Seattle Japanese Garden

10/15/2026

Each day the fall colors of our Maple Collection unfold a bit more at the Garden. Be sure to visit this month to catch them at the height of their beauty. 🗓️🖋️🍁

📸 Jose Gonzales - SJG Gardener

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10/08/2026

It's autumn already-
the first leaves
drizzle onto the stones

-Morikawa Kyoriku (1656 -1715)
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秋もは岩にしぐれて初紅葉

-森川許六 (1656 -1715)

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09/29/2026

Closing the paper screen
feeling the fall leaves
in all directions

-Hoshino Ritsuko

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障子しめて四方の紅葉を感じをり

-星野立子

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09/24/2026

October's Free First Thursday is a week away!

On October 1 Seattle Japanese Garden welcomes Michael Dylan Welch of Haiku Society of America to lead an autumn themed haiku workshop as we celebrate the change of seasons.

Guests can attend one of two 85-minute sessions at 2:00pm or 3:30pm, respectively. These sessions will include classroom time to review the basic structure and poetic voice of haiku, a walk through the Garden and an opportunity to share the pieces you’ve composed with fellow participants. This is an excellent opportunity to learn haiku from an experienced and accomplished poet.

Admission is free on Free First Thurdays from 12:00pm - Close (5:00pm in October). Final entry 45 minutes before close.

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09/23/2026

The Ishigaki Wall and Accessible Pathway project was featured in last night's Evening Magazine segment on King 5 News. Hear project updates from our Head Gardener, Andrea Gillespie and learn more about this once-in-a-generation update to the Garden!

Master stonemasons used centuries-old techniques to construct the s...

09/22/2026

Summer is over
its heat sent to the Harvest Moon-
let's enjoy the coolness

-Matsuo Bashō (1644 - 1694)
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夏かけて名月暑き涼み哉

-松尾芭蕉

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09/17/2026

Last Thursday we gathered to bid farewell to lead stonemason Suminori Awata and a majority of the crew from Green Man Builders as the ishigaki wall portion of our Ishigaki Wall and Accessible Pathway project nears completion. This historic transformation of the Garden would not have been possible without the hard work and expertise of these master craftsman. We thank you all for your concerted effort and artistry in building this ishigaki wall.

粟田さん、Green Man Buildersの皆様、長い間熱心に行われた作業と美しい作品を心より感謝しております。🙇

From here, Kyle Schlagenhauf from Green Man Builders (Kyle Schlagenhauf ) will be leading a smaller crew to build the stone pathway on the northern shore of our central pond. This new path will improve accessibility of the Garden loop to people of all mobility needs for generations to come.

Visit the Garden this fall to witness this project continue to unfold! 🗓️

📸 by Holly Cuaresma (Holly Cuaresma )

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09/15/2026

Last week the major portion of the ishigaki wall was completed by Suminori Awata and the crew from Green Man Builders. While some work remains, the team will largely be focused on chiseling and refining the angles of the masterfully laid stones.

The first photograph in this carousel features the two lead stonemasons, Kyle Schlagenhauf and Mr. Awata, working side-by-side to beautify the stones. Kyle is chiseling the Anōshū kokuin (刻印) or "engraved seal" into the wall, hand-drawn by Mr. Awata. This seal is found on castle and temple walls throughout Japan to denote a structure built by Mr. Awata's centuries old Anōshū group.

From here the project will turn towards constructing the accessible pathway along the northern shoreline of the pond to improve access for people of all mobility needs for generations to come. 🪨⛏️🚧

Visit the Garden this fall to continue watching this historic transformation unfold. 🗓️

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09/02/2026

Talking to Stones | Anoshu Ishigaki Wall Construction Presentation & Demo

Sunday, September 13, 2026
10:00AM - 12:00PM
Seattle Japanese Garden

Join us for a rare opportunity to listen and talk to stones at the Seattle Japanese Garden. The builders of the new ishigaki wall - the 15th generation Anoshu stonemason of Awata Construction Inc. from Shiga, Japan and Suminori Awata and a stonemason artisan, Kyle Schlagenhauf of the Green Man Builders from Arcata, California —will be sharing the stories of the Seattle Japanese Garden's Ishigaki Wall Project and the highly skilled technique of working with the stones.

*This event is intended for participants currently working in the landscape industry with prior experience or strong interest working with stones.

• Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
• Time: 10am-12p
• Fee $45 ($35 NAJGA members)
• Capacity: Up to 20 participants
• Required: Bring your own PPE (hard hat, safety glasses, sturdy closed-toe shoes) if you are interested in seeing the demo close-up in the construction zone.

Sign up from the link here:

https://www.seattlejapanesegarden.org/events-calendar/2026/9/13/talkingtostones

09/02/2026

By the end of this week the stone-setting phase of our Ishigaki Wall and Accessible Pathway project will be complete. The process is a work of art, with each unique stone's placement being selected by 15th generation master stonemason, Suminori Awata (粟田 純徳 ) in collaboration with Kyle Schlagenhauf .

We are honored to feature their work in the Garden for generations to come and look forward to witnessing the greenery embrace it. Be sure to visit this week to witness this once-in-a-lifetime project unfold. The next opportunity won't be for a few centuries... 🚧🪨⚒️

📸 by Sarai S, student photographer with Youth in Focus (Seattle, WA)

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