A gorgeous garden walk that brings a touch of Japanese culture to the Scottish countryside is just an hour’s drive from Edinburgh – and it’s perfect for families
The ‘magical’ gardens bring Japanese design to Scotland (file)(Image: Getty Images)
You could experience a tranquil Japanese garden without ever leaving the country.
If you’ve always wanted to travel to Japan but don’t have the deep pockets needed to fund such a trip, then visiting a Japanese garden in the heart of Scotland could be just the thing you need. Travelling isn’t cheap, and if Japan is on your radar, you’ll need to have at least £800 to spend just on the return flight from Edinburgh – not to mention being prepared to spend 17 hours in the air getting to your destination.
So if that makes travelling to Japan sound far less appealing, then worry not, because you can actually get a taste of the Japanese countryside without ever leaving Scotland – and for far less money.
A TikTok video shared by Chrisy Brownlie shone a light on a little-known garden escape that combines stunning Japanese architecture with the rolling hills and lochs of Scotland.
The Japanese Garden at Cowden is located just outside Dollar, approximately 36 miles from Edinburgh. The gardens are open six days a week, closed on Tuesdays. Tickets cost £9.85 for adults and £5.75 for children, while under-fives go free.
In Chrisy’s video, he said of the gardens: “Did you know that in Scotland, there is a beautiful Japanese garden featuring a short walk around a loch? Consisting of traditional Japanese bridges, lanterns, plant life and structures, the garden is the only one of its type in the world to be designed by a Japanese woman – Taki Handa.
“These features work in harmony to create a space for reflection and relaxation, which reflects both Japanese aesthetics and the natural beauty of the Scottish countryside. The Japanese Gardens are a peaceful escape, offering visitors a chance to experience the harmony of nature through its carefully crafted design.”
The TripAdvisor page for the gardens boasts more than 170 five-star reviews, with people saying the gardens are the closest you can get to “seeing a genuine Japanese garden without going to Japan”.
One person said: “Beautiful Japanese garden, stunning landscaping, incredibly peaceful and relaxing to walk around. Lovely to also read about the history of this unusual garden. Great on-site cafe and gift shop. Highly recommend a visit.”
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Another added: “This garden is about as close as you’ll get to seeing a genuine Japanese garden without going to Japan. Beautifully kept and very spacious, you can spend quite a while here enjoying the tranquil pathways.”
A third posted: “It has been on our list of places to visit for a long time but it was worth the wait. Beautiful location in the valley and views to the trees and hills beyond. Lots of Japanese and associated plants all carefully placed to enhance and not disturb the views.”
Commenters on Chrisy’s video also expressed their desire to visit the stunning location.
One person stated: “Thank you for this. I never knew about it, but will be taking the family in the summer now.”