In Delray Beach, Florida, at the northern edge of the sprawling greater Miami urban center, the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens welcome visitors to the timeless serenity of bucolic Japan.
The Morikami garden is one of world’s largest Japanese gardens.
Created by Master Garden Designer Hoichi Kurisu, the Morikami gardens showcase six distinct styles, all inspired by significant gardens of Japan. Spanning over a millenium of Japanese history, each tells a unique story, even as they all blend seamlessly into each other. As we enter this improbable haven of tranquility within the bustle of over-urbanized south-eastern Florida, a question comes to mind: how did it come to be?
The Story Behind the Gardens
Back in the early 1900s, a small group of Japanese farmers emigrated to the area, hoping to build new lives in this faraway place very different from their homeland. They founded an agricultural community, which they called The Yamato Colony (Yamato is an ancient name for Japan).
The gardens are inspired by the evolution of Japane gardens through the ages.
Sukeji ‘George’ Morikami (November 4, 1886 – February 29, 1976) was 19 when he came from Miyazu, Japan, to the Yamato community in 1906. He started out as an indentured laborer, working to pay off his passage to America. Like the other Yamato colonists, Morikami grew and sold fruits and vegetables.
The colony gradually dissolved over the ensuing decades. By the 1940s, only George Morikami remained, still quietly farming the land. In spite of several reversals, he ultimately prospered. In 1973, he donated his property to Palm Beach County to preserve the memory of the Yamato Colony, and be used as a living tribute to Japanese culture. The museum opened in 1977. Then in 1999, renowned landscape architect Hoichi Kurisu designed the now-famous Roji-en gardens.
The Wisdom Ring
The Wisdom Ring is a replica of a 500-year-old stone lantern in Miyazu, Japan..
As we exit the Museum center to begin our tour of the gardens, we notice the Wisdom Ring (Chie no Wa) at the edge of the central lake. It is a replica of a 500-year-old stone lantern in Miyazu, George Morikami’s birthplace and Delray Beach’s sister city in Japan. The original Wisdom Ring, stands at a temple dedicated to the Buddhist deity of wisdom, Monju.
The citizens of Miyazu donated the replica in 1997 to commemorate the museum’s 20th anniversary.
The Roji-en Gardens
The James and Hazel Gates Woodruff Memorial Bridge marks the entrance of the Roji-en Gardens
A few steps farther, the James and Hazel Gates Woodruff Memorial Bridge marks the entrance to the mile-long shaded path that meanders through The Roji-en (or Garden of the Drops of Dew). Designed to be a living extension of the museum, it occupies 16 acres (6.5 hectares) at the heart of the property, making it one of the largest Japanese gardens in the world.
The path meanders through various styles of gardening design.
The path takes us through six distinct Japanese garden styles inspired by different historical periods, from the Heian (9th to 12th centuries) through Meiji (20th century) eras. Each section has its own personality. One area feels sparse and contemplative, with artfully raked gravel and stone arrangements. Others are elaborately layered, with dense plantings that frame various views of the lake.
A waterfall feeds a Koi-filled pond.
The transition between styles and centuries is so smooth that is it impossible to notice it as we stroll along the pine glades and bamboo groves. We come across crystalline waterfalls. Koi-filled ponds, sparkling brooks, and tranquil rock gardens. Each area has its own personality. Yet, all the elements of the various gardens are so seamlessly integrated within the landscape that is it hard to fathom that they actually represent the evolution of a millenium of gardening artistry.
Yamato Island
This authentic Japanese villa once housed the original Morikami Museum.
At the far site of the lake, Yamato Island is the site of Yamato-kan, the original museum building, until the construction in 1993 of what is now known as the main museum building. Yamato-kan is a traditional Japanese villa and indoor teahouse, with an open courtyard and dry garden. The building holds the history of the Delray Yamato Colony. Adjoining the villa, the Bonsai Garden features one of foremost collection of centuries-old bonsai (miniature trees) in the United States.
Meet Hotei, the resident God of Happiness.
As we are leaving the island we are greeted by the jolly, pot-bellied statue of Hotei. One of the Japanese Seven Lucky Gods, (Shichi-fuku-jin.) Hotei is affectionately known as the God of Happiness.
The Cornell Café
The Bento box is an edible work of art.
No visit of the Morikami Gardens is complete without lunch at its Cornell Café, locally acclaimed for its lovely views of the gardens as well as its extensive menu of high-quality Japanese cuisine offerings. The latter does present us with a bit of a selection dilemma, which we solve by ordering their superb Bento box.
Panoramic view of the lake and Yamato Island
Good to Know
- Getting there — Delray Beach is located about 55 miles north of Miami, and 30 miles north of Fort Lauderdale, via Interstate highway I-95. The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens are located at 4000 Morikami Park Rd. Delray Beach, FL
- Visiting —The Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens are open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.They are closed on Monday and major holidays.
A Few Souvenirs
