Olympia’s Japanese Garden is closing for years. This is your chance to visit
The city of Olympia’s Yashiro Japanese Garden will close June 1, and despite plans to relocate the garden, a new site has yet to be identified.
It may take several years for a new site to be open and available for the public to enjoy.
The closure comes after the sale of the Lee Creighton Justice Center property, located at 1010 Plum St. SE, to the Squaxin Island Tribe in April 2025.
According to previous reporting from The Olympian, the tribe plans to transform the property into a destination hotel with meeting space and a restaurant. The Plum Street tiny home village and the Japanese garden, which has been open since 1990, were set to be relocated. A new site has yet to be identified for the garden, according to an April 3 news release from the city.
“When feasible, later this year, key features, including stone sculptures and select plantings, will be preserved for incorporation into a future garden,” according to the release. “The city’s priority is to carry forward the garden’s legacy as a symbol of friendship between Olympia and Kato (formerly Yashiro), Japan.”
According to the city’s website, funding for a future garden is limited, and it will likely be smaller in scale than the current garden. The planning process is expected to take several years, “given strong community interest in both site selection and design,” according to the website.
“This intentional timeline allows the city to move thoughtfully and respectfully, ensuring the garden’s future reflects its cultural significance and community values,” according to the website.
In the meantime, the city is working with representatives from Kato and Olympia’s Japanese community to explore ways to deepen cultural connections, according to the April 3 news release. The city plans to contract with a landscape designer to help guide a public process, select a new location and design the future garden.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
This story was originally published April 9, 2026 at 10:14 AM.
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