The Seattle Japanese Garden is hosting two nights of Moon Viewing again! On both nights, the garden is magically lit up with lanterns and luminaries welcoming the arrival of the full moon in Japanese tradition.

The Seattle Japanese Garden is hosting two nights of Moon Viewing again! On both nights, the garden is magically lit up with lanterns and luminaries welcoming the arrival of the full moon in Japanese tradition.

For the August Free First Thursday, Wandering and Wondering returns to Seattle Japanese Garden for Butoh performance! Throughout the three-hour event since 2010, you will encounter dancers and musicians dispersed in surprising locations in the garden. Wandering and Wondering is a sensory feast not to be missed. Entry to the garden will be FREE all day.

Join us for a summer evening of jazz and sake in the beautiful Seattle Japanese Garden!

Trumpeter, composer, educator, and recording artist Jun Iida (Joon Ee-da) has quickly established himself as a highly sought after musician.  Iida has performed extensively throughout the U.S. and Japan at notable jazz clubs, theaters, and festivals with his sextet and as a sideman.

Jun will be joined by the musicians below for the night.

Jun Iida (trumpet)

Greg Feingold (bass)

Sutton Marley (drums)

Matt Williams (keys) 

The Seattle Japanese Garden is hosting two nights of Moon Viewing again! On both nights, the garden is magically lit up with lanterns and luminaries welcoming the arrival of the full moon in Japanese tradition.

Please stay tuned and check back here for more information!

The Seattle Japanese Garden is hosting two nights of Moon Viewing again! On both nights, the garden is magically lit up with lanterns and luminaries welcoming the arrival of the full moon in Japanese tradition.

Please stay tuned and check back here for more information!

For the August Free First Thursday, Wandering and Wondering returns to Seattle Japanese Garden for Butoh performance! Throughout the three-hour event, you will encounter dancers and musicians dispersed in surprising locations in the garden. Wandering and Wondering is a sensory feast not to be missed. Entry to the garden will be FREE all day.

Join us for Garden Party - Festival for the Senses, the evening of music, art, Japanese food and drink in the lush and tranquil setting of the garden that will awaken your senses like never before!

Garden Party is the Seattle Japanese Garden’s biennial fundraiser. Proceeds support affordable public access to the garden, as well as the specialized needs of the garden, including cultural events, garden stewardship volunteer programs and community outreach. 

Stay tuned for more information and mark your calendars for the Festival for the Senses!

Enjoy an evening of music in the Seattle Japanese Garden during our Cellos in the Garden performance! On June 25th we are featuring an open air performance by classical musicians on the Moon Viewing Platform. This special one-night-only performance will feature our own Principal and Assistant Principal cellists of the Seattle Symphony, Efe Baltacigil and Nathan Chan performing as a cello duo.

This very special opportunity is a fundraiser for the Seattle Japanese Garden in partnership with Puget Sound Music Collaborative in advance of our July maintenance closure (July 10th-August 9th). The garden gate will open at 6:00 p.m. with the performance starting at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets to this event will go on sale June 10th.

For Free First Thursday in June, Seattle Japanese Garden welcomes back the annual site-specific event Wandering & Wondering, butoh performance, lead by Joan Laage/Kogut Butoh.

The ambient trio Gyre will join the dancers who will be dispersed in surprising locations throughout the garden engaging in a minute-by-minute responses to all the scents, sounds and sights of the garden.

Admission to the garden is FREE all day for Free First Thursday. Meet the artist from 4-6:45pm in the Tateuchi Community Room.

*Final entry to the garden is 45 minutes before closing.

The Seattle Japanese Garden is hosting two nights of Moon Viewing again! On both nights, the garden is magically lit up with lanterns and luminaries welcoming the arrival of the full moon in Japanese tradition.

Please stay tuned and check back here for more information!

The Seattle Japanese Garden is hosting two nights of Moon Viewing again! On both nights, the garden is magically lit up with lanterns and luminaries welcoming the arrival of the full moon in Japanese tradition.

Please stay tuned and check back here for more information!

>>> This event is sold out. <<<

An evening of exploring the world of Butoh with DAIPANbutoh Collective offered by the Seattle Japanese Garden. This virtual event introduces you to the art and history of Butoh in Japan, Seattle, and the Seattle Japanese Garden. The evening’s presentation also offers you an opportunity to see the special footage of the garden and dancers recently recorded during the peak of beautiful summer season in 2020 that many of you may have missed.

