Reviews of Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden (Zoo)

Kevin Dang

Beautiful and serene. The atmosphere is peaceful and the staffs are so cordial and knowledgeable. From the ticket receptionist to the pavilion guide everyone was really nice and kind even during these new times. Really enjoy my trip here.

Melvyn Joseph

Free water. But really small park space for walking. Otherwise everything is well maintained.

Taunya Pickles

Love Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden at any time of year, especially during the winter and Winter Lights event. I enjoy the variety of events that they put on like the summer picnics, charcuterie, etc. Can't wait to experience events in the new Bunka center.

Allan Brydges

The gardens are nicely decorated every year with ice sculptures throughout. Definitely worth checking out.

Chris Schuler

Beautiful gardens, informative friendly staff. Definitely recommend a visit if you are down in Lethbridge. We made a special trip for it and it was worth it.

Mervin Orr

Beautiful and definitely worth the price of admission. Why take a Christmas light tour of the whole city when you can come here and see it all in one spot.

pablo silva

Was a terrific time to come and see. I was especially hopeful to come here with my girlfriend but I hope I can during my next visit to Lethbridge. There's an especially peaceful feeling to the area when walking the trail.

Jared Scott

It was absolutely gorgeous. Was there while there was lots of snow and the Christmas lights on every tree. Highly recommended.

Paige McLean

Went to see the Christmas light display. Absolutely beautiful job. Price of admission was crazy cheap. Purchased the friendship package online before we went and everyone received a hot beverage of choice (apple cider, coffee, or flavored hot chocolates) and a cookie. We were there on a festival night so there was a DJ and spot to dance plus a few extra things going on. Highly recommend visiting.

Brian Speck

We walked from our hotel (Sandman Signature) of 50 minutes. The visitor centre was well organized and she recommended that we purchase the entry with a beverage ($30.00) for the both us. This was as we had arrived after 4:00pm and had missed the tea ceremony. The walk was around the garden (it can take from 15 - 60 minutes) depending upon your level of reflection and contemplation. We completed the walk after 20 minutes. A couple of Grad 2020 women were having their photos taken and I trust that the photos will turn out to be an awesome memory. Ring the the bell for a most soothing sound. Thanks a lot to the staff (especially Chris) for a most informative discussion and information sharing.

Pirate Life

Highly recommend dropping by and taking in the relaxing atmosphere. Friendly staff, beautifully kept gardens within the City of Lethbridge. A great representation of what Japanese gardens can look like with Canadian flora.

Zhaohan Xu

I have to say this is most amazing garden Ive seen in Canada. it very well represent Japanese garden design cues. The little streams and the little temple, plus some bonsai. really is very relaxing while walking through the garden. The …

Derek Murray

The garden's were very tranquil and calming. It was nice to see the waterfall and ornaments around the garden. The house looked great. Well worth a visit.

Samantha Lemna

Absolutely lovely Japanese garden. We went to see the Christmas light show and were blown away. It's not a huge garden (we walked through twice, took lots of pictures and it took us just over an hour) but the lights were incredibly well done. Also much more affordable than zoo lights and a nice change. The snacks and drinks available were also delicious. The candy and gift shops are also worth a look.

Luke Loran

Such a beautiful, peaceful and serene place to visit. I spent about 3 hours here enjoying the energy. I truly loved the place and loved relaxing in the present moment. Definitely a spot you want to visit. Tranquility at its finest. Just enjoy the sites and sounds.

Ngo Hai Anh

Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden is a 3.75-acre (15,200 m2) garden near Henderson Lake in Lethbridge, Alberta, designed by Dr. Masami Sugimoto and Dr. Tadashi Kubo of Osaka Prefecture University in Japan. The pavilion, shelter, bridges and gates were built in Kyoto, Japan, by five artisans who later reassembled them in the garden. It was opened July 14th 1967, during the Canadian Centennial.

Bryant Xia

This is a really beautiful garden. Well maintained and organized. It's a little small but you can take lots great landscaping photos. The ticket price is $11 which a little bit expensive. Worth to stop by in the summer time.

