Adelaide Himeji Gardens is a traditionally-styled Japanese garden, a gift from Adelaide's sister city, Himeji in 1982. It is located in Park 18 (Peppermint Park / Wita Wirra), one of the southern parts of the Adelaide Park Lands in Adelaide, South Australia. The entrance is from South Terrace, between Pulteney and Hutt streets.
History
The garden was originally designed by council staff, in consultation with the Adelaide Japanese community, after Adelaide and Himeji entered a sister city relationship in 1982. However, aspects of the garden's design were criticised, including its cyclone fence and lack of attention to detail.
In 1986, Japanese landscape designer Yoshitaka Kumada drew up plans to refurbish the garden, which included the purchase of trees and shrubs from Melbourne, and stones from near Adelaide. After a Shinto ground-breaking ceremony in May 1987, the works began, with Kumada himself overseeing the project. The little lake was reshaped, the Sea of Sand was expanded, and the garden filled with carefully selected plants and ornamentation to complement the granite Okunoin lantern gifted by the City of Himeji in 1985.
The council's horticulture team still use the techniques taught by Kumada himself, handed down as staff moved on. Maintenance of the Sea of Sand demands careful attention, to retain its basic pattern, showing waves coming into those islands and straight lines for the ocean.