Japan in London: Kyoto Garden, Holland Park

Holland Park is a very interesting one with so much British history. It was formerly a part of Holland House and incorporates what is left over from the 17th to 19th centuries. In keeping with my summer theme of pottering around and discovering London, Kyoto Garden was next on my list. Kyoto Garden is situated in London’s Holland Park and is modelled after a typical park in Kyoto, Japan.

London is quite culturally diverse. Therefore it is not surprising to find a Japanese style garden in the city. Just imagine a lush piece of Japan nestled within pure English beauty! That’s what Kyoto Garden in Holland Park reminds me of.

History of Kyoto Garden

It was a 22-acre gift from Kyoto to celebrate the friendship between Japan and the UK. It was open in 1991 and is very well curated and designed to resemble gardens in Japan. Kyoto Garden was donated by the Chamber of Commerce of Kyoto. It was created in recognition of the Japan Festival held in London in 1992. Some of the popular Japanese features I spotted were the stone lanterns and tiered waterfalls. Oh the rock waterfall was stunning! Then, I spotted some Japanese maple trees as well.

As Kyoto is popularly known for its beautiful traditional gardens, Kyoto Garden in London’s Holland Park mirrors this.

Holland Park is open from 7.30am and entrance is free.

How to get to Kyoto Garden

Kyoto Garden is situated within Holland Park, Holland Park Avenue, Kensington W11 4UA. The closest train station is Holland Park underground station.

Holland Park is open from 7.30am and entrance is free.

It was a sunny Saturday and I met up with my friend just outside the station. Then we walked just under 10 minutes to the park. As soon as I stepped into Kyoto Garden, I gasped. It reminded me of Japanese parks or at least, what I would expect a Japanese park to look like. Since I had not been to Kyoto or Japan as a whole, I did my googles prior. I wanted to know what a Japanese garden looked like before visiting the garden. The plan was to judge for myself if it did live up to expectations.

Wildlife in Kyoto Garden, Holland Park

Peacocks, squirrels, birds and of course plenty of fish. The pond just by the waterfall had the most beautiful and colourful fishes swimming around. I spotted a number of Koi Carps swimmingly living their best lives. Then the garden supervisor would throw fish food into the pond and the fishes would scramble to eat. It was so fascinating to watch.

Picnic at Kyoto Gardens?

Picnics are not allowed as sitting on the grass is prohibited. Dogs are also not allowed due to the wildlife in the garden. However, there are a few benches around for sitting around and having a chit chat with friends.

The Fukushima Garden

The Fukushima Garden is another Japan-inspired garden next to Kyoto Garden. It was opened in 2012 to commemorate the gratitude of the Japanese people for their support following the Fukushima natural disaster in 2011.

“Building Bridges”

The stairs were built, once again, as a celebration of friendship. This time, between the Fukushima Garden in Holland park and the English Garden in Motomiya City. It was installed in 2017.

There is a lot of bromance going on between London and Japan as we can see.

Holland Park: A surprise Dutch Garden

As I was taking pictures of Kyoto Garden, the garden supervisor came up to me and told us about the Dutch Garden. Of course, I walked over there and was immediately in awe. It was so stunning and colourful. There were tribute benches littered around with memories inscribed on them. I read a few – from happy quotes to those in memoriam. It was a beautiful garden.

Now, I cannot confirm for certain that the Dutch Garden is inspired by the Netherlands. However, in my head, I visited both Japan and Netherlands on that Saturday! Who is asking?

Conclusion

London is a surprising city. When most people think of London, they think about Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. Don’t get me wrong, those are essential parts of London. But there is so much more to this beautiful city. London is home to a fantastic number of green spaces just like the Kyoto Garden in Holland Park. So much history just a stone’s throw from bustling Kensington High Street. 

After seeing all this, who needs to book a flight to Japan?

Just kidding! I’d still love to visit Japan and Kyoto in particular. If anything, this visit reignited my craving for wanderlust. This time, to Kyoto. I was transported in the period I was in the garden but it probably could never compare to being in Kyoto, Japan.

It was definitely worth the visit. Kyoto Garden is a slice of tranquility and complete zen. There is a quiet in the surrounding gardens even when it gets quite busy. I suppose everyone is respectful of what the gardens represent. Or like me, soaking it all in and snapping away.

So who is visiting Japan in London? I hope you are!

Bisous, ‘Bugo x

For more ideas on what to do in London:

The Best brunch spots in London | MadHatters Afternoon Tea party for 2 | What to see at London’s West End

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