Greg Cole

Such an amazing garden. We walked out of there feeling relaxed, serene, calm and mellow. The tea ceremony was a delight to watch with lots of interesting history. This garden was designed beautifully and worth the small admission fee. This is not a botanical garden tho. The trees, landscape and water features are gorgeous and just to sit and listen and go through the garden slowly and experience the hide and reveal aspects is fun.

Ann Neumeyer

The Festival of Lights is a must see! Stunning! The people who take the time to set up the lights and the ice sculptor do a fantastic job!!!

Tanner Leavitt

We went to the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden during the winter light festival for our anniversary. Very beautiful garden with all the lights in the trees and snow on the ground, worth the visit.

Chris Harvey

Went to the Christmas Lights display and it was absolutely gorgeous. Not a lot to do necessarily, due to COVID, but the lights were well worth the visit. Would love to come in the spring and see the cherry blossoms. Highly recommend this destination to locals and tourists alike

Gregory Teed

Very beautiful gardens in Lethbridge. The tea house was built in Japan then disassembled and shipped over to Canada and put back together by Japanese specialists. The tea room tatami mats hide a smokeless sparkless chamber for heating. The park itself is well kept and is tranquil until someone gives the Bonsho (buddist bell) a tap.

Ahmet Numan Aral

A lovely Japanese mix-garden! It's a bit of a short tour but luckily we were on time for the free-admission! They definitely put in a lot of effort. I just wished there was a bit more to see and more activities, but I'm still happy to see this much! + shoutout to the guide (forgot his name :( ) who explained us some historical and traditional side of the culture based on these gardens to us. Made the trip complete with his knowledge and friendly chat!

Alvin Lee

Peaceful garden to get away from the noise of a busy life. Wish it was a little bigger bit there is plenty to admire from the neatly pruned trees and the architecture!

gordon jones

Great spot. Very serene and lots of information about Japanese gardens. Inside the tea pavilion was really interesting as well. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area. Wouldn't necessarily recommend for your kids though.

Sylvz E

This venue was the most amazing place to host a DREAM wedding. It is so beautiful of a location. Mana and Amy have been so wonderful through the whole wedding planning process. Thank you so much for allowing me to have my wedding there!!

Joel Rigby

Amazing Garden that is tranquil and absolutely pretty. Built in 1967 as a centennial project to commemorate the connections of Japan and Lethbridge. It does have fees to enter but it is well worth it to pay. Visit and be enthralled. Many Japanese cultural events on the weekends during the summer.

Lyle Isbister

What an enchanting and relaxing place! When I entered it was like a spell came over me. Complete calm and relaxation will wash over you as you slowly circulate through the garden. To me the biggest draw of this place is having an excuse to …

James Duncan

Drove with Calgary friends to Waterton Park. On the way back, they insisted we visit this Japanese Garden as a side trip. Well worth it. It's part of a very complete municipal recreation complex that I'd never expect to see in a modest size city. Very impressive. I was visiting from California. The presentation is detail oriented, pleasant, and pretty. Highly recommended.

Natalie Varga

Beautiful all year round. The new building with the cafe and gift shop is great.

Rudy De Obieta

About 3hrs from Calgary. A road trip, staycation. Place has ample parking. Parking spaces are the wide ones. Place is vast and beautiful. Very clean and peaceful. Place to relax,meditate. …

Dani Perry (Dinara)

Beautiful, well taken care ofJapanese garden. Feels like I am back in Japan. Staff is wonderful too.

Deral West

Such a beautiful place! I haven't been in over 20 years until taking my family to see the wonderful lights the other night.

Tammy-Lyn Landsiedel

You have to pay to see the garden they do offer drinks and snacks for additional fee but we did not want to pay to see it the park around it is nice though decent fishing location

Duncan Y Leung

This friendship garden is well worth your time to visit; the staff and tour guides are friendly and knowledgeable - a great place to learn about Japanese culture. The garden itself is nicely maintained and has five key areas to explore. Be sure to book tickets in advance and secure your timeslot, consider their Tomodachi ( Friendship) package to enjoy before or after your visit.

