Seattle, Washington story
A Japanese Oasis
In the Rainier Beach neighborhood, there's a hidden world of streams, bridges, and ponds. Kubota Garden began in 1927 when Fujitaro Kubota bought five acres of logged-off swamplan…
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In the Rainier Beach neighborhood, there's a hidden world of streams, bridges, and ponds. Kubota Garden began in 1927 when Fujitaro Kubota bought five acres of logged-off swampland. He was a horticultural pioneer who spent years merging Japanese design techniques with North American materials.
Today, the public garden spans 20 acres, featuring the Bamboo Grove and the Necklace of Ponds. The landscape is specifically designed to blend Japanese forms with Pacific Northwest plants, creating a serene, living painting. Whether you're strolling through the Tom Kubota Stroll Garden or admiring a waterfall, it's a peaceful oasis that feels worlds away from the city traffic.
Updated June 2026