Shigematsu Memorial Garden

Located on the campus of Lansing Community College, in Lansing, Michigan, the Shigematsu Memorial Garden is a wonderful place for people to relax in a tranquil setting. The garden was constructed in 2006 and honors the late Megumi Shigematsu who as president of the Biwako Kisen Company, supported the the college's programs in Japan.

Website: https://www.lcc.edu/about/locations/downtown/shigematsu.html

The garden contains a number of authentically inspired elements of Japanese gardening - Koi pond, lanterns, moon viewing platform, water fall, and stroll-able paths. Given these features, and the garden size, it is remarkably well maintained (with a few exceptions).

Upon entering, one encounters a Tsukubai coin-shaped basin and lantern. This is a nice feature and appropriately placed. However, the nearby planting had become over grown and the water feature disabled (in fact, the bamboo spout was not aligned with the basin at all and I had to realign in for this photo).

Nearby was a Karesansui gravel bed for raking, and a rake for doing so. A nice feature, but this area needed some cleaning and care.

The largest feature was the central koi-filled pond. The moon viewing platform was a nice addition along the edge of the pond. This is a type of feature that I do not commonly see, so it was a nice surprise.

Behind the pond is a hill with a waterfall that flows under a granite bridge. At the top of the hill are a series of stones symbolically representing Horai-san, a mountain where spiritually awakened people live.

There are also two islands representing a "turtle" and crane" within the pond (although they were a bit difficult to identify). 

Two lanterns are located within the garden, including a small misaki lantern and a much larger yukimi snow lantern.

The layout of the garden incorporated authentic examples of a Japanese garden design, but also did a masterful job of merging the garden into the existing landscape of the community college.

The pathways throughout and around the garden offer visitors multiple perspectives from which to view the entire garden. There are also many areas where one can sit and relax and take in the views.

Along the back of the hill is a very nice secluded path referred to a the "middle mountain way"

Overall, the garden was an excellent example of a Japanese garden with lots of opportunities for people to experience and learn about Japan and Japanese gardens.