Matt Cortez

What a nice gem to come across in Lethbridge. When my wife and I arrived, we immediately felt like we were back in Japan. The upkeep is amazing and can tell they take pride in their work. The matcha green tea was wonderful as well. Overall, a must see when visiting and Lethbridge!

Hoggustina Hoop

Very nice little garden. Very nice and clean. Nice views, we spend around 50min walking around taking pictures and enjoying the tranquillity of this garden. Staff is very friendly.

Taha Ahmad

Visited it today, expectations were high and experience was low. Even though the staff was great, the area was packed with people but I don't know the winter light festival was not worth it at all, it's just like another Christmas light setup we witness on our streets, nothing more than that. The only good thing were the ice sculptures. I do however feel the visiting time for the Garden is definitely in spring when the sun shines on our heads and the grass is green. I really wanted to experience that google image that made me come down here, but we will be visiting around that time of the year soon. 3 stars for the great staff and zero for winter festival!

Cariboo ian

These gardens are beautiful and an opportunity to reflect. We arrived during the Lantern Festival. The golf course next door was a distraction but we ignored as best as we could. The garden water features were visually pleasing and the local trees being used to create a calming environment. A very positive experience while visiting Lethbridge

Jose Vazquez Diaz

This place is beautiful. Very peaceful and well maintained. Staff are very friendly and helpful. I was just a little disappointed by the size of the place. I was expecting it to be a lot bigger than what it is but I suppose it's already hard enough to keep gardens like these in pristine condition. It's just that we drove all the way from Calgary only to walk around the gardens in about 30 minutes. It's definitely worth a visit though.

Pete Wheeler

A beautiful spot. I recommend a visit if you're in the Lethbridge area.

Jen Schnell

Absolutely amazing experience. Beautiful and serene, you'd never know you were in the city! Gives you a real taste of what a traditional Japanese Garden is like. I could spend all day there if I could! 10/10 would go back

Jacky Lam

In order to feel the Tokyo Olympic, the best way is to visit Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden in Lethbridge! They have a small indoor exhibition to show the newest Olympic logo on kimono,plus the medal design of the first Tokyo Olympic from the 1964 and etc. The garden is so peace and quiet during weekdays. It's nice to have photo shooting in there. I actually saw two beautiful young ladies doing selfie there, wish to see their point of view of this Japanese Garden.

Tyler Campagna

If you need a place to escape, unwind and just take in the beauty, look no further than Nikka Yuko. The gardens feature many Japanese traditions and ceremonies that can be observed or participated in and it's a wonderful cultural learning experience. Ps. Check out the winter lights festival around Christmas for a magical experience.

Lisa M. Smith

It is time well spent to visit this beautiful, serene, and peaceful space. The manicured gardens and waterways are a joy to explore and experience. Make sure to make a wish and ring the bell!

David Findlay

A very lovely place. The tea house is great. Very peaceful. Lots of places to sit and rest as you walk. Reasonable entrance fee ($9.00 for seniors).

Elisa Navarette

It's very authentic and pretty, but I paid $40 for myself and my two kids and nobody gave me an overview of what was going on they just told me to please stay off the grass. So we walked around inside, saw the store and left.

Sara Javidi

It's a beautiful garden and highlight of the town. The tea house is not working now but there are very informative guides there that explain all about the history of the place and there are screens that play sumo competition. I learned a lot about it from the guide.

Lior Blockstein

Great experience. They have special Christmas lights, usually starts end November. Amazing stuff highly recommended.

