Our Japanese karesansui garden was opened by HM The Queen in May 2010. Located in the Hostry Visitor & Education Centre, the garden was generously funded by SISJAC, the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures, which is based in the Close.
The garden was designed by Graham Hardman of the Japanese Garden Society.
It links the 21st century Hostry Visitor and Education Centre with the original 11th century Cathedral buildings and offers all visitors a moment for contemplation and a space for physical, temporal and spiritual transition.
The stones are all glacial boulders from the north of Scotland and were specifically selected for the garden. The gravel is 6mm silver-grey granite and the edging materials are sawn grey sandstone and polished black pebbles.
The Japanese Garden features three boulders as the focal point, which can be interpreted as a Buddhist triad or perhaps the Christian Trinity, given the situation of the garden. The remaining stones are arranged as if they are all pointing to or leading to, or perhaps being drawn towards the triad.
Our grateful thanks
The Cathedral is grateful to the Sainsbury Institute for generously funding and building the Japanese Garden, especially Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Sir Hugh and Lady Cortazzi, friends of the Sainsbury Institute and members of the Japanese Garden Society.