Walk with us as we grow

All contributions directly support JFGM programming, education and the maintenance of our living collection. Your generosity helps the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum continue it’s mission of sharing Japanese culture, and delivering sustainability and wellness programs.

AZUMAYA PROJECT

The garden’s newest expansion project includes the construction of the azumaya, coming 2025. An azumaya is a traditional arbor found in Japanese gardens. The lower garden’s pathway has been extended to a new lookout point beside a 500 foot waterfall.

Scan the QR codes to view AR renderings of the new azumaya area

JFGM’s Permanent Collection

The Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum’s permanent collection encompasses both living and non-living articles. The living collection includes roughly 400 varieties of native and non-native plants including trees, shrubs and ground cover, 20 show quality koi, and 20 Bonsai. The non-living collection of garden ornaments (i.e. gates, bridges, basins, and lanterns) and artifacts (i.e. dolls, scrolls, ceramic, prints, clothing, screens, toys, and folk art) are comprised of roughly 900 articles. As a representation of the ties between Japan and the U.S., the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum recognizes the importance of collecting and preserving articles of Japanese arts, crafts, tradition, and heritage for educational and interpretive activities. The JFGM also presents and documents its holdings for current and future generations. The collections serve as invaluable assets for the purpose of increasing knowledge and enriching the cultural life of the community by creating a tangible link between United States and Japan.

Volunteer

The garden heavily relies on staff and volunteers to successfully operate. Volunteer to help toward a greater mission at San Diego’s largest cultural hub full of museums, preserved architecture and rich history.

BECOME A JFGM DOCENT

Docents are highly trained volunteers and are one of the first meaningful interactions that guests may have with the Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum. A docent guides guests through the garden and shares information about Japanese culture, garden design principles, and the history of JFGM, among other topics. This docent recruitment is targeted for volunteers interested in providing public tours and docent dialogues. Recruitment for training is at limited capacity and is on a first come, first serve basis.

Being a docent is a long-term, highly rewarding commitment. Prospective docents must be able to dedicate themselves to studying information about the garden, participating in tours, and educating guests who visit JFGM.

One of the main goals of the JFGM Docent Program is to support the JFGM mission of educating, engaging, and inspiring people of diverse backgrounds about Japanese culture and community legacy in multiple ways.