Normandale Japanese Garden: A Peaceful Escape in Bloomington, MN
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You’ll never believe one of the most delightful Japanese gardens is tucked in next to Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Paved paths wind past water features, bridges, islands, stone lanterns, pruned trees, and a waterfall, all while koi move through the ponds below.
The best part is that this is totally free to visit. Unless you count the quarters to feed the koi fish.
The garden is a wonderful place for a quick walk, do photography, a little time to yourself, or just a chance to see something unexpected and beautiful before leaving the Twin Cities.
We love finding local places like this when we’re traveling close to home, and on longer road trips. For us, this is one we can visit frequently. It’s pretty every season.
Why Visit Normandale Japanese Garden?
The first thing you’ll notice is that even though you’re in a busy city, it’s totally tranquil and peaceful.
Normandale Japanese Garden was designed as a Japanese strolling garden, with water, rocks, plants, bridges, and structures, and carefully planned views all working together rather than simply functioning as individual decorations.
The result is a garden that encourages visitors to just be, slow down, stroll, and enjoy the nature and beauty that surrounds visitors.
Some of the distinctive features to discover include:
- A waterfall
- Three islands
- Four bridges
- Three stone lanterns
- A garden wall and entrance gate
- The Bentendo pavilion
- Ponds and streams
- Meticulously manicured trees and shrubs
- Koi swimming about
More than 300 plants, trees, and shrubs are meant to survive a climate very different from Japan’s. Each plant, tree, and shrub was carefully chosen to survive the four seasons we have here in Minnesota, including often harsh winters.
Notice the trees and plants with different green tones and textures. They’re pruned to take on the aesthetic goals of a Japanese Garden. The plants chosen for this particular garden aren’t traditional Japanese garden choices, but were selected to withstand a harsh, cold Minnesota winter.
A Japanese Garden Built for Minnesota
If you’re like us, you were very curious about how this garden came to be and wondered about its history.
Plans for the Normandale Japanese Garden at Normandale Community College began taking shape in 1967. The Bloomington Affiliate Garden Club raised the funds, collaborated with the campus, and donated the land. This land included a portion of the 20-acre Green Heron Pond, also known as a swamp.
Landscape architect Takao Watanabe was involved in the design. Watanabe had been the landscape architect for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and his design incorporated many of the elements traditionally associated with Japanese gardens.
The land on the Normandale campus was perfect as it was part of a large pond, and the surrounding water became an important part of the finished landscape.
Today, the garden encompasses about two acres and remains a community-supported part of the Normandale campus.
Don’t Miss the Bentendo
One of the most recognized and photographed structures in the garden is the Bentendo, a small hexagonal pavilion with red accents surrounded by water.
The structure is named for Benten, a Japanese goddess associated with wealth, happiness, wisdom, and music.
It’s perfectly positioned so that when you enter through the gates, you can’t help but notice it. The garden’s bridges, islands, and buildings aren’t placed randomly. They’re part of the overall design, and what we love is how different it looks from every angle across the seasons.
Look for the Koi
If you enjoy watching koi, be sure to spend time looking into the water.
The garden is home to around 20 colorful koi that roam freely between the lagoon and pool, swimming beneath bridges and around rocks.
During the season, you can purchase koi food at the entrance and feed the fish. This is really the only entrance fee if you choose to feed the koi fish. The garden currently lists koi feeding from May through October, with food available for 50 cents.
The beauty of a Japanese Garden
One of the cool things about a Japanese garden is how the design emphasizes things like texture and shape, water and stone, and space. Lots of space but in a tiny space. It’s not packed with flowers; rather, it has beautiful flower accents. In the spring, flowering trees.
A Peaceful Break
You don’t need a huge block of time. You could easily walk through in under 30 minutes if that’s all you had but it’s especially nice to slow down and enjoy, as much as time allows during your visit.
Sit near the water, watch the koi, read a book, just notice nature. Enjoy yourself! You’ll want to visit in every season to see the different blooms.
Getting to Normandale Japanese Garden
Best Time To Visit?
The Garden is open spring, summer, and fall from sunrise to sunset. We don’t think there’s a bad season to visit. It’s going to be pretty whenever you decide.
Ding Duster pro tip, as always, is to arrive early on weekdays for a chance to have the place to yourself.
Plan Your Trip to Normandale Japanese Garden in Bloomington, MN
