Want to visit Japan? But didn’t get a chance to leave the country for countless reasons?
What if I say you can enjoy a part of Japan without actually leaving Malaysia. At the same time, you can also see the friendship between Malaysia and Japan.
The Selangor-Japan Friendship Garden symbolises ties between Malaysia and Japan and also brings a piece of Japan to Malaysia.
Located in Shah Alam, the capital city of Selangor, the Selangor-Japan Friendship Garden is a Japanese-themed park that Carries Japanese architecture and landscapes with its 2.42 hectares area and five scenic zones.
This article will explain to you about this wonderful garden, and here we also have inserted a video to show you the beauty of the Selangor-Japan Friendship Garden.
A New Symbol of Friendship between Selangor & Japan
You probably know about the China-Malaysia Friendship Garden that is located in Putrajaya and symbolises the friendship between China and Malaysia. Similarly, the new Selangor-Japan Friendship Garden in Shah Alam shows the bond between two countries, Japan and Malaysia, and it opened its door to visitors in March 2021. The park has brought Japanese culture and traditions to us in Malaysia.
It is said that this garden is a piece of Japan in Selangor. The park also symbolises the trade and investment that connects Selangor and Japan together. It costs more than RM3.8 million to build and has 2.42 hectares of land. In spite of costing this much, this Japanese-themed garden welcomes visitors without charging any entry fee. Even the parking is also free here.
Here are the attractions that you will get to see in Selangor-Japan Friendship Garden.
1. Zen Garden
The term Zen comes from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word “Chan” or “Chánná“, which means “meditation”. The Zen Garden in this Japanese-inspired Garden will give you a calm, attentive atmosphere that is most suitable for meditation.
Here you can enjoy the serene beauty of nature and its surroundings. The masterpiece of the Zen Garden is its overgrown bonsai. Moreover, it has a Japanese rock garden feature that is made of rocks, gravel, and a bonsai tree.
2. Torii Gateways
This Japanese -themed garden will make you acquainted with some sacred features that the Japanese use in their shrines. Torii Gateway is a wooden gate that will welcome you when you come here. Generally, the Japanese use the Torii gates in their temples and gardens. So the gateway has religious importance, and it is considered to be sacred.
3. Maze Pond
This Friendship Garden has a number of ponds that increase the beauty of this park, and Maze Pond is one of them. This pond has a large impact to make this Selangor attraction more incredible. Significantly, the small bridges of the pond are iconic places to take your Instagram pictures. Besides enjoying its beauty, it will not be so bad if you dip your toes into the water of this pond.
4. Tsukubai
Another sacred example of Japanese culture is Tsukubai. It is a traditional washbasin that is commonly used in the temples of Japan. It is believed that the water of Tsukubai has the power of purifying oneself. After passing the entry gate, you will see this washbasin where you can purify yourself by washing your hands and rinsing your mouth. Moreover, this bamboo made washbasin can be a unique place to click photos.
5. Koi Pond
The Selangor-Japan Friendship Garden is a park where you can spend your afternoon leisure time with your family and kids. It is a kid-friendly garden that offers numerous activities to the kids, and fish feeding is such an activity that kids love to do.
At the center of the park, there is a huge pond called Koi Pond, which is stored with colourful koi fish. You and your kids can feed koi by purchasing fish food that is available at the counter. Apart from koi fish, the pond also houses turtles which are more attractive to kids.
6. Rumah Selangor (Selangor House)
Rumah Selangor is a small museum in this garden that showcases Japanese traditional clothing and dolls. This Selangor House will give you an authentic Japanese vibe through its artificial Japanese style dolls that are wearing traditional Japanese clothes.
If you want to extend more and experience authentic Japan, you can rent some summer yukatas to wear and take photos. No one will believe that you have not been to Japan by watching your pictures.
7. Terrace Garden
Japanese architecture has an elegant texture that you can only admire. The Selangor-Japan Friendship Garden has numerous pieces of such architecture and landscapes, and the Terrace Garden is one of them. This part of the park will give you a peaceful view which may allow you to spend some quality time with yourself. Reading a book can be an excellent way to spend time in this greenery.
8. Bamboo Trees
The whole Friendship Garden is encircled with Bamboo-themed fences, which makes it a unique attraction in Shah Alam. Besides this, you will see a different section which is specially decorated with bamboo trees. The beauty of bamboo trees has never come in such a way that the Selangor-Japan Friendship Garden has presented. If your primary purpose is photography, then this spot has so much charm to offer you.
9. Reflexology Garden
Who doesn’t love foot massage? No, I am not gonna tell you that the Selangor-Japan Friendship Garden also has a foot massage section!
But there is a Reflexology Garden where you are highly encouraged to take off your shoes and walk through the garden path that is decorated with stones. The walk will give your feet a gentle massage and help your blood circulation going. Moreover, the garden is so beautiful that you can take many pictures here.
Address, Timings & Admission Fee
Address: Persiaran Bandar Raya, Seksyen 14, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor
Timings: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 pm – 06:30 pm (Closed on Monday)
Admission fee: Free of charge
Parking: Free
Not every time we can take a long vacation, but our mind needs some refreshment. In such a time, the Selangor-Japan Friendship Garden can be the best retreat among nature. A morning walk, afternoon photoshoot or have some fun time with family and friends, this Japanese garden is suitable for all.
