Joryo-en Japanese Garden

The Twin Cities area is fortunate to have four excellent Japanese gardens. Having lived in Kobe, Japan and traveling their extensively while obtaining a master's in Japanese history, I have come to appreciate Japanese art, gardens and architecture wherever I travel. This particular garden, located behing Watson Hall on the campus of Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota is the highest rated of our Japanese gardens--currently rated the 7th best garden of its type in the country.While considerably smaller than the gardens at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and the Normandale Japanese Garden, Joryo-en keeps with a much more authentic design. It is small and simple with detail paid to the dry garden (karesansui) and water elements. There is also a small pavilion which is perfect for viewing the garden. It is tucked away in a somewhat wooded area behind some campus buildings--making it a peaceful retreat. A Japanese friend of mine who attended Carelton said that it was always a nice spot to study or get-away.If you are not accustomed to real Japanese gardens, it may not be worth the 45 minute drive from Minneapolis. You certainly arent going to see anything gaudy or ostentatious. The garden is small and no one element is going to jump out at you from an initial glance. However, if you are looking for an authentic Japanese garden experience in Minnesota, I dont think it gets any better than the Joryo-en. It's free to the public, too. I would recommened making it a day-trip combining your time with seeing the architecture of St. Olaf & Carleton Colleges, downtown Northfield, or even nearby Shattuck-St. Mary.