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Japanese Friendship Garden in Downtown Phoenix hosts cultural events, traces roots to Himeji sister city
Summary
A speaker described Phoenix’s Japanese Friendship Garden, Rohō‑en, as a 3.5‑acre cultural site at Latham and Third avenues that opened in phases (1996 and Feb. 2002) and offers tea ceremonies, workshops, weddings and traditional dance and music lessons tied to the city’s sister‑city relationship with Himeji, Japan.
A staff member said Phoenix’s Japanese Friendship Garden, Rohō‑en, is a 3.5‑acre site at Latham and Third avenues in downtown Phoenix that grew from the city’s sister‑city relationship with Himeji, Japan.
The speaker said the garden was built in phases, with the first phase opening in 1996 and the remainder opening to the public in February 2002. The speaker said more than 50 Japanese architects participated in the garden’s development and construction.
"Today, the garden offers all kinds of events for visitors — everything from tea ceremonies, to weddings, to workshops, to traditional dance and music lessons," the staff member said. The speaker described the garden’s Japanese name as Rohō‑en, explaining the components of the name as Ro meaning heron (a symbol of Himeji), hō meaning Phoenix bird, and en meaning garden.
The presentation linked the site directly to Phoenix’s sister‑city relationship with Himeji, saying that the relationship continues and represents cultural exchange and friendship between the two cities. No policy actions, funding decisions, or specific upcoming event dates were provided in the remarks.
Visitors seeking events or reservations should consult the garden’s official channels for schedules and booking information; the speaker did not provide contact details or hours.
