Seattle Japanese Garden To Close This Summer For Historic Wall Restoration

Seattle’s Japanese Garden will temporarily close this summer as crews begin a major restoration project aimed at preserving one of the city’s most culturally significant and historic public spaces.

Seattle Parks and Recreation announced the garden will be fully closed from June 22 through July 27, 2026, to allow for construction on the site’s north retaining wall. The garden is scheduled to reopen July 28, though the northern section will remain closed through November while work continues.

Located within the Washington Park Arboretum, the Seattle Japanese Garden is known for its traditional design, seasonal plantings and tranquil setting, drawing visitors from across the region. City officials say the restoration project is critical to maintaining both the structural integrity and cultural authenticity of the space.

The project will replace a deteriorating basalt retaining wall with a new granite wall built in the traditional Japanese Ishigaki style, a centuries-old stone masonry technique. The work will be led by Suminori Awata, a fifteenth-generation master stonemason from Japan, bringing a high level of craftsmanship and cultural expertise to the effort.

In addition to the wall replacement, the project includes new stairways, accessibility improvements and restoration planting designed to reflect the garden’s historic landscape.

“While we understand the timing may be inconvenient for some visitors, this project is a rare opportunity to bring authentic Japanese stone masonry to Seattle,” said Michele Finnegan, interim superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation. “We appreciate the community’s patience as we make these long-term improvements to preserve the garden’s beauty and cultural heritage.”

During construction, visitors to the Washington Park Arboretum may see heavy machinery operating within the garden grounds, though impacts outside the immediate project area are expected to be minimal.

Once the garden reopens, visitors may have opportunities to observe the stonemason at work during certain phases of the project in the north section.

The restoration is funded through contributions from local donors, with support from the Arboretum Foundation, and represents the first phase of broader improvements planned for the north end of the garden.

Following completion of the construction work, the garden will close again for its regular winter maintenance period from December through February.

City officials say the project is part of a long-term effort to preserve the garden’s cultural significance while improving accessibility and the overall visitor experience for future generations.