Kubota Gardens

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Kubota Gardens is a Japanese-style garden located in the Rainier Beach neighborhood of Seattle, Washington.


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Summary

The garden spans over 20 acres and was designed by Fujitaro Kubota, a Japanese-American gardener, in the 1920s and 30s.

There are several reasons to visit Kubota Gardens, including its serene beauty, unique Japanese design elements, and cultural significance. Visitors can enjoy a peaceful walk through the various garden paths, featuring waterfalls, ponds, and bridges.

Some specific points of interest at Kubota Gardens include the Reflection Pond, the Stone Garden, and the Bamboo Grove. The garden also features several traditional Japanese structures, including a tea house and a torii gate.

Interesting facts about the garden include that it was originally a family garden owned by the Kubota family, who immigrated to the United States from Japan in the early 1900s. The garden was donated to the City of Seattle in 1987 and is now a public park.

The best time of year to visit Kubota Gardens is in the spring and summer months when the garden is in full bloom. However, the garden is open year-round and offers different experiences during each season.

Overall, Kubota Gardens is a beautiful and unique destination for those interested in exploring Japanese culture and garden design.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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