TJ

What a beautiful, peaceful space. The day was sunny and warm, the staff were knowledgeable about the garden's history and I wish I had more time to spend there. The shady, tastefully trimmed trees and bushes, gentle flow of water and delicate floral aromas create a soothing backdrop for a pleasant stroll along a well maintained pathway with well situated spots to sit or just stop and enjoy the scenery. The pavilion provides access to a calm and frequently changing rock garden, viewed from an open doorway and a surprisingly comfortable ledge. A few exhibits detailing the garden's construction and creators is presented, along with a tea room. The minimalism only serves to enhance the serenity. Upon exiting the pavilion, an amazing waterfall nestled into the landscaping greets you, inviting you to linger before making your way back to the entrance/exit. The only downside (and I was told is in the works) was a lack of location specific souvenirs in the gift shop. I like to collect keychains, or other small items from the places I visit and sadly the only items available that were indicative of the garden were postcards.

RMA

Absolutely beautiful day. The gardens are so calm and peaceful. My friends and I spent an enjoyable morning walking around the garden and relaxing on the benches listening to the quiet sounds of water falling

Ryan Corbett

Very peaceful and beautiful walk, very reasonably priced. I look forward to their new building being completed and going back to check that out!! Advertised guided tours and were short staffed the day we went so no guided tours, that's the only reason they lost a star. There was a wedding there the day we went and that was pretty cool to see all set up, it was mostly unintrusive to our experience and they were also respectful. To the newly weds Congrats!

danielle kim

I visited nikka yuko garden while on a work trip in Lethbridge. It was a nice way to end a hectic day. The garden was beautifully designed with all the elements of zen! I was refreshed after walking around the garden.

RR R

A great place to be quiet and reflective. Let your hearing lead you.

Lisa Francoeur

Wonderful place to reconnect with yourself and slow your mind. Lovely tour guide shares a glimpse of Japanese culture. Very peaceful way to spend a few hours.

Gregory Holmes

The gardens are always so beautiful. The lights were lovely and the kids thoroughly enjoyed the gong. A must see!

R McK

If we lived in Lethbridge I commented that I would take out a yearly membership and come down to the garden whenever I needed to mellow out, relax, and meditate. It was a gorgeous experience and we are glad that we chose to visit this facility. The people who worked there as hosts and also horticulturalists were extremely friendly when we had questions.

Lisa Selinger

Had so much fun today at the Mamosa brunch! All the staff were super friendly and informative. The brunch was delicious and the scenery beautiful! Lots of time to take numerous photos and enjoy the gardens. We enjoyed watching the tea ceremony. Thank you all so much for a great morning!

Bernadette BTS

Had so much fun , amazing place , but less activity,

Edel

Fantastic little 30 min break from driving. Easy walk around with amazing views and interesting history. The cookies were great too lol

Jeremy Gair

Winter offers an extraordinary venue as almost every tree and bush near a pathway will be decorated. Great time is taken to accommodate the venue goers with various propane heaters and fireplaces throughout. One can also get a a hot beverage ( hot chocolate, white hot chocolate, or apple cider, all with optional flavor shot) and cookie included. There are various interactive events going on throughout the evening one may also partake in. Also new this year is sleigh rides. This definitely is a must but ensure you have cash on hand as that part only takes cash. All in all a great way to spend a spare evening.

Andrew Black

It's very pretty. It's $11 for an adult ticket. It's somewhat small but if you walk slow, you can take it all in. Very important you know the symbolism for everything to really appreciate it. However they are enforcing masks for the Japanese house; even if you have a legitimate medical exemption.

Domi w

Small park with Japanese style. But I can't feel a real Japanese taste. Walking several steps and Sitting to have a look, then change a view with every tree . That is a view a step and view changes following your heart.

Taniya Perera

This is beautiful and peaceful Japanese garden . Amazing landscaping and well preserved . Very peaceful . We visited during noon but , it will be better if the visit was early morning so you can enjoy more peace. You can sit and enjoy the peace and environment . Listen to the sound the flowing water. It is not very large can cover within a maximum of 40 mts. I truly wish if it could be expanded.

ibrahim ibric

Absolutely love it one think they missing is actually restaurant when you can seat and eat traditional Japanese food

Eva Anderson

The winter light show was absolutely amazing and New year's for the ringing of the Bell couldn't be any more beautiful and traditional, thank you for another great year 2020