DTPHX Spotlight: Slow Down, Look Up: Autumn Moonviewing at The Japanese Friendship Garden
“In Arizona, where we live in a desert, the sound of water and the feeling of greenery are especially refreshing,” says Eriko Saxon Fujiyoshi, education curator at The Japanese Friendship Garden in Downtown Phoenix. “I think we all live busy lives. We are always thinking about what comes next, and rarely give ourselves time to simply stop.”
“The Garden encourages people to slow down,” Fujiyoshi adds. ‘The strolling paths, flowing water, shade, koi, and seasonal plants invite visitors to take their time and notice their surroundings. The views gradually unfold as you walk, so you naturally become more aware of each moment. I hope people leave feeling relaxed and refreshed and take a little of that calm back into their daily lives.”
The Japanese Friendship Garden, named Rohoen (鷺鳳園), is a joint project of the City of Phoenix, and our Sister City Himeji, Japan, which began in 1976 as a living symbol of friendship between two international communities. In 1987, Himeji Mayor Matsuji Totani proposed the green space to both ground and fertilize these bonds for generations to come.
With the tea house and surrounding tea gardens completed in 1996, The Japanese Friendship Garden has been a literal verdant oasis in Downtown Phoenix for three decades.
It offers a peaceful respite from the desert, a 3.5-acre Japanese stroll garden in the middle of Downtown, with a koi pond full of colorful darting fish, a 14-foot waterfall, streams, stone foot bridges, lanterns, and more than 85 varieties of plants.
On Friday, November 20 and Saturday, November 21, in the midst of this lush natural space, The Garden will host the Otsukimi - Moonviewing, to honor the arrival of autumn’s first full moon.
“Otsukimi is a Japanese tradition that dates back more than a thousand years,” Fujiyoshi explains. “Originally, nobles gathered to appreciate the autumn moon through poetry and music. Over time, it became a tradition enjoyed by families and communities. People prepare tsukimi dango, round rice dumplings representing the full moon, and susuki, or Japanese pampas grass, as seasonal offerings.”
“At our Garden, Otsukimi is also an opportunity to bring the community together through Japanese food, art, music, and cultural activities. The most important message is gratitude and sharing a special moment together.”
The Garden also helps facilitate connections to people, communities, and builds cross-cultural bridges through its ongoing programming, which includes tea ceremonies and tastings, Tai Chi and Qigong experiences, musical performances, educational presentations for all ages and experience levels, and intimate hands-on workshops. The Garden also participates in First Fridays Downtown, with open admission from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the first Friday of every month.
Fujiyoshi believes that these programs are integral parts of engaging with The Garden. She shares, “I think openness and curiosity help us understand one another. When something is unfamiliar, it is easy to make assumptions. But when we experience another culture firsthand, our perspective can change.”
“At The Japanese Friendship Garden, you don't need a passport to experience Japanese culture. Japanese culture is not just something to look at. It is something to experience and take part in. I believe that personal experiences help build understanding and respect.”
The Garden also practices core Japanese values, including learning from the past, nurturing, lifelong learning, thoughtful hospitality, harmony, respect, and tranquility. In Japanese culture, gardens are more than decorative landscapes. They are places of deep philosophical and spiritual expression. In an era of constant screens and media overload, that makes the Garden a place to unplug and reconnect with nature, a shady refuge in the middle of a rapidly developing Downtown.
The Garden continues an ongoing mutual relationship with Himeji, where their sister garden Koko-En is located, as well as local Phoenix organizations, artists, volunteers, and visitors from all walks of life.
Fujiyoshi says, “I believe spending time in nature makes us more aware of our connection to the world around us. We all depend on the same sun, water, and soil. That awareness can help us become more thoughtful toward nature and one another. A garden also teaches patience and care. It takes many years and the continuous effort of many people to nurture a living landscape. I think those same qualities are important in our relationships.”
She continues, “I see simple examples in our Garden. Visitors share a bench, families enjoy watching the koi together, and strangers sometimes start conversations. These small moments help bring people together.”
“Like plants, people need time, care, and the right environment to grow,” says Fujiyoshi.
Join The Japanese Friendship Garden for Otsukimi: Moonviewing on Friday, November 20 and Saturday, November 21, and take a moment to pause, give thanks, and enjoy the autumn moon in the heart of Downtown. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit tickets.japanesefriendshipgarden.org.
Royal Young (@theroyalyoung on Instagram) is a non-binary poet and author from downtown New York City, who now lives and creates in the desert. Their work has appeared in Interview Magazine, New York Times, The Rumpus, Phoenix Magazine, Phoenix New Times, LOOKOUT, and DTPHX, among others.