Seike Japanese Garden

Seike Japanese Garden March 2011

Seike Japanese Garden March 2011

Seike Japanese Garden March 2011

Seike Japanese Garden March 2011

Seike Japanese Garden March 2011

The Seike Japanese Garden can be found at the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden in the City of SeaTac, south of Seattle in King County.  The garden was relocated to the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden from the former site of the Des Moines Way Nursery in the City of SeaTac & opened in June 2006. The garden would have been abandoned due to the expansion of SeaTac Airport. The project is believed to be the largest relocation of a Japanese Garden ever attempted in the United States. The Seike family built the garden as a memorial to Toll Seike who was killed in action during WWII in France.  Construction was spurred by Seattle's 1962 World's Fair. The family hired Shintaro Okada, a garden designer from Hiroshima, to assist with planning & construction. Mr. Okada arrived in December of 1960 & construction started in January of 1961. The $350,000 relocation effort focused on recreating the stonework, pond & built elements such as bridges and lanterns, saving only the most significant plants.  The ultimate goal remained a faithful recreation of designer Shintaro Okada's intent & the preservation of a significant local horticultural, cultural & historical amenity.  This is a pleasant, small-scale Japanese garden.