Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre facts for kids
The Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre is a beautiful garden in Cowra, a town in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. This large garden, about 5 hectares (12 acres) in size, was created to celebrate the special friendship between the people of Cowra Shire and the people of Japan.
What is the Cowra Japanese Garden Like?
The garden was designed by a famous expert named Ken Nakajima. It's built in the style of the Edo period from Japan, like a strolling garden. This means you can walk around and discover different beautiful spots.
The garden has rocky hills, neatly trimmed hedges, flowing waterfalls, gentle streams, and calm lakes. It's a very peaceful place. Many kinds of water birds also live there.
Some special things you can see include a large bell called a Bonshō. There's also a traditional Edo-style cottage and a real open-air tea house. You can also visit a special house just for Bonsai trees, which are tiny trees grown in pots.
Why is the Garden in Cowra?
The story of the garden began in 1960. The Japanese Government decided to bring the remains of all their soldiers from other parts of Australia to be buried in Cowra. Cowra already had a cemetery for 231 Japanese soldiers. These soldiers had died during the 1944 Cowra breakout from a nearby prisoner of war camp.
After World War II, members of the Cowra Returned and Services League of Australia looked after the Japanese War Cemetery. In 1963, the cemetery was officially given to Japan.
In 1971, the Cowra Tourism Development group wanted to celebrate this unique connection to Japan. They suggested building a Japanese garden in the town. The Japanese government agreed to help. They wanted to show their thanks for the respectful way their soldiers' remains were treated. The Australian government and private groups also gave money to help build the garden.
The Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre first opened in 1979. A second part of the garden was finished and opened in 1986.
Fun Festivals and Events
Every year, the garden hosts a special event called Sakura Matsuri. This is a cherry blossom festival held in September. It celebrates the arrival of spring with beautiful flowers.
The garden also holds other fun festivals. These include Girl's Day and Boy's Day festivals. You can also watch traditional tea ceremonies. The centre offers demonstrations and workshops on Japanese crafts. These include calligraphy (beautiful writing), origami (paper folding), and Ikebana (flower arranging). There are also talks about the garden itself.
