Event: First Viewing of the Seattle Japanese Garden

Every year the Seattle Japanese Garden (est. 1960) holds a First Viewing--a re-opening event welcoming the general public inside the gates for the first time since the garden closed for the winter.

It was $6 admission to the event, same as the usual entry fee (annual membership is only $20, I probably should have paid for that instead!).

The first event was a Shinto blessing by someone from the Tsubaki Grand Shrine in Granite Falls, WA (who knew there was a Shrine in Granite falls!?). Unfortunately, it took place just outside the garden rather than inside the garden due to concerns about the weather (it was not a nice day).

After that, we just explored the garden!

If you are interested in Japanese gardens and live near Seattle, I hear the Kubota Garden in South Seattle is also fantastic (and free).