By Lorilyn Lirio
The Yashiro Japanese Garden, a symbol of Olympia’s sister relationship with the city of Kato, will close on June 1.
The city announced the closure as it prepares to move on from its current site on Plum Street SE, which is part of a property sale to the Squaxin Island Tribe.
In April 2024, the city council approved the sale of the 10.47-acre property at 900 Plum St. SE to the Squaxin Island Tribe for $8.2 million. The property, commonly known as the Lee Creighton Justice Center, housed city services, including the Olympia Municipal Court.
The campus also includes the Yashiro Japanese Garden, the Plum Street Tiny Home Village, the Olympia Police Department’s evidence storage, and a Saturday waste drop-off site.
According to a city press release issued on April 3, the new garden is expected to be smaller and could take several years to plan and build. The garden’s features, including stone elements and select plantings, will be preserved and incorporated into a future site.
“The new location will continue to honor this Sister City relationship. The city is coordinating with our Sister City and the Olympia area’s Japanese community to understand how this transition creates opportunities for collaboration and deepened cultural connection,” the city said.
The garden was dedicated on May 6, 1990. It was the result of a joint effort between the Olympia-Yashiro Sister City Association and the City of Olympia, with 75 volunteers contributing to its construction over two years.
Designed by Robert Murase, the garden reflects traditional Japanese design principles, emphasizing harmony with nature through careful placement of stone, water and plants.
The press release states the relocation will create an opportunity to reconsider how the garden can integrate with the surrounding community. Plans for the future site will consider environmental conditions, accessibility, and reflect cultural ties to Japan and the local Japanese American community.
The city plans to hire a landscape designer with expertise in Japanese garden design to help lead a public process that will determine the site and overall vision. The planning and development process is expected to take several years.
Comments are closed.