材料，其中 580 块花岗岩巨石（其中部分为巨石）由饭田十基亲自从斯诺夸尔米山口附近挑选，每块用竹席包裹运至西雅图，由日裔美籍承包商负责石组、植物与建筑。1960 年 6 月 5 日由西雅图市长戈登·克林顿主持落成，同年 10 月日本皇太子明仁与皇太子妃美智子在访西雅图期间到访，并共同种下一棵樱花树与一棵白桦。

漫步式庭园布局与景观元素

西雅图日本花园采用 16 世纪末至 17 世纪初发展起来的”漫步式庭园”（stroll garden）形式，环绕中央池塘的碎石步道蜿蜒前行，引导游客依次经过山林、瀑布、溪流、湖泊、岛屿与海景等典型日本景观，沿途通过遮挡与呈现的节奏切换画面。设计师饭田十基坚持”自然之真”（shizensa）原则，混用传统日本植物与太平洋西北本地植物，随着季节更替呈现出新的色彩、形状与气味。园内可见石灯笼、石桥、茶室建筑、池塘瀑布以及数十种杜鹃、山茶、枫树与苔藓，沿途设有长椅，鼓励游客放慢脚步观察石、水、灯笼、桥、建筑、植物与动物的细节变化。

开放时间、票务与参观规定

西雅图日本花园门票在入口售票处现场购买，每年 3 月至 11 月周二至周日开放，周一闭园；12 月至次年 2 月因冬季维护闭园。各月开放时间略有不同，3 月为 10:00-17:00，4 月与 9-10 月延长至 18:00，5 月至 8 月延长至 19:00，11 月缩短至 16:00，闭园前 45 分钟停止入园。园内禁止野餐、婚礼、三脚架、宠物（仅 2010 ADA 修订要求下的服务动物可入），无人机按西雅图市政策全程禁用。每年 4 月至 10 月周二至周五 11:00 与 13:00 提供免费志愿者导览，每月第一个周六 13:00 与每月第一个周四 13:00 也有免费导览，每场限前 10 位游客。鲤鱼喂食仅在每年 5 月至 9 月 10:00-12:00 开放，须从园内木桥与赏月台投喂园方提供的饲料。

茶室、文化活动与公众教育

西雅图日本花园内的”松声庵”（Shoseian）茶室由东京都政府赠送，1959 年 3 月以散件形式运抵西雅图，4 月临时组装参加贸易展，5 月 19 日开始永久建造，同年 7 月 4 日由表千家家元千宗室第十五代主持首场茶事。1973 年 4 月原茶室遭人纵火焚毁，由杉田安信于 1980 至 1981 年按原貌重建，树木园基金会耗时八年筹得 17.5 万美元重建款，茶室于 1981 年 5 月 16 日由千宗室第十五代重新命名为”松声庵”并主持再落成典礼。茶室目前由西雅图表千家与裏千家两支茶道团体面向公众举办 40 分钟”茶道入门”体验，全年举办儿童节、七夕、月见、敬老日、红叶狩等文化活动，由本地书法家、太鼓团、舞蹈团与社区表演者参与。

Garden Background and History

The Seattle Japanese Garden is a 3.5-acre (1.4 ha) Japanese garden located in Seattle’s Madison Park neighborhood, at the southern end of the Washington Park Arboretum along Lake Washington Boulevard East. Open to the public since June 1960, it is among the oldest Japanese gardens in North America and is widely regarded as one of the most authentic Japanese gardens in the United States. The garden was designated a Seattle city historical landmark by the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board on May 21, 2008, and on December 1, 2020 it received the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation for its contributions to mutual understanding between Japan and the United States. Operations are run by Seattle Parks and Recreation, with programming and project support provided by the Arboretum Foundation.

Designers and Construction Process

The idea for a Japanese garden in Seattle traces back to the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, where a temporary Japanese Pavilion and garden were built. The new Washington Park Arboretum was proposed as the permanent site by 1937, but construction was deferred due to racial tensions and the outbreak of World War II. Fundraising by the Arboretum Foundation began in 1957, and Tatsuo Moriwaki of Tokyo Metropolitan Parks coordinated the design, with Juki Iida and Kiyoshi Inoshita leading the project. Construction began in March 1960, using primarily local materials: 580 granite boulders (some weighing up to 11 tons) were personally selected by Iida from the Snoqualmie Pass area, wrapped in bamboo matting and transported to Seattle. Japanese American contractors handled stone setting, planting and garden structures. The garden was dedicated by Seattle mayor Gordon S. Clinton on June 5, 1960, and in October 1960 Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko visited during a Seattle stop, planting a cherry tree and a white birch together.

Stroll Garden Layout and Landscape Elements

The garden follows the stroll garden style developed in the late 16th and early 17th centuries in Japan. A winding gravel path circles a central pond, guiding visitors past mountains, waterfalls, streams, lakes, islands and seascapes, with successive concealment and revelation of each scene along the way. Designer Juki Iida worked to the principle of shizensa, the essence of nature, mixing traditional Japanese plant material with Pacific Northwest natives that have matured gracefully over time. Stone lanterns, arched bridges, a teahouse, pond and waterfall are arranged with seasonal azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, mosses, ferns and maples. Curving paths and stone benches invite visitors to observe stones, water, lanterns, bridges, buildings, plants and animals slowly and mindfully, with subtle change occurring each season.

Hours, Tickets and Visitor Policies

Tickets are sold at the gatehouse. The garden is open Tuesday through Sunday from March through November and closed on Mondays, with full closure December through February for winter maintenance. Hours shift by month: 10:00-17:00 in March, 10:00-18:00 in April, September and October, 10:00-19:00 May through August, and 10:00-16:00 in November. Final entry is 45 minutes before closing. To preserve the site’s tranquility, picnicking, weddings, tripods and pets are not allowed; only service animals as defined by the 2010 ADA Revised Requirements are admitted. Drones are prohibited under City of Seattle policy. Free guided tours led by trained volunteers run April through October at 11:00 and 13:00 Tuesday through Friday, with additional tours at 13:00 on the first Saturday of each month and at 13:00 on Free First Thursday; each tour is limited to the first 10 visitors. Koi feeding with food purchased at the gatehouse is offered May through September from 10:00 to noon, only from the wooden zigzag bridge and Moon Viewing platform.

Teahouse, Cultural Events and Public Programs

The garden’s Shoseian Teahouse was a gift from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, shipped in pieces to Seattle in March 1959, temporarily assembled for a trade fair the following month, and constructed in its permanent location beginning May 19. The first tea ceremony was held on July 4, 1959, conducted by visiting Urasenke grand master Sen Sōshitsu XV. The original teahouse was burned by vandals on April 9, 1973, and reconstructed by Yasunori “Fred” Sugita in 1980 and 1981. The Arboretum Foundation spent eight years raising $175,000, with support from the Urasenke Foundation, to rebuild the structure. The teahouse was rededicated by Sen Sōshitsu XV on May 16, 1981 and named Shoseian. Today it is used by the Seattle chapters of the Urasenke and Omotesenke schools of chado for 40-minute “Introduction to Chanoyu” experiences in a traditional roji garden setting. The garden also hosts year-round cultural celebrations such as Kodomo no Hi, Tanabata, Otsukimi (Moon Viewing), Keiro no Hi and Momijigari (Maple Viewing), featuring local calligraphers, taiko ensembles, dance troupes and community performers.

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