MORIKAMI JAPANESE MUSEUM AND GARDENS

The Morikami Japanese Museum and Gardens is great place to visit if you are in the southern part of Florida. Located in Del Ray Beach, this place offers a glimpse of the Japanese culture and showcases different Japanese gardens that are based on the different eras of Japan. There is also an amazing bonsai garden for you to enjoy.

Walking through the different gardens takes you back through time as each garden was inspired by famous garden styles throughout Japan’s history. There are different accents in the gardens such as pagodas, rocks, and lanterns. The hiking trail going through the gardens takes you around a lake that is full of wildlife. Birds and iguanas are plentiful here. There is also the occasional alligator to remind you that you are still in Florida. Waterfalls and bridges are scattered along the trail, offering great photo opportunities.

Watch the YOUTUBE video of our visit: https://youtu.be/82mE_x0ZyJA

The museum displays an impressive collection of Japanese art and artifacts. These exhibitions feature Japan’s diverse culture and change throughout the year.

You can easily spend three hours exploring the gardens here. When you are ready to eat, the Cornell Cafe offers open-air dining with a view of the gardens. To complete the Japanese culture experience, you can avail of their sushi, tempura, and other Japanese-inspired selections.

The Morikami hosts different events and classes regularly. There is an authentic tea house, the Seishin-an, where tea ceremonies are performed monthly. They also have Sumi-e sessions weekly. Sumi-e means “charcoal drawing” and it is a Japanese ink painting method. There other activities that aim to promote Japanese arts and culture to their audiences. A visit here gives you a glimpse and appreciation of Japanese culture.

Have you ever been here or is this a place you would like to visit? Let me know in the comments. Thanks for reading!