Lethbridge, Alberta and Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens

In July we camped in Lethbridge, Alberta, at Bridgeview RV Park. https://summerhillresorts.com/resort/bridgeview-rv-resort/  It is a nice park, and has just recently become a KOA.  Open year round, it’s set up for long term stays with laundry, showers, a seasonal outdoor pool etc. The park’s just a short drive to Lethbridge for anything you might need or want to do. One negative about this RV Park is the fact that it is right off the highway and the highway noise is excessive. We never noticed it much in our trailer but sitting outside it’s nearly impossible to have a conversation. This time, our site was in the Wilderness Area at the back which both provided shade during the hot weather, and was a little quieter in terms of highway noise. We were there primarily to visit friends and family.

We’re quite familiar with Lethbridge, having been there numerous times due to friends and family in the area, but have only visited Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens a handful of times.

We were able to visit the garden this past July. The garden has recently opened a new, beautiful event / visitor centre.  

Five Fun Facts About Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens from https://nikkayuko.com/index.asp

• Nikka Yuko opened during Canada’s Centennial in 1967 and was opened in part as a symbol of Canada’s international friendship.
• A true joint Japan-Canada project, a Japanese landscape architect was commissioned to design it.  The structural elements of the garden were hand-crafted in Kyoto, shipped to Lethbridge, then reassembled by Japanese and Canadian craftsman. The rocks located in the garden came from nearby mountain regions.
• The name literally means “Japan-Canada Friendship.”

• Many events are held throughout the year including yoga, Japanese tea ceremonies, and Shakespeare in the Garden. You can even register to learn beginner Japanese!  The gardens and event / visitor centre are a popular location for weddings.
• Admission to the gardens is very reasonable at just over $12 and yearly passes can be purchased. The Picnic in the Garden package includes admission to the gardens, a bento box, a beverage, and a pass to Fort Whoop-up.

If we lived in Lethbridge, I’d definitely be interested in some of the events such as yoga, Shakespeare in the Garden, Picnics in the Garden and more.  

The gardens, which were intentionally designed to be authentic Japanese gardens, are a peaceful, tranquil oasis in the middle of the city and are open between May – September.