Nestled in the prairies of southern Alberta lives a Japanese oasis with a rich history and breathtaking views. Nikka Yuko means Japan-Canada Friendship and we invite you to experience the friendship here at our garden. Enjoy a variety of cultural experiences that will stimulate all the senses. Smell the yellow cypress (Hinoki) as you enter the garden, feel the breeze on the Pavilion deck as you relax to the sounds of a waterfall. Experience Nodate, an open-air tea service, or partake in a tea ceremony and savour Japanese matcha green tea. Let our staff dress you in a Yukata, a traditional Japanese daily wear, and snap the perfect photo with the perfect backdrop. Let your energies soar to the beat of a Taiko drum and then relax while watching the colourful Minyo dancers performing in the garden. Ring the friendship bell and listen as the sound travels across scenic Henderson Lake.
Join one of our daily tours and try your hand at a Japanese cultural activity such as calligraphy or origami, or book your own private tour. Our Horticultural Experience is guided by our expert gardeners and explores how a Canadian garden was created using Japanese style, design, aesthetic, and philosophical ideas and how they helped shape Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden. Our Japanese-Canadian Experience is led by a local historical expert and provides a detailed understanding of why the Garden became a tribute to those with Japanese ancestry in southern Alberta. Hear about the internment camps, pre-war Japanese settlements, and how the formation of this Japanese garden was influenced by many over the years.
For the ultimate in relaxation and meditation, book a Sunset Sake experience to try a variety of sake paired with culinary samples from Japan, a reflexology session to unwind in the garden, or join a yoga class in a picturesque setting.
Our packages can be tailored to groups of all sizes, let us create the perfect venue for your next event or rejuvenating corporate retreat.
Créé en hommage aux Canadiens d’origine japonaise à l’occasion du centenaire du Canada en 1967, cet oasis de paix allie les traditions japonaises aux paysages des Prairies. Le designer japonais Tadashi Kubo a étudié de près le paysage et la culture du sud de l’Alberta avant de créer le plan directeur du jardin. Les structures telles que les portes, les ponts et la maison de thé ont été construites à Kyoto, expédiées à Lethbridge et soigneusement réassemblées. Un parc urbain entourant le jardin offre de vastes panoramas sur les Prairies, qui se dévoilent progressivement au fil des promenades. Vous pouvez également vous immerger dans la culture japonaise : prenez un selfie en portant un yukata japonais traditionnel, sirotez un matcha lors d’une cérémonie du thé ou regardez des danseurs tournoyer au rythme des tambours taiko. Lors des visites, des jardiniers experts expliquent comment le jardin utilise des plantes canadiennes pour refléter l’esthétique japonaise.
