Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
4000 Morikami Park Road
Delray Beach, Fl 33406
561-495-0233

Hours:
Museum and Gardens: Tues.-Sun. 10am-5pm
Cornell Cafe: Tues.-Sun. 11am-3pm
Closed Mondays and major holidays

With land donated from George Sukeji Morikami and his wish for it to become a park, the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens opened its doors in 1977. Since then, it has grown to become one of the most serene and peaceful place to come and enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the park.

Here you can truly unwind as you walk through the 16 acres of authentic Japanese gardens offering spectacular views of the lake. Finding inspiration for your own garden is easy when you look at all the plants, trees and the way the garden was designed using lanterns, bridges and large rocks.

Japanese gardens typically achieves this tranquil setting by using mostly green plants, trees and shrubs and refraining from using too much color. Follow the path as it leads you around several beautifully designed bridges crossing over creeks and the sound of nearby waterfalls. Take a a moments to sit and relax on several benches placed throughout the park. Kids will love the Koi feeding area and Turtle Island. On your walk, you may encounter wildlife in the form of armadillos and iguanas of all sizes.

If you get thirsty, you can stop at several areas along the way where they have placed very clever wooden structures dispensing water. During the summer months, you will appreciate the bamboo shaded areas with that special sound that bamboo trees make.

On the Yamato Island, you will find the original Morikami Museum building, more or less a replica of a typical Japanese home with deck all around and access to each room describing what you can expect to find. The building houses the exhibition “Through the Eyes of a Child”, walk through and immerse yourself in Japanese culture. Elementary classroom exhibit and transportation system are quite interesting. Also look for the premier bonsai collection exhibit.

Stop by the Cornell Cafe for a taste of Japanese cuisine at an affordable price. Sit indoors or outdoors and enjoy panoramic views. A gift shop, theatre, library and gallery with rotating exhibitions of Japanese art as well as a tea house where on select Saturdays, visitors are invited to observe the peace and quietude of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

In celebration of the first bud of spring, Morikami Museum hosts the annual Hatsume Fair usually held in April. This very popular event transforms the park into a Japanese Spring Festival featuring three stages with performances in taiko drums, martial arts demonstrations, samurai sword fighting, Japanese dance as well as costume and fashion show contest. Also popular in the fall come experience the Lantern Festival with folk dancing, drumming, the Ennichi Street Fair, food and drink and floating lantern ceremony.

So much work went into this fabulous garden, making the Morikami a place to lay aside the chaos of life, strolling through areas filled with beauty and listening to the gentle sound of cascading waterfalls. This is a place to unwind, recharge and soothe the senses.

Many opportunities to volunteer exist at Morikami Museum for those who appreciate Japanese art and culture. Also yearly membership is available and offers exclusive benefits like free museum admission, members-only events and discounts at the Museum Store and Cornell Cafe.

For more information, please click here for website.