Where’s a good place to visit a Japanese garden if you are in Europe, not Japan?
Try Kaiserslautern.
Kaiserslautern is a beautiful small city in southwest Germany. The city is at the edge of the Palatinate forest. This small city is the home of a major University, technical colleges and has many international research facilities. The city has a vibrant and rich history. Kaiserslautern is located near Trier, Germany, which is considered the oldest city in Germany. There are many museums and cultural sites to visit, but for us Japanophiles, one of the most fascinating places to visit in Kaiserslautern is the Japanese Garden.
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The beauty is spectacular and it is the largest garden of its kind in Europe. The garden covers a space of 13,500 square metres, which makes it the largest Japanese garden in Europe.
The Japanese garden in Kaiserslautern is appreciated for its tranquility and for the insight into Japanese cultural that it offers right in the middle of a German city. People visit the gardens to enjoy the fresh air, admire the exotic plants, appreciate traditional Japanese architecture and learn more about Japanese history and culture via guided tours.
A part of the Japanese garden, Kaiserslauten
In 1997 the “Japanese Garden Association Kaiserslautern” was established, and over the next ten years the association was able to cooperate with the municipal authorities to realize their dream of designing a garden in the middle of the city in what was one of the first public-private-partnerships in landscape architecture in Germany.
The garden features a 100-year old Japanese tea house, a classical Zen Garden, a red torii gate, a Mountain Garden, along with waterfalls crossed by a lovely wooden bridge with red rails.
You can find out more about the Japanese Garden in Kaiserslautern by visiting their website at:
http://www.japanischergarten.de/index_en.html
Be sure to take the 360° virtual round tour!
After you have been engulfed in the scenic beauty and bustling activity of Kaiserslautern, you will want to stop by the Brauhaus am Markt for dinner or lunch. Be forewarned, this is a place for those that have a healthy appetite. The Brauhaus is known for great food and huge portions at an unbelievably affordable price. They also brew their own beer on the premises – that’s what “Brauhaus” means – and it’s said to be “the best beer in Kaiserslautern”. This is a nice place to have a great time with a group of friends or a partner. You will enjoy a wide variety of food selections that range from schnitzel to pasta.
You need the best travel guide in Germany to fully enjoy your visit. Here’s a website that will show your way around the place: Kaiserslautern Germany Travel Guide