Join Seattle Rep and other local arts organizations for an afternoon of performance, discussion, and interactive activities in the Seattle Japanese Garden. The multi-disciplinary performances will offer a different perspective on the climate crisis, while interactive discussion-based activities for adults and children will stimulate in-depth conversation on this crucial topic. Leave with the inspiration and tools to take action. All ages welcome.

Origami, Maple Scavenger Hunt and Kamishibai Theater!

“The Moon Princess | Kaguyahime (かぐや姫)” also known as the Story of the Bamboo Cutter, is a story of a girl magically born from a bamboo stalk. Approx. 15 min. will be told using a traditional street theater style.

Self-guided Maple Tour Brochures will be available at the gatehouse all day.

11 am - 1 pm Maple Scavenger Hunt & Maple Origami

11:15 am | 12pm Taiko Performance by Seattle Kokon Taiko

1:15 pm Naginata Demonstration by Pacific Northwest Naginata Federation

Self-guided Maple Tour Brochures will be available at the gatehouse all day. 11 am - 1 pm Maple Scavenger Hunt & Maple Origami.

Maple Festival is finally here! To celebrate the start of this popular festival, we’re excited to welcome you to the opening reception for an eye-opening watercolor collection by a group of artists from the Seattle Parks and Recreation's Dementia-Friendly Recreation program.

Opening reception is on Thursday, October 3, from 3-4:45pm in the Tateuchi Community Room. Admission to the garden is FREE after 1pm for Free First Thursday. Light refreshments provided.

The Seattle Japanese Garden is hosting two nights on Moon Viewing this year welcoming the arrival of the full moon in Japanese tradition. Day 2 (SATURDAY) will feature live a performance by SANCA, koto ensemble, traditional Japanese dance and more!

The Seattle Japanese Garden is hosting two nights on Moon Viewing this year welcoming the arrival of the full moon in Japanese tradition. Day 1 (FRIDAY) will feature live butoh, traditional Okinawan music & dance and more!

Bring your family to experience the world of kendama in the garden!

Kendama is a traditional Japanese toy that originally became popular during the Edo period. Kendama regained its popularity in recent years and competitions are held in many parts of the world.

Join us on Saturday, August 10, 11am-1pm for a demonstration and a fun family-friendly kendama experience lead by the 2018 Gloken Kendama World Cup winner, Nick Gallagher, and his twin brother, Zack Gallagher.

Free garden admission to all youth 12 and younger from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for Family Saturday.

An exhibit featuring photographs of the annual site-specific event Wandering and Wondering held at the Seattle Japanese Garden and other Butoh artists will open on August 1.

This Free First Thursday event will also feature a 3-hour Butoh performance in which takes place throughout the garden.

Join us on Thursday, August 2 from 3:30 – 6:30pm and explore the world of Butoh. Admission to the garden is free for everyone after 1pm for Free First Thursday.

Join us on Saturday, June 15th for a production of Kamishibai story-telling by Cory Southwell and students of the Youth Theatre Northwest.

Kamishibai is a form of Japanese street theatre that was popularized in the early 1900’s and through the Great Depression. Kamishibai stories were told through a series of 12-16 large paper panels placed in a wooden frame strapped to the back of a bicycle to make it easy to transport from town to town.

6/15 Performance Schedule:

First Set @11:00 a.m.: “The Three Magic Charms” & “The Wizard of Oz”

Second Set @12:00 p.m.: “The Kappa and the Carpenter” & “The Ogre That Wanted to be Human”

Free admission to all youth 12 and younger from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for Family Saturday.

For the August Free First Thursday, Wandering and Wondering returns to Seattle Japanese Garden for its 8th annual Butoh performance! Throughout the three-hour event, you will encounter dancers and musicians dispersed in surprising locations in the garden. Wandering and Wondering is a sensory feast not to be missed. Entry to the garden will be FREE from 3PM until closing. Refreshments provided.

Feelings and curiosity - Finding a way through or hiding in the garden?

We are pleased to welcome Wandering and Wondering, for their 7th Annual Butoh performance directed by Joan Laage of Kogut Butoh. Visitors will encounter dancers and musicians dispersed in surprising locations throughout the garden. Experience the beauty and tranquility through the performers’ response to all the sensations they encounter in the garden.