The Normandale Japanese Garden in Bloomington, MN is a tranquil, 2-acre oasis featuring traditional Japanese landscaping, koi ponds, and serene walking paths. Open year-round, the garden offers a peaceful escape for visitors seeking relaxation and cultural enrichment. Located on the Normandale Community College campus, it’s a destination for nature lovers and photographers in the Twin Cities area.
Garden
Normandale Japanese Garden
860 Google Reviews
Very pretty park. It is small and quiet. There is plenty of parking and free to enter. It’s probably a 10 or 15 minute spot to visit.
Beautiful scenery with calming environment. It is well arranged and very informative. I loved the experience.
These pictures don’t capture the full beauty of this Japanese garden, especially on a rainy day. Even in the rain, it’s stunning. These snapshots don’t even show the most breathtaking parts. This garden is one of my favorite spots to walk through and connect with nature. Sometimes, I bring books to read there. It’s free to enter, but I encourage you to use the small donation boxes.
What’s there to like? The garden boasts more than 300 plants, shrubs, and trees, along with koi fish that you can feed, a waterfall, several bridges, and more. Designed by architect Takao Watanabe, it’s impressive, especially when you consider that all these plants are chosen to survive our harsh Minnesota winters. It’s a perfect blend of human and natural beauty.
4 stars for Minnesota, 1 or 2 star as compared to, say, the Japanese Garden in Portland, OR.
This is a small (hockey-rink-sized) nice little garden in a pleasant place with plenty of free parking. If you’ve never been to a Japanese Garden it will be exotic and interesting. Many of the trees are carefully pruned, the layout is nice. Shady and quiet. It’s a good place for a short walk.
If you have been to another more traditional Japanese Garden this experience will feel disappointing. It is small, the water is murky, the plants are limited, certain features are not present. This is more Japanese Garden-esque. But give credit for the attempt. It is still a nice natural space and has potential to develop and enhance as years go by.
Very peaceful and small! The koi fish were hard to see in the murky water but they were very responsive to the fish food!
It’s a very beautiful and peaceful place to relax and enjoy the garden. There’s something to see on every turn of the path. I love seeing the blooming trees and shrubs during spring.
A true gem in Minneapolis. Love the cherry trees here in spring. Excellently maintained. Quiet and peaceful. There is a sign outside that says photography (amatuer or professional – with a dedicated camera requires a fee) but I wasn’t sure where to pay. Appears that phone photography is free. Not too much of a crowd. I absolutely love this place.
It’s a very pretty garden, but I wouldn’t waste your money on trying to feed the fish. The water is VERY murky and you can hardly see them when they come up. And trying to get them to come up in the little side pond is a waste of food!
