Mount Holyoke College (Wa-Shin-An Meditation Garden And Teahouse)

I have been trying to visit Wa Shin An, the Japanese teahouse/garden at Mount Holyoke College, for several years. Unfortunately, I was never able to squeeze in a visit during their open hours. The garden/teahouse is well hidden and located on the top floor of Eliot House.

The architecture and garden design are all authentically Japanese. Designed as a meditative space, the garden and teahouse serve this purpose well. Once inside, one forgets that they are in an college building and are taken away to a serene and tranquil place. The open-sky garden helps to create the experience of not being within a larger building structure. It is well worth seeing if you can fit the visit into their schedule of open hours.

Website: https://www.mtholyoke.edu/religiouslife/wa_shin_an