Japanese Parks and Gardens in Chile

CD_Nikkei_Chile

Published: June 21, 2008 Modified: April 11, 2025

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Japanese Parks and Gardens in Chile

Japanese Garden, Santa Lucia Hill

This hill is widely visited by both national and foreign tourists, as it is a historical center in the capital. During the week, you can still hear the cannon shot from the western slope, indicating that it is noon. -- Photos belonging to the Nikkei-Chile Documentation Center, taken by Masao Yamada Jr. in June 2008.

Japanese Garden, Santa Lucia Hill

The first one is located on Santa Lucia Hill, at the foot of which the city of Santiago was founded in 1541. It was built in 1958 with the efforts of the Japanese residents who had already reorganized after the war and with the support of the Japanese Embassy. -- Photos belonging to the Nikkei-Chile Documentation Center, taken by Masao Yamada Jr. in June 2008.

Japanese Garden, Santa Lucia Hill

In the capital of the country, Santiago, with its approximately 5,500,000 inhabitants (36% of the country's population), we find two Japanese gardens. -- Photos belonging to the Nikkei-Chile Documentation Center, taken by Masao Yamada Jr. in June 2008.

Japanese Garden, Santa Lucia Hill

This garden is located on the eastern side of the hill and was inaugurated during the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi to Chile. -- Photos from the Nikkei-Chile Documentation Center, taken by Masao Yamada Jr. in June 2008.

Tenri Square, La Serena

Tenri Plaza is located in the old quarter of La Serena, so it is surrounded by typical low and very colorful buildings. -- Photo belonging to the Nikkei-Chile Documentation Center, taken by Roberto Hirose in June 2008.

Tenri Square, La Serena

Continuing south, we will visit La Serena with its population of 177,608 inhabitants. Here, a few blocks from the popular Recoba and in front of the Liceo de Niñas, we will visit the small Plaza Tenri that commemorates the declaration of sister cities (shimai toshi) between La Serena and Tenri in 1966, united by the notably religious character of both cities: Tenri for being the seat of the Tenrikyo religion and La Serena for its large number of Catholic churches. -- Photo belonging to the Nikkei-Chile Documentation Center, taken by Roberto Hirose in June 2008.

Tenri Square, La Serena

Under the lantern we find the commemorative plaque commemorating the brotherhood of La Serena with the city of Tenri. -- Photo belonging to the Nikkei-Chile Documentation Center, taken by Roberto Hirose in June 2008.

Japanese Park in Antofagasta (Japanese Park in Antofagasta)

Today, this park is a landmark of the city and various socio-cultural activities are held there. -- These photos belong to the private collection of Alberto Takaoka.

Japanese Park in Antofagasta (Japanese Park in Antofagasta)

Traveling through our country from north to south, we will have to make our first stop in Antofagasta, which with a population of approximately 300,000 inhabitants, bases its economy on large-scale mining and exports copper from the Chuquicamata, La Escondida, Zaldivar, Mantos Blancos and other deposits to the world. -- These photos belong to the private collection of Alberto Takaoka.

Japanese Park in Antofagasta (Japanese Park in Antofagasta)

Ladies from the Japanese colony in Antofagasta, at the inauguration of the Japanese Park. -- These photos belong to the private collection of Alberto Takaoka.

Japanese Park in Antofagasta (Japanese Park in Antofagasta)

The traditional release of carp (koi) into the Park's pool. -- These photos belong to Alberto Takaoka's private collection.

Japanese Park in Antofagasta (Japanese Park in Antofagasta)

Opening Ceremony -- These photos belong to Alberto Takaoka's private collection

Speech by the Mayor of Antofagasta, Mr. Santiago Gajardo (Japanese Park in Antofagasta)

Within this flourishing northern city is the Japanese Park, the result of the work carried out by a group of Japanese and their descendants, supported by the Andromeda Mining Company of Nihon Kogyo. On October 8, 1963, it was inaugurated in a great public ceremony and handed over to the Illustrious Municipality of Antofagasta. -- These photos belong to the private collection of Alberto Takaoka.

Miotsukushi (Valparaiso Bell Reminder)

If we go to Valparaíso, recognized for its history and beauty as a "World Heritage Site" and go to its port, always full of activity, we will find in front of Plaza Sotomayor, not a garden or a park, but a Miotsukushi tower and bell that keep alive the memory of that bond of friendship and trade established between the ports of Valparaíso and Osaka (shimai-ko). Although it is not a garden, we include it in this album as another public expression of the ties between Chile and Japan. -- Reminder of the brotherhood between the ports of Valparaíso and Osaka. Photo taken by Roberto Hirose and donated to the Nikkei-Chile Documentation Center.

Port of Valparaiso (Valparaiso Bell Reminder.)

This port fraternity agreement was the first one signed by Valparaíso with a foreign port on October 24, 1983. -- Reminder of the brotherhood between the ports of Valparaíso and Osaka.

