This weekend the Japanese Garden in Hasselt, Belgium celebrated its 25th anniversary. The ideal excuse for some contemplation and meditation.
The Japanese garden – a gift from the city of Itami, Japan, as a token of the continued friendship between the two cities – officially opened its doors to the first visitors on 20 November 1992.
The garden – the largest of its kind in Europe – is the perfect setting to fully experience Japanese culture with tea demonstrations, ikebana courses, calligraphy courses and sake tastings.
With benches to sit and relax while enjoying the sound of the waterfalls the Japanese garden encourages meditation and reflection. Visitors can spot and feed the koi fish, enjoy a picnic or just walk around peacefully. Since 2016 visitors can spread a message of peace and friendship by ringing the peace bell.