I thought the Dawes Arboretum Japanese Garden in Newark, OH, was going to be a small garden, but once I entered the garden, I was pleasantly surprised.
Part of a much larger meticulously maintained arboretum that was created in 1929, the Japanese garden was designed by landscape architect Makoto Nakamura and built in 1963. The garden consists of 17 acres total, with four distinct Japanese garden styles: hills and pond, karesansui (a dry landscape), a resting house, and a hide and reveal.
In 2015, the garden reopened after a two-year restoration that emphasized the original design. A new concrete walkway looks natural and accommodates the Americans With Disabilities Act. Additionally, the large resting house was restored and is constructed using traditional techniques. Large boulders along the edge of the pond were reset, and the steppingstone bridge across the pond restored to make them safer to cross.
Overall, the garden is spectacular and its authenticity well established. I was the only person present for the entire morning, and it was one of the most pleasant garden experiences I have ever had. The Dawes Arboretum Japanese Garden is now one of my favorite gardens in North America.