Japanese Garden, Santiago Metropolitan Park (Japanese Garden Metropolitan Park of Santiago (San Cristóbal))

The following Japanese garden in the capital is located on the slopes of San Cristóbal Hill, within the Metropolitan Park. -- Photo Japanese Garden Metropolitan Park of Santiago (San Cristóbal), donated on 02-06-2008. Photo taken by Roberto Hirose

Japanese Garden, Santiago Metropolitan Park (Japanese Garden Metropolitan Park of Santiago (San Cristóbal))

Also known as the Garden of Friendship, it has 3,200 m2 and was initially built in 1978. -- Photo Japanese Garden Metropolitan Park of Santiago (San Cristóbal), donated on 02-06-2008.

Friendship Garden (Japanese Garden, Santiago Metropolitan Park (San Cristóbal))

In 1997 it was remodeled and reopened on the occasion of the centenary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Trade and Navigation between Chile and Japan, with the presence of Prince Hitachi and his wife Princess Hanako. -- Photo Japanese garden Metropolitan Park of Santiago (San Cristóbal), donated on 02-06-2008.

Friendship Garden (Japanese Garden, Santiago Metropolitan Park (San Cristóbal))

In this garden there is a small grove of cherry trees that in spring allows Nikkei and fans of Japanese culture to revive the old custom of "Hanami" (watching the cherry blossoms). -- Photo Japanese garden Metropolitan Park of Santiago (San Cristóbal), donated on 02-06-2008.

Japanese Constitution Garden (Japanese Constitution Garden)

364 kilometers south of Santiago, we will reach the last place on our tour. This is Constitución, with its history of "faluchos maulinos" and wheat-growing area that made it famous in the past and that was replaced by large forest plantations. The CELCO cellulose company was established there and in 2006 it built a beautiful Japanese park. -- Photo of the Japanese Garden in Constitución, Chile. Photo taken by Emi Yonekura.

Japanese Constitution Garden (Japanese Constitution Garden)

The garden is offering its visitors an alternative for recreation, contemplation and reflection. -- Photo of the Japanese garden in Constitución, donated on 02-06-2008.

Japanese Constitution Garden (Japanese Constitution Garden)

Because it was built recently and is located in a city that is far from the main highway of our country, the Pan-American Highway, this garden is still little known. -- Photo of the Japanese garden in Constitución, donated on 02-06-2008.

Black-necked swan in the "Kokoro" Garden (Japanese Garden La Serena)

This 26,000 m2 park was opened in 1994. -- Photo of the Serena Japanese Garden, donated on 02-06-2008. Taken by Roberto Hirose.

Japanese Garden "Kokoro" (Japanese Garden La Serena)

It has a central lagoon and its islands Stork and Turtle. In addition, its more than 13,000 trees and plants combine exotic and national species. -- Photo of the Japanese garden of Serena, donated on 02-06-2008.

Japanese Garden "Kokoro" (Japanese Garden La Serena)

Today it is one of the most visited parks by locals and national and foreign tourists. -- Photo of the Serena Japanese Garden, donated on 02-06-2008.

Japanese Garden "Kokoro", La Serena (Japanese Garden La Serena)

Then, within the same city, we will go to the Pedro de Valdivia Park where we find the Japanese Garden "Kokoro" or Garden of the Heart, built by the Pacific Mining Company in recognition of its good commercial relations with Japan, fitting perfectly within the beautiful natural context of the park and offering its particular Japanese touch. -- Photo of the Japanese garden by Serena, donated on 02-06-2008.

Antofagasta Japanese Park (Japan Square, Antofagasta, Chile.)

Current view of the Park. -- Photo taken by Ariel Takeda, December 1999.

Tenri Square, La Serena (Tenri Square in La Serena, Chile.)

The symbol of this square is the stone lantern. -- Photo taken by Alicia Hirose in December 1999.

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With the valuable collaboration of Shogo Takaoka, former President of the Japanese Society of Antofagasta, Ariel Takeda for his historical contributions, Masao Yamada Jr. for the photos of the Japanese Garden of Santa Lucía and Emi Yonekura for her photos of the Japanese Garden of Constitución, we will try to give you a quick look at the squares, parks and Japanese gardens in Chile, which at some point flourished thanks to the efforts of groups of Japanese or descendants or companies related to Japan. They sought to establish spaces that remind Japan and that somehow bring it closer to the Chilean reality, while their visitors have the opportunity to achieve minutes of solace within an environment close to beauty, tranquility and nature. The first attempt to build a Japanese garden in Chile dates back to 1910. For the commemoration of the Centenary of the Independence of Chile, Minister Eki Hioki, on behalf of his government, donates 2,000 Japanese cherry trees. Unfortunately, these cherry trees were retained by Customs for health reasons. Sixteen years later, the first park was built. In 1926, when Prince Hirohito succeeded his father Yoshihito on the imperial throne, a group of Japanese residents in Santiago sent him a Chilean horse as a gift. In return, the Imperial House sent 3,000 cherry trees which, under the name of Japanese Park, began to decorate part of the south side of the Mapocho River. Later, this park lost its original name and was renamed Gran Bretaña and finally, Providencia. It disappeared in the 1940s.