A slice of Japanese tranquillity in the centre of Adelaide

Just a short walk from the centre of Adelaide is a delightful surprise: a tranquil Japanese garden that is free to enter and offers a perfect location for some quiet contemplation.

Originally built to honour the Japanese city of Himeji - which became one of Adelaide’s sister cities in 1982 – the garden on show in this little oasis was the work of Japanese landscape designer Yoshitaka Kumada and many volunteers.

Enter through ornate gates and discover a little slice of Japan in Park 1, one of the southern parts of the Adelaide Parklands. You can purify yourself by using a chozubachi, or traditional water bowl.

The garden contains features which are of religious significance to the Japanese people and contains features designed to reflect the beauty of nature.

It is a blend of two classic styles. The first is the senzui (lake and mountain garden), where water and the imagination create images of vastness and grandeur. The second is the kare senzui (dry garden), where rocks and sand evoke the presence of water.

There is a lovely small lake at the centre of the park, which is fed by a mini waterfall.

Himeji, 650km west of Tokyo, is a beautiful city with a historic castle that I was fortunate enough to have visited a couple of years ago

The park is beautifully maintained and open from 8am daily.